You never had a good memory, that must be said, but when it comes to Password the situation turns out to be even more tragic. You can never remember the ones you have set for your favorite Web services (and not only), which is why you find yourself constantly having to implement procedures to recover this or that other access key. What would you say, then, to put a point on the matter by turning to ad hoc software, useful precisely for managing the chosen passwords? Do you want'? Yup? Very good. Then read my tutorial on the subject to find out more immediately.
In the following lines, I will go to point out and explain to you all those that I believe to be the best password programs currently present on the square. There are both free and paid ones, for both Windows and macOS. They are all certified in terms of security and allow you to manage all passwords (as well as credit card data, private notes, etc.) in a practical and efficient way, while at the same time keeping them safe via a master password chosen by the user. .
How do you say? Are you worried that they are too complicated to use? Come on, I wouldn't be a coward! Apart from the fact that it's not like that but then I don't really see what you worry about if I'm here with you, ready and willing to provide you with all the instructions you need. Come on then, let's not waste any more time chatting and let's get to work. I wish you, as usual, happy reading and I wish you a very big good luck for everything!
Index
- 1Password (Windows/macOS)
- NordPass (Windows/macOS)
- Bitwarden (Windows / macOS / Linux)
- KeePass (Windows/macOS)
- Other password programs
1Password (Windows/macOS)
Another password program I want to tell you about is 1Password which, according to many, represents one of the most complete and reliable software of this category. It features a very easy-to-use user interface and is an all-in-one solution that allows you to keep all passwords for accessing Internet sites, online services and web applications securely. It also allows you to generate disposable passwords for two-factor authentication, discover vulnerable passwords, create multiple safes and store software licenses, documents, secure notes, Wi-Fi keys and much more.
It also allows you to generate complex passwords and save access data or fill in login forms with a simple click. You can use it both on Windows that of MacOS (as well as on Android and iOS / iPadOS devices, via the Web and in the form of an extension for the main browsers). To use the service, you need to subscribe to a personal subscription of $ 2,99 / month (with annual billing) or a family subscription of $ 4,99 / month (with annual billing) with a 30-day free trial.
To use it, first connect to the program's website and click on the button first Try 1Password for FREE (top right) and then onto that Try 1Password for FREE related to the plan of your interest.
Then register your 1Password account by typing name e email address in the appropriate fields and clicking on Following. Then type the security code that was sent to you by e-mail and press again Following, in order to activate the account. If you are asked to enter your credit card information, you can also decline by clicking on the appropriate item at the bottom.
Then set the general password to use in 1Password, click on the button Create account, award your bottone Download to download the security key through which you will still be able to access your account should you forget the master password, click on I understand and agree and press on the item Download the apps on the right and select the link for the operating system in use, to download 1Password.
At the end of the download, you will be using Windows, april il .exe file got and press on Yes. If what you are using is a Mac, april il package .pkg obtained, press on Continue and follow the simple on-screen instructions to continue with the setup (alternatively you can also download 1Password from the Mac App Store). Regardless of the operating system used, then press the button Sign In to 1Password.com present in the program window, enter the required login data and click on Sign In.
Now that you see the main screen of the program, first go to the menu 1Password, select Language and choose 2022th, in order to translate the program into the 2022na language.
So start using 1Password to manage your passwords by clicking on the button [+] located at the top, selecting the category of your interest from the menu that appears and typing the required data. Then press the button Save, to save it all. Later, you can view your data simply by selecting it.
If, on the other hand, you want to make changes to the settings and operation of the software, click again on the item 1Password in the menu bar and select Settings.
Through the new window displayed, you can install the special extensions for browsers (to automatically store and enter the login credentials of the various sites), know the keyboard shortcuts to use the program, manage backups, etc.
NordPass (Windows/macOS)
If you are looking for a password manager that you can use even at no cost, safe, intuitive and compatible with a wide range of devices, I highly recommend you take a look at North Pass: it is a password manager developed by the same company that offers the famous VPN service NordVPN, which allows you to store passwords, credit card data and secure notes in a digital safe protected with military-grade encryption technology.
It also allows you to generate secure passwords, auto-fill i login forms (via browser extension Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera e Safari), organize information in cartelle e synchronize all data across multiple devices via the cloud. In addition to on PC Windows e Mac, NordPass is also available as an app for Android e iOS / iPadOS.
The basic version of the application is free and does not include limits on the number of data that can be stored in the safe or of devices that can be synchronized (even if access to the application is allowed on only one device at a time). To be able to use the service simultaneously on multiple devices (for a maximum of 6) and take advantage of other extra functions, such as data sharing and trusted contacts, you need to switch to the plan NordPass Premium from 2,49 euros / month. More info here.
Having made the necessary clarifications above, I would say to take action. To download the free version of NordPass on your computer, connect to the official website of the program and click on the button Download NordPass Free. Later, if you use a PC Windows, start the .exe file downloaded, wait a few seconds for the software to be installed and, when it starts, answer in the affirmative to the request for access to the network by the Windows firewall. If you use a Macinstead, simply open the .dmg file downloaded, drag the icon of North Pass in the folder Applications macOS, start the software and answer in the affirmative to the warning that appears on the screen.
Mission accomplished! NordPass is now potentially ready to use; however, I recommend that you first link the application to a account, in order to set your own master password and activate the synchronization of data on all devices.
To do so, select the item Settings from the left sidebar, click on the button Create free account and follow the onscreen instructions to create your own free account: it involves entering your email address, then a security code that is delivered via email, then the password to use for the account and, finally, again the email address and another code received by email.
Once registration is complete, create the master password for your NordPass safe, by filling in the fields that are shown on the screen, then press the button Continue and note in a safe place both the password you have just chosen and the recovery code that is provided to you. If you already have a NordVPN account, please note that you can also log in with the latter, using the appropriate function login.
Once the registration / access procedure has been completed, you can start adding items to your safe: to do so, go to the section All Items, award-winning Add Item and select the content you want to add to the safe between login, secure note e credit card. Then fill out the form that is proposed to you with all the necessary information (e.g. website, username and password in the case of logins) and press the button Save, to save it all.
To generate secure passwordsclick on your button Generate present in the field for entering the password. You also have the option to click on the item More options and customize length and types of characters to be inserted in the generated password.
Alternatively, you can also import the access data you have already saved in your browser or other password managers by clicking on the button Settings present in the left sidebar, by selecting the tab Import / Export located at the top, choosing the software from which to import the data and following the instructions on the screen (it involves exporting the data from the source software and then importing the files obtained in NordPass).
Subsequently, you can copy the information in the safe simply by selecting an item from it and pressing the relevant button. To edit content, delete it or move it to a folder (you can create new folders by clicking on the item Add new folder present in the left sidebar), press the corresponding button instead [...] and choose one of the items in the menu that opens.
If you want to make it even more comfortable and also have the option of Automatically fill in login forms in websites, I recommend that you install theNordPass browser extension (find all the links a few lines above). In the case of Chrome, for example, you can do this by connecting to this page and clicking on the buttons Add e Add extension.
Then, to use the addon, click on its icon appeared in the browser toolbar and type the code shown in the navigation program: this is used to connect the extension and NordPass.
Once this is done, you can recall NordPass at any time by clicking on the extension icon in the browser toolbar. You will then be able to fill in the login forms (selecting the name of a site) and the modules related to credit cards (selecting a card from the safe); add new items to the safe (by clicking on the button Add item in the extension box) and generate secure passwords (by pressing theicona dell'ingranaggio and then on the voice Password generator). It's all very intuitive.
If you want more information on NordPass, I recommend that you consult the official website of the service. If, on the other hand, you want to learn more about the operation of the NordPass app for smartphones and tablets, you can consult my tutorial on the best apps for keeping passwords.
Bitwarden (Windows / macOS / Linux)
Bitwarden is an open source password manager that is rapidly gaining ground due to its interesting features and the possibility of using it at no cost (there are also paid plans from 10 $ / month, which however are mainly used if you want to save external files in your safe and generate disposable keys for two-factor authentication). It uses advanced encryption for data synchronization on the cloud (on independent servers, based on the Microsoft Azure platform) and also gives the possibility to host safes on private servers.
It is compatible with Windows, macOS, Linux, with Android and iOS / iPadOS and with all major web browsers, in the form of an extension for the automatic filling of forms. It also allows you to keep notes and credit cards.
To download it to your computer, connected to its official website, click on the button Install now – It’s free and press on the name of the operating system you use. A full download, if you use Windows, april il .exe file obtained and press in sequence on the buttons Yes, Install e Close (after waiting for the download of all the components necessary for the software to work), to conclude the setup.
Su MacInstead, open the dmg package got, copy Bitwarden in the folder Applications and that's it (answer affirmatively to the warning that appears at the first start).
After starting Bitwarden, click on the button Create account and create your account by entering yours email address and Password that you will need to use to access the Bitwarden safe in the appropriate fields.
When registration is complete, log in and click on the button +, to add new elements to your safe, chosen from those available. By selecting the option Login, for example, you can memorize new access data to a website, also having the possibility to generate a secure password (click on the icon of two arrows, visible near the field Password).
KeePass (Windows/macOS)
KeePass is one of the most popular free and open source password programs for users. It does not have an extremely simple graphical interface to use at first glance but just a little practice is enough to understand its structure.
It allows you to store all your passwords in a password-protected database, generate secure passwords, easily import and export data, and much more. It can only be used on Windows operating systems. For Mac the named version is available KeePassX which works virtually identically.
To download it immediately on your computer, connect to the program's website and press the button Download Now which is at the top left.
When the download is complete, open the .exe file got and press on Si. Prize for your OK, select the voice I accept the terms of the license agreement and click on NEXT four times, then on Install and end.
Now that you see the KeePass window on your desktop, you agree to the activation of automatic updates and then click on the menu View at the top, select the item Change Language..., press the button Get More Language… And, on the page you see appearing in the browser window, click on the symbol of floppy disk that you find next to the wording 2022n, in order to download the translation of the program in 2022no.
Then extract the ZIP archive obtained in a location of your choice, go to the folder C:Program Files (x86)KeePass Password Safe 2Languages and move the .lngx file you just got there. In the window for choosing the language of KeePass, then select the 2022no and click on OK to apply the changes.
If you are using a Mac, connected to the download page of the appropriate version, click on the link below the wording Mac OS X and wait for the download of the relative .dmg package to be completed.
Then open it and drag the program icon to the folder Applications via the Finder that opened. Then go to the folder Applications of macOS, right-click on the program icon and choose apri twice, in order to start KeePassX, however, going around Apple's limitations towards unauthorized developers.
At this point, regardless of the operating system, you can finally start using the program to save all your passwords. So he presses on the button with the sheet which is on the toolbar to create the program database, set the master password and adjust all the options relating to the storage of secret words.
Then select the category in which you want to add your data in the left part of the software window, press the button with the key which is on the toolbar and fill in the fields on the screen to add your data.
To view the saved data, simply select the element of your interest from the right side of the KeePass window. The relevant information will be shown to you below. If, on the other hand, you want to copy a password to the Windows clipboard, directly open its website, etc., press the appropriate buttons that you can always find on the program toolbar, in the central part of the same.
Other password programs
None of the password programs I already have a taste for has convinced you in a particular way and would you like to get to know other tools for this purpose? No sooner said than done! Below is a further list of various other software that you can use to better keep and organize your passwords. Take a look at it now!
- Dashlane (Windows / macOS) - another famous password manager that can be used in the form of a computer application (and not only). It is free (but possibly available in a paid version with extra functions), allows automatic login, supports local AES-265 encryption for stored passwords and can count on a digital wallet for all access data. It also has a very nice user interface.
- Saving passwords in browsers - all major browsers provide users with a function to save the passwords of their accounts. I explained this to you in this other article on the subject.
Article produced in collaboration with NordPass.
