Password Basics 

• Passwords exist to keep you safe - it’s worth the effort!

• The world of passwords is constantly evolving and changing.

• For fun, here is a brief History of Passwords

• Choose a password system that works for you - there are many options.

• Each account should have a unique password - follow the guidelines for each account.

• Multi-factor authentication provides an extra layer of security - say ‘yes’ if you are offered this option.

• Never use a link in an email or message to change a password. (These types of emails are often phishing scams.) Go directly to the account to make any changes.

• An inventory of your digital assets (accounts and passwords) should be included in your Estate Planning. 

• Stay up to date; do your research; continue learning about passwords - all of this learning contributes to your Digital Literacy

Using Analog or Digital options - saved locally (at home, or on a home computer)

• If you use a password book, keep it in a secure location. 

• If you keep your passwords on a document saved on your computer, consider naming it something unusual and saving it in a secure location.

• When saving passwords to a book, or document, be sure to list all necessary information:
  Account Name: ie. TD BANK, Goodreads, KPL, etc.
  Username: ie. tayswift - Some accounts require you choose a username - this is becoming less common
  Email: ie. tayswift@tmail.com - All accounts require you to provide an email address. Please note that the same email can be used for multiple accounts.
  Password: ie. T730aYS378%$$$wift - a unique password should be created for EACH account

Password Management Systems

Password management systems are tools that help users generate, save and manage their passwords. Password managers are available as apps on phones, tablets, or computers, or built into web browsers like Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge.

The following is an AI generated response when searching ‘What are Password Management Systems’: 

“Password generation

Password managers can create strong, random passwords for each account. These passwords are often long and include uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. 

Secure storage

Password managers store login credentials in an encrypted vault that's protected by a master password. 

Automatic login

Password managers can automatically fill in login details for websites and apps. 

Password monitoring

Some password managers can check if passwords are weak, reused, or compromised in data breaches. They can then prompt users to update their passwords”

The following Password Management Systems were shared at our meeting:

1Password (Ian)

• Works on all platforms (Windows, Mac) and devices (Android and IOS)

• Free 30 day trial, monthly charge (about $3) after that

• Data is stored in the cloud - everything is encrypted and very secure 

• Easy to organize and categorize passwords and other types of sensitive files

• Nice family sharing feature

Bitwarden (Ian)

• Works on all platforms and devices

• Free and paid options 

• Data is stored in the cloud - everything is encrypted and very secure

• Accounts are for individuals - no family sharing option

Roboform (Jim)

• Works on all platforms and devices

• Free for all users

• Data may be stored locally or in the cloud, depending on the version you choose

Apple Password App (Lew)

• Apple’s Password Management system is native to all IOS and MacOS devices with the latest upgrades

• Free on all apple devices - Mac computers and laptops, iPads and iPhones

• Apple devices come fully equipped and ready to create strong Passwords, store them securely and provide quick access. Because of the desire to be secure, the process is specific and does not work for all sites. Failure to follow all steps in the correct order may result in the Password not being available.

This is a good support article for using this app: https://support.apple.com/en-ca/120758