One Huge Change Coming To LastPass In March
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Summary: LastPass is limiting features and support in their free version as of March 16th, 2021. You can upgrade your account to continue using the password manager across multiple devices and for added features. For further details, keep reading.
Humble Beginnings
Over the years, the struggle to successfully juggle passwords across a multitude of websites grew to outright unmanageable. Like most people, I’ve tried everything from keeping a written list in a notebook to letting my browser like Google Chrome keep track of passwords (I’ll explain why that’s bad in a moment). Ultimately, I needed something more reliable so I didn’t get locked out of websites when I couldn’t find my passwords notebook (yes — a real thing I kept in a desk drawer growing up).
Do You Want Google Chrome To Save Your Password For This Website?
The short answer: no. For years however, I used to always click “Save” when prompted by Google Chrome to remember my password. You may have come across this in Safari, Internet Explorer, Firefox, or any other number of browsers. If like me, you clicked that tempting “save my password” button, you may have put those passwords at risk of exposure if your computer was compromised by a hacker or malware. As TechRepublic explained, it is possible for unauthorized users to view saved passwords, thus putting your accounts at risk.
But what about Safari and Apple’s Keychain? I used to fully trust the built-in Keychain app for password management until it was shown to be vulnerable.
Can I Just Write Down Passwords In A Book?
Sure – but what if you misplace or forget to bring that book with you? No one wants to carry around a clunky list of passwords and if you are leaving the house or office with this password repository you risk it being stolen and ending up in the wrong hands.
Insecure Passwords
Let’s face it, thinking up a password is challenging. Two key problems stem from this:
- You are tempted to use the simplest password that meets the requirements of the website. When “MyDogRalph” isn’t sufficient we add a number, and then a symbol. The issue with this? Passwords can easily be guessed using dictionary attacks, social engineering, and simple research on your life (think public information from social media accounts, personal and professional websites, and leaked data online).
- You may use the same password across multiple sites. This means if a website is compromised and passwords are stolen, your accounts across other websites may be at risk of a breach too if you use the same password for everything.
While some websites require complex passwords to create your account, who wants to actually think of a way to incorporate an upper- and lower-case letter, number, and symbol into an 8-character or longer password?
Enter: The Password Manager
I have been a prominent supporter of secure password managers since they gained popularity and widespread support in internet browsers. Previously I endorsed LastPass and 1Password interchangeably as both accomplished the same task. However, when it comes to simplicity to set up and use on a daily basis, LastPass has won me over. Plus, certain versions of LastPass tell you when your password may be unsecure, weak, or found on the dark web. The app is also excellent at generating complex strings of passwords so you don’t have to (one of my favorite features).
So What Changed?
Starting March 16, 2021, LastPass Free customers will only be able to log in on either mobile/tablet or desktop/laptop devices. This is problematic as I recommend using LastPass across all your devices for seamless password management.
The Solution
Simply upgrade to the paid individual account or family account. Learn more about how you can seamlessly upgrade your account here.
Need help with LastPass or something else? Contact me to set up a remote session.