“A password manager reduces your overall risk by helping you create stronger passwords and avoid reuse, two of the biggest causes of account compromise.” 1

Use a Password Manager.

They provide five main services:

  1. Passkeys
  2. Secure password vaults
  3. Random password generators
  4. Shared family accounts
  5. Watchtower

Passkeys

Passkeys use state-of-the-art asymmetric encryption to generate a one-time authentication key. This both validates your identity and eliminates the need for transmitting account credentials or passwords.2

Watchtower

“Watchtower” services monitor known data breaches by searching for compromised credentials.3

Available Products

1Password — WireCutter and Consumer Reports both recommend using 1Password.4,5

They each recommend two free alternatives as well:

Further Reading

If you still have doubts or concerns, then I suggest reading the essay I published in July: Protecting Our Digital Identities. It encompasses the many benefits provided by password managers. It also includes a risk assessment and a threat modeling method you can apply to understand your own needs.6 77% of hacking-related breaches used stolen credentials, and 60% of the data breaches involved a human element in 2025.7,8 Now is the time to protect yourself with a dedicated password manager.


Works cited

  1. “What Is A Password Manager?”, National Cybersecurity Alliance, May 2026.
  2. “What is a Passkey?”, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 2026.
  3. “Don’t fear the dark web”, 1Password, 2026.
  4. The Best Password Managers, Wirecutter by The New York Times, 2026.
  5. Password Managers — CR Recommended, Consumer Reports, 2026.
  6. R. Taggart, “Protecting Our Digital Assets”, rwtaggart.dev, 9 Jul. 2026.
  7. “Why Passkeys?”, FIDO Alliance, 2024.
  8. “2025 Data Breach Investigations Report”, Verizon Business, 2025.