Is it safe to save passwords in the browser?
Episode #12-19 released on January 14, 2022
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The idea of using the browser to save your passwords seems like a great idea of convenience, and on the surface, it may seem like a good idea. The issue is one of security. Browsers tend to have horrible security when it comes to protecting passwords saved within them and that leaves them open to vulnerabilities that can be exploited by malware.
Let us start by the first issue, browser security. Your browser is setup with plenty of convenience options, but many of the options are not actually secure or safe. Anyone who can access your computer, locally or remotely, can use the information, even if they could not actually see the information first.
The second issue is the database it is stored in, they are rarely as secure as some other options. LastPass has notoriously better security than your web browser. If you need an option to store your passwords, Last Pass and other options are better than those offered in browser.
The third issue, security, malware does have access to that information. If the account information was better encrypted, that would not be an issue, but it is not protected properly.
And, finally, since the vulnerability can be exploited locally and remotely, it is by far, a much better idea to use dedicated software for password and account storage instead of your browser. Since many operate as a browser plugin, there will be no difference in experience, but your security will be vastly better.
This brings us to a common theme when it comes to security, if it is convenient, it is likely not secure. Do the research to see if the solution you plan on using is secure and can stand up to local and remote vulnerabilities and malware.
Host : Steve Smith | Music : | Editor : Steve Smith | Producer : Zed Axis Dot Net