Passwords: Where to Keep Them

You have some options for storing your passwords. An old-school method is to write them all down or type them up in a text document and then print it out. Of course, you want to safeguard this sensitive information. So, you should keep this list in a locked safe at home or a safety deposit box at your bank.

Note that the hard copy method of password storage will be time-consuming and hard to keep up with. You'll need to physically add to or delete from your list whenever you make changes. If you keep the list in a safety deposit box, frequent trips to the bank will quickly become a bothersome task. Even with onsite storage, you're likely to forget to make the updates in a timely manner.

An improvement on paper storage is a USB drive. These data drives are inexpensive, portable and simple to use. However, security can be a problem. While it's easy to add password protection to your flash drive or encrypt your files, you run the risk of losing your drive, forgetting your login, and being hacked. Plus, regularly updating your drive can be hit or miss.

The most efficient way to store all your passwords is through a password management app. This software creates more secure passwords, lets you store them in the cloud, on your computer, or on a mobile electronic device. Multiple options are best. The platform stores all your passwords and you only have to remember one master login to get into your vault.

You have several choices. So be sure the password manager you use has aggressive security measures - like end-to-end encryption, random password generation, and automatic update features. Look for zero-knowledge architecture, which means the provider cannot access your passwords.