Storing passwords directly in web browsers may seem convenient, but it exposes users to significant security risks. Understanding these risks and exploring safer alternatives, such as using dedicated password manager applications, is essential for protecting sensitive information.
It’s easy, convenient, and after all, what are the odds a hacker will target little ol’ you? But saving your passwords in a web browser is risky business. Learn why you should ditch storing passwords in a web browser and use a password manager application like Passpack instead.
Storing Passwords in Your Web Browser is a Bad Idea
There’s plenty of reasons for storing passwords in your web browser, especially if your job or online passions require a lot of screen time. They’re all in one place. It streamlines logins by auto filling username and password fields without error so there’s little manual keying and no need to memorize complex character strings. Plus, your browser has a built-in password generator tool capable of creating strong passwords, so you feel safe.
Storing passwords in a browser might be convenient but exposes your personal and business credentials to multiple security risks. A few reasons why this is a bad practice:
- Browsers are designed for convenience, not security. Most browsers are equipped with extensions that enable them to manage passwords and even generate complex ones, but few offer security features like password encryption. Those that do are generally not very strong and easily broken, as the encryption key is stored in the device and hackers know just where to look. Plus, there are little if any live monitoring or support services available from your browser software provider in the event of a problem.
- Think cybercriminals aren’t looking for you? Think again. In this age of remote work everyone is a target whether you are a corporate employee logging into enterprise IT systems from home or a sole professional. Just because you work alone and there’s no one looking over your shoulder and/or anyone to share passwords with doesn’t mean your personal banking and social media accounts aren’t at risk. In fact, criminals target smaller businesses and individuals in the belief they have fewer cyber defenses in place.
And as of April 2024, they’re one step closer. In a breach at National Public Data, a company that performs background checks for employers and staffing agencies, hackers stole the personal records of 2.9 billion people from around the world, including the name, address, date of birth, and Social Security number of virtually every American! - All your passwords and account numbers are exposed in one hack. A single point of failure for you is a multi-point of opportunity for criminals. In addition to giving access to the credentials of every online service registered in your browser, chances are you’ve also saved bank account and credit card numbers on websites like Amazon to speed online purchases, Adobe and Microsoft to automate software subscription payments, and perhaps the frequent flyer numbers to your favorite airlines, exposing you to fraudulent online shopping purchases, sham loan applications, and other identity theft risks.
- Browser password managers are out of your control. Should a breach or unexpected outage occur with your internet service provider or the browser software itself, at best all your accounts may be inaccessible until service is restored, and at worst, permanently lost if the credentials are erased or held for ransom.
In case you think that can’t happen, Google experienced an issue in its Chrome browser in July 2024. For 18 hours, approximately 15 million Windows users could not access their passwords or create new ones using Google Password Manager on Chrome version M127. Although the bug was fixed the following day, it scared and frustrated many Chrome users whose credentials suddenly vanished.
None of these are issues of concern for users of an independent cloud-based password manager.
Risks of Storing Passwords in Web Browsers for Businesses
A deeper dive into the act of storing passwords in web browsers reveals even more drawbacks for businesses with multiple employees:
- Physical access to browsers. Users who leave their computer on and unattended for a quick break, during lunch hour, or overnight means anyone can see all the passwords stored in their browser.
- Remote access to browsers. Conversely, hackers need not be in the room. Once the username and password to a user’s PC is compromised, intruders can easily bypass web browser security and steal every credential stored in the browser’s password manager.
- Password chaos. Employees can make up their own passwords and rules without any control or tracking by IT. Numerous users accessing the same websites and online services with different passwords multiplies the attack surface, especially if weak credentials are used, and opens the door to insider threats from disgruntled employees, past and present.
- Accessible in one browser only. The passwords you save in the web browser’s password manager are limited to that browser. Use more than one? You’ll need to duplicate your password list for each browser – which also duplicates the risks. On the flip side, if you use the same browser on multiple devices, you’ll be able to access your passwords equally from your desktop and phone, for example. But lose your phone and whoever finds it can find all your passwords too.
- No secure password sharing. Web browser password managers do not support password sharing. That might be okay for a sole professional but not in team-based business settings where multiple employees need access to the same asset. This leads to poor password hygiene habits like writing them on sticky notes, emailing them in plain text, and using or reusing very weak passwords because they are easy to remember.
Make the Switch to a Password Manager
A dedicated password manager application is perhaps one of the easiest ways to protect your personal and business data from a breach while eliminating the vulnerabilities of storing credentials in a web browser.
With a password manager app acting as a digital vault, users only have to remember one master password and businesses can:
- Create unique passwords for every account/service
- Enforce consistent policies for password use, strength, and duration across the business
- Securely share passwords and confidential data among team members using encryption
- Prevent the use of weak or expired credentials
- Require all authorized users to enter the same password for shared accounts/services
- Store confidential information other than passwords, such as PINs, bank account and credit card numbers, licenses, etc.
- Access credentials from any device, using any browser, without fear of losing access
- Maintain complete control over all password-related activities
Make Passpack Your Password Manager of Choice
Passpack provides all this and more! Passpack is a centralized vault enabling the secure creation, storage, and sharing of confidential data across every user in the organization.
Passpack is built on a zero-trust architecture. No one, not even Passpack employees, have access to the data stored in user accounts.
Each Passpack account is protected by a master Packing Key that only the owner knows. Passpack uses the highest-level 256-bit AES data encryption and includes a built-in password generator that allows administrators to set minimum thresholds for character string length, strength, expiration, and more.
Passpack supports an unlimited number of users, teams, and passwords to grow with your business over time. Administrators have 100% visibility and control over every password-related activity and can easily create discreet teams for sharing, implement role-based access, change passwords, and quickly on- and off-board users without impacting the access of other team members.
Extremely cost competitive, a Passpack subscription offers the capabilities of comparable password manager applications without compromise. Plans start as low as $1.50/month for individual users; Business Plan accounts provide up to 50 user licenses for just $4.50/month and all plans include comprehensive onboarding and personalized customer support you won’t find anywhere else.
Try Passpack risk free. Sign up for a 28-day free trial of the Passpack Business Plan and get the peace of mind that comes with not storing your credentials in a web browser.