Why You Need a Password Manager (And How to Choose One)

Let me guess: you have a handful of passwords you rotate between, maybe with a few numbers or symbols thrown in. And you've probably reused at least one of them on multiple sites.

Don't worry — you're not alone. But here's the problem: when one site gets breached (and they do, constantly), attackers try those stolen passwords everywhere else. It's called credential stuffing, and it's incredibly effective.

The solution? A password manager.

What Is a Password Manager?

A password manager is a secure digital vault that:

Generates strong, unique passwords for every account
Stores them encrypted so only you can access them
Fills them in automatically when you log in

You only need to remember one strong master password. The manager handles everything else.

"But What If the Password Manager Gets Hacked?"

This is the most common concern I hear. Here's why it's less scary than it sounds:

Encryption happens locally — Good password managers encrypt your data on your device before it ever touches their servers. Even if hackers break into the company, they get encrypted gibberish.
Zero-knowledge architecture — The best managers can't see your passwords even if they wanted to. They literally don't have the keys.
One strong point vs. many weak ones — Yes, your password manager is a single point of failure. But it's a fortified single point, versus dozens of weak passwords scattered across the internet.

How to Choose a Password Manager

Here's what to look for:

Must-Haves

✅ End-to-end encryption (zero-knowledge)
✅ Cross-platform sync (phone, computer, browser)
✅ Two-factor authentication for your vault
✅ Password generator built in

Nice-to-Haves

🔹 Secure notes and document storage
🔹 Password sharing for families/teams
🔹 Breach monitoring (alerts if your passwords appear in leaks)
🔹 Offline access

My Recommendations

For Most People: Bitwarden

Price: Free (premium is ~€10/year)
Why: Open source, audited, excellent free tier, works everywhere. EU-friendly — you can self-host if you want full control.
Best balance of security, usability, and price

For Apple Users: iCloud Keychain

Price: Free with Apple devices
Why: Already built into your iPhone/Mac, seamless integration
Limitation: Not great if you also use Windows/Android

For Families: 1Password

Price: ~€35/year (individual), €55/year (family)
Why: Best family sharing features, excellent apps, great security
Worth the premium if you need to manage passwords for non-technical family members

For the Privacy-Conscious: Proton Pass

Price: Free tier, or included with Proton Unlimited (~€10/month)
Why: From the ProtonMail team. Swiss-based, end-to-end encrypted, designed with European privacy standards in mind.
Good alternative to the US-based options

For Full Control: KeePass

Price: Free
Why: Completely offline, open source, you control everything
Trade-off: More technical setup, manual syncing

Getting Started (5-Minute Setup)

Pick a manager from the list above
Create a strong master password — Use a passphrase like "correct-horse-battery-staple" (but pick your own words!)
Install the browser extension and mobile app
Enable two-factor authentication on the vault
Start saving passwords — Every time you log into a site, save the credentials to your manager

Over the next few weeks, gradually update your old passwords to strong, unique ones. The manager will generate them for you.

The Bottom Line

A password manager is the single highest-impact security improvement most people can make. It takes minutes to set up and saves hours of frustration (no more "forgot password" emails).

Start with the free tier of Bitwarden if you're unsure. You can always upgrade or switch later.

Your future self will thank you.