Security tip: A password manager alone isn’t enough

Everyone knows that for proper security, each and every account needs a complex and unique password. The problem is that it’s just too difficult for most people to remember dozens of fifteen-character passwords. That’s why password managers are so useful: They take care of the memorisation problem, and allow easy and secure access to the user. Is that enough, though?

Of course, surely any techie worth his or her salt knows the benefits of password managers. Using services like LastPass and 1Password to generate, store, and access secure and unique passwords is an excellent first step. If you are ready to take your security seriously, though, you’ll need to step up your game further.

First off, don’t rely on a single point of failure. LastPass keeps your data safely on its servers, but what if it becomes inaccessible for just a day? You’ll be out of luck when you go to do your banking or log into Facebook. Export your data, and keep it in a safe place. Storing your password database in an encrypted disk image on a USB stick would be your best bet for security and accessibility.