Password Managers: Complete Guide to Selection and Setup

The average user has 100+ accounts. Remembering a unique complex password for each is impossible. A password manager solves this problem and makes you significantly more secure.

Why You Need a Password Manager

The Problem: Human Memory

Typical behavior without a manager:

• One password for everything → breach = all accounts compromised
• Simple passwords → easy to guess
• Variations of one password → easy to predict
• Written notes → get lost, stolen

The Solution: Password Manager

Without Manager	With Manager
3-5 passwords for everything	Unique for every site
password123	x7#kL9$mN2@pQ5&vR8
Remember or write down	Remember one master password
Manual entry	Autofill

What a Manager Can Do

• Generate complex passwords
• Secure storage
• Autofill in browsers and apps
• Sync between devices
• Check for breaches
• Store notes, cards, documents

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Comparing Popular Managers

Bitwarden

Type: Cloud-based, open source

Criteria	Rating
Security	★★★★★
Convenience	★★★★☆
Price	★★★★★
Features	★★★★☆

Pros:

• Free tier with full functionality
• Open source - auditable
• Cross-platform
• Self-hosted option
• Passkey support

Cons:

• Interface simpler than 1Password
• Fewer integrations

Price: Free / $10/year Premium

Recommendation: Best choice for most people.

1Password

Type: Cloud-based, closed source

Criteria	Rating
Security	★★★★★
Convenience	★★★★★
Price	★★★☆☆
Features	★★★★★

Pros:

• Best UX on the market
• Watchtower - breach monitoring
• Travel Mode - hide data at borders
• Excellent family plans
• macOS/iOS integration

Cons:

• Closed source
• Subscription only, no purchase
• More expensive than competitors

Price: $36/year personal, $60/year family

Recommendation: For those who value UX and are willing to pay.

KeePassXC

Type: Local, open source

Criteria	Rating
Security	★★★★★
Convenience	★★★☆☆
Price	★★★★★
Features	★★★★☆

Pros:

• Completely free
• Data only with you
• No service dependency
• Maximum control

Cons:

• Manual sync (via cloud)
• Harder to set up
• Mobile apps separate (KeePassDX, Strongbox)

Price: Free

Recommendation: For paranoid and technically savvy users.

Comparison Table

Manager	Code	Storage	Price	For Whom
Bitwarden	Open	Cloud/Self-host	Free/$10	Most people
1Password	Closed	Cloud	$36/year	UX lovers
KeePassXC	Open	Local	Free	Paranoid
Dashlane	Closed	Cloud	$60/year	Business
NordPass	Closed	Cloud	$24/year	NordVPN users

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Setting Up Bitwarden

Registration

1. Open bitwarden.com
2. Create Account
3. Enter email and master password

Master Password:

• Minimum 12 characters (better 16+)
• Use a passphrase: correct-horse-battery-staple
• Memorize it - cannot be recovered!

Installation

Browser:

1. Install extension from extension store
2. Log into account
3. Configure autofill

Mobile:

1. Install from App Store / Google Play
2. Log into account
3. Enable autofill in system settings

Desktop:

1. Download from bitwarden.com/download
2. Log into account
3. Set up biometric unlock

Importing Passwords

From browser:

1. Chrome: Settings → Passwords → Export
2. Bitwarden: Tools → Import → Chrome (csv)

From another manager:

1. Export to CSV or JSON
2. Bitwarden: Tools → Import → select format

Important Settings

Two-Factor Authentication:

1. Settings → Security → Two-step login
2. Add TOTP app
3. Save recovery codes!

Lock timeout:

• Settings → Security → Vault timeout
• Recommendation: 15 minutes for desktop, immediately for mobile

Biometrics:

• Settings → Security → Unlock with biometrics
• Convenient, but still need to remember master password

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Setting Up 1Password

Registration

1. Open 1password.com
2. Try free → choose plan
3. Create account

Secret Key:

• 1Password generates unique Secret Key
• Save Emergency Kit (PDF with key)
• Needed when signing in on new device

Features

Watchtower:

• Automatically checks passwords for breaches
• Shows weak and reused passwords
• Warns about sites without 2FA

Travel Mode:

1. Before trip, mark vaults as “Safe for Travel”
2. Enable Travel Mode
3. Unmarked vaults become inaccessible
4. Nothing to show at border

Family Plan

• Up to 5 people
• Shared vaults for WiFi passwords, Netflix, etc.
• Account recovery for family members

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Setting Up KeePassXC

Installation

1. Download from keepassxc.org
2. Install
3. Create new database

Creating Database

1. Database → New Database
2. Choose name and file location (.kdbx)
3. Set master password
4. Optional: add key file for extra protection

Synchronization

KeePassXC doesn’t sync itself - use cloud:

Option 1: Cloud Storage

• Put .kdbx in Dropbox/Google Drive/iCloud
• Automatic sync

Option 2: Syncthing

• P2P sync without cloud
• Data never leaves your devices

Mobile Apps

Platform	App
Android	KeePassDX, Keepass2Android
iOS	Strongbox, KeePassium

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Password Generation

Good Password Characteristics

Parameter	Minimum	Recommended
Length	12 characters	16+ characters
Characters	Letters + numbers	+ special chars
Uniqueness	For each site	For each site

Password Types

Random:

x7#kL9$mN2@pQ5&vR8!tY

Pro: Maximum entropy Con: Impossible to remember

Passphrase:

correct-horse-battery-staple

Pro: Easier to remember Con: Longer

Generator Settings

Bitwarden:

• Tools → Generator
• Type: Password or Passphrase
• Length: 16+ for passwords, 4+ words for phrases

1Password:

• When creating entry → generator icon
• Configure rules for site requirements

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Organizing Your Vault

Folder Structure

📁 Personal
  ├── Social Media
  ├── Email
  ├── Finance
  └── Subscriptions
📁 Work
  ├── Corporate
  └── Tools
📁 Shared (family)
  ├── Streaming
  ├── WiFi
  └── Smart Home

Entry Types

Type	What to store
Login	Sites, services
Card	Bank cards
Identity	Passport, license
Note	Secret information
SSH Key	For developers

Tags and Search

• Use tags for quick search
• Examples: important, subscription, expiring

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Manager Security

Master Password

Requirements:

• Unique (not used anywhere else)
• Long (16+ characters or 4+ words)
• Memorable (you’ll need to enter it)

Good examples:

• Cat-jumped-over-the-fence-2024!
• MyDogLoves2RunInThe$Park

Bad examples:

• password123
• qwerty
• Birthday

2FA on Manager

Always enable two-factor authentication:

• TOTP (Google Authenticator, Authy)
• Hardware key (YubiKey) - best option

Recovery Codes

1. When setting up 2FA, save recovery codes
2. Store separately from manager:
   • Printout in safe
   • Encrypted file on USB drive

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Migrating Between Managers

General Process

1. Export from old manager (CSV/JSON)
2. Import into new manager
3. Verify: all entries transferred?
4. Delete exported file (contains plaintext passwords!)
5. Delete data from old manager

From Browser to Bitwarden

Chrome:

Settings → Passwords → ⋮ → Export passwords

Firefox:

Settings → Passwords → ⋮ → Export logins

After import:

• Disable password saving in browser
• Delete saved passwords from browser

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Best Practices

Daily Use

• Always use generator for new passwords
• Never type password manually - only autofill
• Verify URL before autofill (phishing protection)

Periodically

• Check security report (weak passwords, breaches)
• Update compromised passwords
• Delete unused accounts

Emergency Access

Bitwarden:

• Settings → Emergency Access
• Add trusted person
• Configure wait time

1Password:

• Emergency Kit contains everything for recovery
• Store in secure location

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Implementation Checklist

Getting Started

• Manager chosen (recommendation: Bitwarden)
• Strong master password created
• 2FA enabled
• Recovery codes saved

Migration

• Passwords imported from browser
• Passwords imported from other sources
• Passwords deleted from browser
• Browser saving disabled

Usage

• Apps installed on all devices
• Autofill configured
• Biometrics set up
• Weak and reused passwords checked

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Summary

A password manager is one of the most important security investments. Bitwarden is free and provides 95% of paid solution functionality. Spend an hour setting it up today, and forget about password problems forever.

Password manager protects your accounts, VPN protects the connection. Tainet encrypts traffic so no one can intercept data when entering passwords on public networks.