Don’t understand LastPass (password managers)

[Codeseven]

Question, what is the difference if someone is dumb enough to type in User Name: monkey, Pass: monkey123, or, if they use LastPass to auto fill the same thing? (probably none?)

It’s not that LasPass is encrypting your weak passwords when it’s auto filling them (or something?) so if you don’t change them it’s still somehow more secure because your using a password manager, right?

Is it that if your using a password manager then it’s assumed your also allowing it to generate long, complex (and much more secure) passwords that it then securely stores so that you don’t have to remember it, correct? Thanks

 

[Apple_Robert]

The latter is one of the useful functions of password managers.

 

[SDColorado]

Password sharing is also a benefit of LastPass. My wife and I use it to share common passwords that we both need access too, such as bank accounts, medical portals, travel/hotel sites, etc. We also use it to share business-related passwords among business associates such as website logins, business accounts that multiple people need access to, etc.

Edit: Also you can grant emergency access to a spouse or family members in case of death or incapacitation. Which can be handy if you have passwords that someone might need to take care of your affairs should something happen to you.

 

[0388631]

The beauty of LastPass or other password managers is you don't have to come up with your own password that would otherwise be weak, such as your example. A random string of alphanumerics with special characters and case changes can be suggested by the integrated password creator.

 

[Codeseven]

Thanks guys.

So basically password managers are great for remembering all of your many passwords, but, they’re most effective when you change all your weak passwords to complex ones that you don’t have to remember.

 

[0388631]

Thanks guys.

So basically password managers are great for remembering all of your many passwords, but, they’re most effective when you change all your weak passwords to complex ones that you don’t have to remember.

Precisely. And if you do need to recover an individual password, it goes to your email and if you have 2FA for email access, then it's even more secure. However, I should inform you that you're not beholden to just LastPass. There is BitWarden, Dashlane, and even 1Password. These are not the only services, but they're the most known.

 

[glenthompson]

Thanks guys.

So basically password managers are great for remembering all of your many passwords, but, they’re most effective when you change all your weak passwords to complex ones that you don’t have to remember.

More important is that you have a completely unique password for each site. Hard to do that without a password manager. That’s how many people get hacked since they use same password on each site so when one gets compromised they all get compromised.

 

[sgtaylor5]

and with the new Password API in iOS 12, third-party password managers are on the same level as Keychain. iPassword is quite easy to use now that I can use TouchID.

With Keychain, you can't export ANYTHING, unless you copy and paste individual items, which requires a system password entry each time.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

And with integrated 2FA like google authenticator in the likes of 1Password that works both on Mac/iPhone it is very very good