You may have heard in recent news that the streaming giant Twitch has been the victim of a massive data breach. Twitch, a subsidiary of Amazon, provides a platform for individuals to live stream activities such as video gaming, crafting, and … nearly whatever you want. The details are still coming in, but from what has already been reported the breach was only discovered when the source code for the streaming service was released online. Attackers had no ransom demands, and are releasing the code for anyone to use or exploit. This may not seem like a big deal – the Twitch platform is still a relatively niche market – but it is an example of how one breach can lead to many more personal online issues.
In a security breach, there is always a possibility that user information is compromised. If, for example, you had a Twitch account and happened to use that same email/password combination anywhere else on the internet, then these attackers will be able to access those sites and services with your account information. Today, we all have so many Usernames and Passwords to log into our favorite sites and services. And if you reuse passwords, then it only takes one company with a vulnerability for all your accounts to be in jeopardy.
Now, it seems unreasonable to be asked to remember a different password for every website, app, or service you use. That probably feels like a million passwords combinations. Not to mention the complexity requirements many sites and apps enforce. So, what’s the alternative? Store passwords in your web browser? Keep a list on paper under your keyboard? These are options but not good ones. A better option is a Password Vault.
These are programs (with apps and plugins) that will store, generate, and secure your passwords (and other personal information like credit card info). To access all this data, you set up one complex master password or phrase. That’s it. From there, most will tell you if you have reused a password in multiple places, or if the websites you frequent are secure. This can be a huge help when you don’t remember your (friend’s) streaming service that hasn’t logged in for the last year, or when you can’t remember your account for that online marketplace, or you just forgot your utility info and a bill is due. Having all information in a secure and encrypted place makes things easier to manage, and lets you improve the security around your valuable data. You don’t have to have an eidetic memory or carry a little black book everywhere. These days its never a bad thing to be more secure with your online data.
Here are reviews of some of the best Password vaults. See what works best for you: