How to set up a password manager — safer than remembering passwords

You use the same password everywhere — or a slight variation of it. You know it’s not ideal, but how else do you keep track of dozens of accounts? The answer is a password manager. One strong master password, and it handles the rest.

Why use a password manager?

When a website gets hacked, attackers try the stolen credentials on other sites too. If you reuse passwords, one breach can expose all your accounts. A password manager creates a unique, strong password for every site — and you never have to remember any of them.

Which password manager should you choose?

There are free and paid options. Here are the most popular for home users and small businesses:

• Bitwarden — free, open source, works on all devices. Best starting point.
• 1Password — paid (around €3/month), very user-friendly, great for teams.
• Dashlane — paid, with extras like VPN and dark web monitoring.
• Built-in browser storage (Chrome, Safari, Edge) — convenient, but less secure and not available across all devices.

For most people, Bitwarden is the best choice: free, secure, and available on Windows, Mac, iOS and Android.

Step by step: setting up Bitwarden

1. Go to bitwarden.com and create a free account.
2. Choose a strong master password — this is the only one you need to remember. Use a passphrase, like CoffeeWith3SugarsAndMilk!.
3. Install the browser extension (Chrome, Firefox or Edge) and the mobile app on your phone.
4. Log in to your accounts as you normally would. When Bitwarden asks if it should save the password, click Save.
5. Next time you create an account, let Bitwarden generate a new password for you. Click the Bitwarden icon and choose Generate password.

What if your browser already has saved passwords?

Chrome and Edge can export saved passwords. Go to the password settings in your browser and look for the export option. You can then import that file into Bitwarden. Once done, delete the exported file from your computer — it contains all your passwords in plain text.

Extra security: enable two-factor authentication

Set up two-factor authentication (2FA) for your password manager itself. In Bitwarden, you’ll find this under account settings. Use an app like Google Authenticator or Authy. This way, your vault stays safe even if someone gets hold of your master password.

What if you forget the master password?

That’s the one real risk. Write your master password on paper and store it somewhere safe — a locked drawer, not your desk. Bitwarden cannot recover your master password for you.

A password manager takes five minutes to set up and gives you peace of mind in case of a data breach. Start today — your future self will thank you.

Need help? DeskCare can help remotely via computer help — including security and software setup.