Password Managers Explained

By Thomas & Øyvind · Published June 1, 2026

If you do only one thing to improve your security this year, make it a password manager. It is the rare tool that is both more secure and more convenient than what most people do now — reusing a handful of passwords across dozens of accounts, which means one breach anywhere can cascade everywhere. A password manager fixes the root problem rather than patching symptoms.

The concept is simple: the manager generates a unique, strong password for every account and stores them encrypted behind one strong master password (and ideally a second factor). You only ever remember the master password; the manager fills the rest. Options worth comparing include NordPass and the privacy-focused Proton Pass, both of which use modern encryption and work across devices and browsers.

The questions that should decide your choice: is the vault end-to-end encrypted so even the provider cannot read it, does it work on all your devices and browsers, and does it support strong second factors? Avoid storing passwords in plain documents or letting browsers save them without a master password — those are convenience without the security.

A password manager is the foundation that makes everything else work. It pairs directly with two-factor authentication, supports the privacy goals in protecting your privacy online, and complements a VPN and antivirus.

Adopt a manager with end-to-end encryption and a strong master password — it is the single highest-value habit in personal security. General guidance.