P
ASSWORDS ARE OF critical
importance today, as the number
of services we sign up to keeps on
increasing. To simplify logging in, most
people tend to reuse their passwords,
which is bad practice.
To avoid this kind of repetition, password
managers generate random passwords
— usually a combination of numbers, letters
and symbols so that they are harder to
crack. In addition, the apps gather your
credentials and store card details to make
entering online details quicker and easier.
Think of the information as being stored
in a “vault” that can only be accessed
using a single master password.
Apple’s own built–in iCloud Keychain
works very well. The service offers
unlimited storage of passwords and
account information, syncs seamlessly with
all your Apple devices and can suggest
random passwords, unique for each service
you sign into. Like everything else from
Apple “it just works”, and it’s free!
If Keychain doesn’t tick all your boxes,
there are plenty of other options out there.
Certainly, if you use an Android device orWindows, you will need to consider an
alternative to iCloud Keychain since it’s
Apple–specific.
Most password management apps offer
a free basic package, but be prepared to
pay for a regular subscription if you want
more advanced features, such as VPN
connectivity, file storage, priority tech
support, and vulnerability scans.
Reusing passwords or writing them
down in a notebook just doesn’t cut it. And
if you change passwords regularly (which
you really should), it’s very difficult to keep
on top of them.
So there’s no excuse! Find out which
password manager suits you best and get
your logins organized and protected.Things to consider...
Everything you need to know before getting started
1FREE OR PAID?
Most password managers are
available as a free, basic package that offer
subscription options. The free versions
usually offer little support and limit the
number of passwords you can save.2COMPANION APPS
You probably own two or more
devices. So ensuring your data is in sync is
crucial, especially if you often reset your
passwords. Even if you don’t, it’s important
to check that the password managing app
works across all your devices.3EASE OF USE
iCloud Keychain is baked into iOS,
macOS and watchOS and is simple to use.Third–party password managers may
require a more involved set–up, and may
overcrowd the interface with features. You
need to decide whether to prioritize ease
of use over lots of extra functions.4CUSTOMIZATION
Retrieving info can often be an
issue. It’s good to check if your manager
has customization options like tags, so you
can search for login data faster and easier.5
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
If you have a subscription, ensure
you’re getting good value. Check that the
additional features — like VPN connectivity,
data storage and web monitoring — are
options you’ll actually use.How we
tested
We set up each app
with the same basic
passwords and account
information, and then
used them to log into
various apps and
services on Safari
and Chrome*. (*iCloud
Keychain was excluded
from the Chrome test
as it doesn’t work
with Chrome.)HIGHER...
STICKY PASSWORD
PREMIUM LIFETIME
Around $209
stickypassword.com
Sticky Password offers
a lifetime price. As well
as autofill forms, the
manager is compatible
with 16 browsers....OR LOWER?
SECRETS
Free (IAPs)
outercorner.com
Sync with iCloud, import
from other managers
and store notes, bank
details and software
licence details.Dashlane makes it easy to access your login data
and card info, and check the health of your logins.Image rights from top left clockwise: Dashlane, Lamantine Software, Outer Corner. maclife.com MAR 2020 57Tough testing, trusted ratings