How Do Password Managers Work

Have several passwords that you reuse across all your accounts? Uh, this may be a problem. With the rates of data breaches nowadays, there’s a high chance hackers already have your password. 

Even if your passwords haven’t been compromised, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. And a trusted password manager like Passwarden is just what you need! Password managers not only keep your data secure but also encourage you to practice healthy cybersecurity hygiene. You can make each of your passwords strong, unique, and thus uncrackable. What is a password manager? How do password managers work? What are Passwarden benefits? Find all answers below! 

What is a Password Manager

A password manager is like a digital safe that stores your logins, passwords, secure notes, and other sensitive information. 

It takes a load off your mind and relieves the pain of remembering dozens of strong and unique passwords from numerous accounts. You only need to remember one master password, which unlocks access to your secure encrypted vault. 

Password managers have many other functions besides storing your data. Let’s dig deeper into how password managers work to learn more.  

How do Password Managers Work

I. How Password Managers Protect Your Data

When it comes to such sensitive data as passwords to your social media accounts, emails, online banking info, and much more, the first and foremost priority is security. So, taking Passwarden as an example, let’s discover how password managers work to protect your personal data. 

1. Strong encryption algorithms 

The security principle of utmost importance is using reliable state-of-the-art cryptographic algorithms. Top-notch encryption ensures that your passwords, credit cards, secure notes, and whatever you store in your Passwarden vault is 100% protected.

Passwarden also guarantees unmatched data transfer security. All information sent from Passwarden to API servers is reliably secured with HTTPS based on the TLS 1.3/1.2 protocols. Here’s how it works: 

For maximum privacy, Passwarden implements client-side encryption. This means the processes of encrypting and decrypting your data run on your device. Whenever you share your data with others or sync it across devices, it remains encrypted all along the way. Client-side encryption also facilitates a zero-knowledge approach. Find out what it means below. 

2. Zero-knowledge principle

Passwarden keeps all your secrets secret. Zero-knowledge implies you are the only person to know what’s in your vault (unless you share it with others:) We, the password manager provider, can’t see your passwords or other items. How does it work? Even when synchronizing your data to other clients, the data remains encrypted till the correct unique login and master password are typed in. 

To put it simply, your data remains encrypted end-to-end with your Master Password, so it’s crucial to remember it and save your Recovery Key. Passwarden employees have no access to your Master Password, and thus, can’t see any private info in your vault.

By the way, just in case you happen to forget your Master Password, no worries. There’s a way to regain access to your account, it’s described on this page. 

3. Secure password sharing 

How do people share their passwords with others? Some may send a password via email, a text message, or even write it on a sticky note. Possible outcome? An unauthorized party getting access to your account, reading your private messages, or whatnot, depending on the password leaked. 

To avoid such a scenario, use a password manager for sharing information. Thanks to the strong password manager encryption, Passwarden reliably protects your data when you share it with others. Your passwords remain encrypted all the way from you to another person’s device. 

II. How Password Managers Work to Simplify your Life 

1. Autosaving and auto-filling passwords 

Besides storing your data, password managers also offer autosave and autofill features. How do they work? When you need to log in to a website, instead of typing in the password to this website, you just let the password manager fill out the necessary info automatically for you. A fully-featured password manager like Passwarden can also be configured to automatically fill other data as well, such as credit card details, emails, and more. 

When you enter your login credentials on a website for the first time, Passwarden offers to save it to your vault. If you agree, your data gets autosaved and also synced across other devices. Both the autosave and autofill features save time, providing faster access to your accounts. 

2. Generating strong passwords in seconds  

If you’re registering a new account, you don’t have to rack your brain over a complex password containing lower and uppercase, a number, a symbol, etc. Thanks to the password generator feature, Passwarden will come up with it in seconds and save it in your vault for further use.   

Other Benefits You Get with Passwarden 

Besides all the features mentioned above, like top-notch encryption, protection of your data, autofill, autosave, password generator, and secure sharing, Passwarden offers you yet more benefits:

1. Multiplatform support 

Thanks to multiplatform support, Passwarden can sync your data across different OS. If, for example, you have a Windows PC at the office and Mac at home, an iPhone or Android tablet, you can quickly access your passwords regardless of which platform you are on. Passwarden also has browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. Check out the full list of supported platforms here.  

2. Two-factor authentication

Well, this feature needs no introduction. Two-factor authentication is a must-have for a password manager. Even if your secure master password gets compromised somehow, your account, with all the data it contains, remains secure. How does 2FA work with Passwarden? Besides your Master Password, you need to provide a special one-time code, which you get by email or from an authenticator app. Find more info on this page. 

3. Duress mode

Imagine you’re forced to log in to your password manager and show your data to somebody. Such a situation may occur when crossing the borders of some countries, for example, China. Surely, few would voluntarily agree to reveal their passwords. 

So to protect your data from such intrusion, Passwarden offers a real lifesaver feature, called Duress mode. It’s a special mode that disguises your vaults as if they don’t exist. Instead, it only shows a vault that you previously chose for Duress mode, keeping the rest invisible. You can learn more about it here. 

Bottom Line on How Password Managers Work

Given all the security measures and how password managers work across devices, using Passwarden is definitely the best way to protect your passwords and other sensitive data. 

Download Passwarden now, see how it works, enjoy the ultimate security and protection, and make your digital life easier!