How to Use Your Web Browser’s Password Manager
- Burton Kelso, Tech Expert
- Oct 5, 2021
- 5 min read
If you’re not already using a password manager, it’s time to start. In our digital world, there are many passwords you have to remember for all of your online accounts. It can become overwhelming which is why you might be tempted to use the same passwords for all of your online accounts. You want to avoid this practice as it's what cybercriminals are hoping you do so it makes it easier for them to break into your online accounts. There are many password managers on the market, but the one you should look at is the password manager of your favorite web browser. It doesn't matter what you use to surf the web, you can store your passwords in the browser and keep your online accounts secure. Check out these quick and easy tips to use your browser's password managers.
The list of mainstream browsers with built-in password managers includes Google Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Safari, and Brave. I should note that no browser has a better password manager than another. You want to stick with your favorite browser. No reason to make things more difficult, right?
Edge. If you didn't know, Edge is the default web browser in Windows. It used to be Internet Explorer, but that is no longer supported. To set up the password manager in Edge, do the following:
Open Edge and select the three dots in the top right corner. Then select “Settings.”
Select “Settings” from the list of menu options and choose “Saved Passwords.” Choose the option to "Offer to Save Password". You should also choose the option "Show the reveal password button in password fields" and "Show alerts when passwords are found in an online leak". This will alert you if a password you're using has been leaked on the dark web.
If you hate creating passwords, you can choose the option for "Suggest Strong Passwords' and Edge will create passwords for all of your accounts when you set up a new account.
Safari. If you're an Apple user, you're probably using Safari to surf the web. To access the password manager while on a laptop or desktop, do the following:
In the toolbar, select “Safari,” followed by “Preferences.”
Then select “Passwords.” You’ll be prompted to either enter your password or use a Touch ID.
To access the password manager on a mobile device, you’ll have to open “Settings” on your mobile phone. Scroll down to “Passwords” and enter your TouchID or your passcode. This will allow you to see and alter any passwords saved on your phone’s browser.
Once you’ve entered a password or Touch ID, you’ll see a list of accounts where you’ve saved passwords and usernames. Click on the account that you’d like to view the login information.
Safari’s password manager will also show a yellow warning icon to the right of each account that has a weak password. To ensure you have maximum security on each of your accounts, take time to update each password that Safari labels as a weak password.
Chrome. I'm sure many of you have switched from your Apple or Windows default browser and downloaded Chrome at some point. Lucky for you, you don't have to switch back to Edge or Safari because Chrome has a password manager built into it too. To set up passwords in Chrome, do the following:
Open Google Chrome and select the three vertical dots in the top right-hand corner of the window. If you’re on a smartphone or tablet, select the three horizontal dots at the bottom right-hand corner of the browser window.
After selecting the three dots, scroll down to select “Settings.” Once you’re selected “Settings,” find the “Passwords” portion of the page.
Once you’re in the “Passwords” section of “Settings,” you’ll be able to see, edit, or remove usernames and passwords from the password manager. To see a password, simply select the eye icon.
Like Microsoft Edge and Safari, Chrome’s password manager will let you know if your passwords are weak or if they’ve been compromised by a security breach.
Firefox. Before Chrome really took off, Firefox was the top third part web browser to use. Many people continue to stick with it to this day mainly for the backwards compatibility it offers for unsupported versions of computer operating systems such as macOS and Windows. Here's how you can enable the password manager:
Open Firefox. Then click the “Menu” button, and scroll to “Preferences.”
Once you’ve opened the Preferences window, click “Privacy & Security.” Then, scroll down to “Logins & Passwords” and select “Saved Logins.” You should now see a new window that lists your accounts and user names with saved passwords.
Click “Show Passwords” to view a password. When you’re prompted to select “Yes” or “No,” select “Yes.” You’ll now be able to see each of your passwords.
Brave. Brave is one of the free, newer browsers. It has become more popular because it can block online ads from appearing on websites. If you use Brace and want to use the password manager, follow these steps:
Open Brave. Then click on the Main Menu which is located in the upper right corner. From there, click on "Settings", "Additional Settings", "AutoFill", then "passwords".
Opera. Opera Is a Chrome-based browser and is designed by those who don't want their surfing habits tracked. Opera Browser offers numerous useful features such as a VPN, but as the above browsers, you can also take advantage of the password manager. Check out these steps to take advantage of Opera's password manager:
Open Opera Browser. Then click on the Opera menu. Choose "Settings" from the menu. From there, scroll down to "Advanced Settings". Locate the "AutoFill" section and then click on "passwords"
One of the great things about web browser password managers is that you can sync with all your devices, allowing passwords to be saved on all of your laptops, desktops, and mobile devices. This means that when you save a password on one device, it will show up on all of your other devices as well.
Once you start using a browser-based password manager, you will find managing all of your online accounts will be so much easier. It will make your online life significantly more secure, easy, and safe from hacking and data breaches. Keeping your accounts secure is essential for protecting personal information like your credit card numbers, social security information, and other personal and sensitive details.
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