Please Ditch the Sticky Note: Get a Password Manager

Okay, so maybe there aren’t too many people left who keep their passwords on a sticky note under their keyboard… but what has replaced that isn’t much better!

I know for a fact that many folks out there that save your passwords in an unlocked spreadsheet, just have your browser save them all, or just change the number slightly every time you need a new password. (I’m looking at you ‘Fall2026!’ people.)

If you listen to one piece of advice this week, please let it be this one: You need a password manager. Whether you’re reading this thinking about your own passwords, or your entire team, the answer is still the same.

What would a real password manager do for you?

There are lots of nerdy security reasons – encryption, multi-factor authentication, securely sharing passwords – but there are also some very nice ‘make your life easier’ benefits.

Most of the main password managers come with browser extensions, which can automatically detect when you’re on a website and autofill username and password. When you are creating a new login for a website they can generate a secure, randomized password for you and automatically store it.

When we are onboarding new employees internally, I commonly tell them that they will only need to remember two passwords – their computer login and their password manager. Everything else should be random generated strings of garbage, long enough that nobody could ever guess them.

Saved Passwords vs. a Password Manager

Some might point to Google Chrome or Firefox saving their passwords and see that they are also adding some of these usability features. The big difference is that browsers unlock with the same login you use every day, so if your computer gets compromised, the attackers will have a much easier path to getting an export of all of your passwords. Password managers encrypt their passwords with a completely separate master password, adding an extra layer the attacker would need to break.

The actual choice of which password manager that you use can depend on different factors like cost, feature set, and personal preference. There are some big names out there that will provide all of the features and security, but if you’d like chat about the different options we’re always here to discuss.

Now that you know, it’s time to get moving and burn those sticky notes!