Why You Need a Password Manager (and how to choose one)
Password reuse and phishing make accounts fragile. A modern password manager helps you create unique passwords, enable 2FA, and stay safer across every device.
Key takeaways
- Unique passwords stop one breach from becoming many.
- Autofill helps reduce phishing on lookalike domains.
- 2FA + a manager is the fastest practical security upgrade.
Passwords are still the default key for most online accounts—and they’re still the easiest thing for attackers to exploit. The problem is rarely “weak passwords” alone; it’s reused passwords, phishing, and the fact that humans can’t reliably generate and remember dozens of unique, high-entropy secrets.
The real risk: password reuse at scale
When one site leaks your credentials, attackers try the same email and password everywhere (a technique called credential stuffing). If you reuse passwords—even “slightly different” versions—you’ve effectively linked the security of your most important accounts to the weakest website you ever signed up for.
Phishing doesn’t care how strong your password is
A 40-character password is useless if you type it into a fake login page. Password managers reduce phishing risk because they typically only autofill on the correct domain. That creates a subtle but powerful safety net: if your manager doesn’t offer to fill, you have a reason to pause and verify you’re on the real site.
What a modern password manager actually does for you
- Generate unique passwords for every account (so one breach doesn’t cascade).
- Autofill safely to cut down phishing and typos.
- Sync across devices so you don’t “fall back” to reuse out of convenience.
- Store 2FA/TOTP and recovery codes in a structured, searchable way.
- Help teams share access without copy-pasting secrets into chat tools.
How to choose the right password manager
Here’s a practical checklist you can use before committing:
- Encryption model: Look for end-to-end encryption and a clearly documented security model.
- Platform coverage: Browser extension + mobile + desktop so you can use it everywhere.
- 2FA support: Built-in TOTP support is a meaningful convenience boost.
- Sharing controls: For families/teams, make sure it has permissions and activity logs.
- Usability: If it’s annoying, you’ll stop using it—and security fails when habits fail.
Quick wins you can do today
- Turn on 2FA for email, banking, and your password manager first.
- Change passwords for your top 5 “blast radius” accounts.
- Replace reuse with generated passwords going forward.
Want the deeper technical view? Read our Security Model or compare plans on the Pricing page.
Start with better habits—then automate them
Passwall helps you generate unique passwords, autofill safely, and keep 2FA organized across every device.