Latest news with #BitWarden
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Microsoft Authenticator is Losing Password Autofill—Here's What To Use Instead
Microsoft Authenticator, a popular app for generating 2FA codes and storing passwords, has supported password autofill for years. However, that is all going by the wayside. Here's how to save your passwords, and what you can use instead. Microsoft isn't just removing autheticator's ability to autofill passwords, it is completely removing its ability to even store them. Starting in August, passwords previously saved to Authenticator will only be accessible via your Microsoft account. If you used Authenticator to generate passwords, that generation history will be completely erased. If those passwords aren't backed up somewhere, either in Authenticator, your Microsoft account, or elsewhere, they'll be lost permanently in August 2025. Microsoft Authenticator will also be deleting any saved payment methods you have. As inconvenient as that may be, it is probably a good thing—leaving a bunch of sensitive data sitting around in a deprecated service is never a good thing for your security. Authenticator provided four big services all in one convenient package: A password manager A 2FA code generator A way to save your payment methods A password generator In searching for a replacement, I wanted a solution (or combination of solutions) that neatly provides all of those too. I use BitWarden as a password manager, since it works so well on all of my devices (Android, Windows, and Linux), and luckily, BitWarden can also do 2FA. The regular BitWarden app also includes a password and passkey generator, and supports credit cards. There is really only one small downside: the free 2FA and password manager apps are separate. If you want them integrated, you'll need to pay 10 dollars annually. I'm all in on BitWarden these days, plus I like the company and the open-source approach, so that is what I went for. Google's password manager is integrated into every Android phone by default, which makes it an obvious choice for many. Because it is integrated into Android, it tends to have the fewest problems with autofill. On the other hand, it doesn't work on Windows or Linux unless you use Google Chrome. 1Password is an extremely popular password manager that ticks all of my boxes, and will probably meet the needs of almost any user. Like Microsoft Authenticator and BitWarden, it works on all major operating systems, can store and generate passwords and passkeys, can handle 2FA codes, and can save payment methods. The personal plan for 1Password costs $2.99 per month if you pay annually, or 3.99 per month if you pay on a month-by-month basis. I gave the trial of 1Password a try and actually quite liked it, but I stick to FOSS software whenever I can. Once you've decided which password manager app you want to use, you need to export your passwords from Authenticator. The process will be pretty similar regardless of which password manager you choose. Authenticator lets you export your saved passwords as a CSV file, but BitWarden on mobile can't directly import that. It is easier to use the desktop instead. First, open up Authenticator and make sure that your passwords are backed up to your Microsoft account. Tap the three-dot icon in the upper-right corner, then go to Settings. Scroll down until you see the toggle next to "Cloud Backup." Now, go to any PC and launch Microsoft Edge. Once Edge has been launched, log in to the same Microsoft account that you used for your Authenticator backup. Click the address bar, then paste or type edge://wallet/passwords in the address bar. Click the three-dot icon, then the "Export Password" button. Edge will take you through a few confirmation steps before giving you a CSV file that contains your passwords. Now, install the BitWarden desktop app on your device, and click File > Import Data. Select "Edge (CSV)" from the File Format drop-down menu, then click "Import" and select the file you exported from Microsoft Edge previously. All of your passwords that were previously saved in Authenticator will be moved over into BitWarden and synchronized between all of your devices. If none of those options are appealing, there are other password managers you could try out instead. Just remember: a piece of paper stuffed in your desk drawer is neither secure nor reliable enough to be trusted with your important passwords.
CBS News
13-05-2025
- CBS News
How can you safely remember your passwords?
From emails to bank accounts to streaming services, it seems like everything requires a password nowadays. It can be hard to keep track of them, especially after making a new one. Here are some smart and secure steps you should take to remember your password. Having just two passwords is a low and risky amount, yet understandable given the annoyance that comes with keeping track of several of them. Has this happened to you: You make a new password, but then you forget it. So, you reset it. But soon you forget that password as well, starting painful loop of repeatedly making new passwords that you struggle to remember. "It's the number one reason that people end up creating weak passwords or reusing passwords," said Mark Sommerfeld. He's a managing partner at RYMARK IT Navigation. How can we safely remember our passwords? For Sommerfeld, the answer is simple. "The number one recommendation I would have is using a password manager app," he said. Password manager apps encrypt your passwords so that only you can access them. They also create unique passwords for all your accounts. BitWarden, Dashlane, and LastPass are the apps Sommerfeld's company recommends. Sommerfeld disagrees with the idea of using passwords that are familiar to you. "When you're trying to memorize the password, now you begin making them easier, shorter. You maybe put your birthday, your pets name, something like that," he said. By making a password easy to remember, you then make it easy to hack. Other mistakes include writing them down on a piece of paper. The paper could be lost or seen by someone else. Another bad idea is creating a digital document listing all your passwords, then storing it on your phone or computer. How can you make a strong password? Best practices include: Make it long, like 12-15 characters Use numbers, symbols, and upper/lower case letters Avoid using anything familiar in your life (pet names, sports teams, birthdates) "If somebody can look at your Facebook page and get details about you, don't use any of those details that they would be able to find about you," Sommerfeld said. Lastly, use two-factor authentication when possible, and specifically use app-based authentication. "In the case where you password gets breached, hacked, or found there is a second layer protecting that account for you," said Sommerfeld.
