In today’s digital age, it’s common for every website, from dating apps to secure banking sites, to require a user account and password. However, it’s nearly impossible for the human memory to keep up with the countless passwords needed. Many people resort to using simple, easy-to-guess passwords or rely on a single password for all their accounts. Unfortunately, both strategies make you vulnerable to identity theft. The smarter solution is to use password manager software that can remember unique and complex passwords for all your login needs.

After thorough testing and analysis, we have compiled a list of the top password managers available. Read on to learn about these top-rated tools, along with a detailed explanation of how they work and how we evaluate them.

Dashlane

Why We Recommend It:

Dashlane offers all the essential features expected from a password manager. It doesn’t stop there – it also includes a VPN and a dark web monitor, provides a login history, and scans your accounts for weak or compromised passwords.

Who It’s For:

Although Dashlane’s top-tier plan is pricey and its free plan is limited to just one device, its smooth password capture and replay system, along with its user-friendly features, make it an excellent choice for premium password management.

Pros:

• Smooth password capture and replay
• Allows remote device access revocation
• Secure password sharing
• Supports multiple forms of multi-factor authentication
• Includes VPN
• Scans for compromised accounts
• Retains full password history

Cons:

• Expensive
• Free tier limited to one device
• Clunky password inheritance system

Specifications:

• Import From Browsers
• Two-Factor Authentication
• Fill Web Forms

1Password

Why We Recommend It:

1Password offers apps for various platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. It boasts an excellent password organization system and provides new users with a top-notch tutorial to guide them through the password management process.

Who It’s For:

1Password is suitable for most users due to its user-friendly interface and robust security features. However, it falls short in terms of password inheritance and import options. If these features are important to you, you may want to explore other options.

Pros:

• Excellent tutorial for new users
• Watchtower alerts for password hygiene
• Slick and attractive mobile and desktop apps
• Intuitive password organization

Cons:

• Lacks a free password management tier
• Limited import options
• Missing true password inheritance features

Specifications:

• Import From Browsers
• Two-Factor Authentication
• Fill Web Forms

Keeper

Why We Recommend It:

Keeper is a user-friendly password manager that works seamlessly across multiple platforms and browsers. It offers robust multi-factor authentication support, secure sharing capabilities, useful auditing tools, and a comprehensive password history.

Who It’s For:

Keeper is an excellent choice for anyone seeking password protection, especially those with large families. The Keeper Family package includes five Keeper Unlimited Vaults. However, the free subscription tier limits password creation and storage to just one device.

Pros:

• Easy-to-follow tutorial for new subscribers
• Smooth password capture and replay
• Well-designed apps and browser extensions
• Secure password sharing and inheritance options
• Supports multiple forms of multi-factor authentication
• Retains credential and file history

Cons:

• Limited free tier
• Some desirable features require paid add-ons
• Stingy encrypted-storage limits

Specifications:

• Import From Browsers
• Two-Factor Authentication
• Fill Web Forms

LogMeOnce

Why We Recommend It:

LogMeOnce offers a completely free version with no restrictions on the number of saved passwords or the devices used. Its paid version is feature-rich, and it provides various authentication options.

Who It’s For:

LogMeOnce is perfect for those who despise passwords. It pioneered passwordless login long before its competitors.

Pros:

• Syncs across multiple platforms and devices
• New and streamlined interface
• Vast number of unique and patented features

Cons:

• Additional features come at an extra cost
• Installing all features can be expensive
• Vast number of features may overwhelm users

NordPass

Why We Recommend It:

NordPass, developed by the team behind NordVPN, offers a streamlined and user-friendly service for securely accessing your passwords. It includes features such as a Data Breach Scanner, password health report, web vault, and a password inheritance option.

Who It’s For:

NordPass for Business focuses on password hygiene for business account users, providing various tools for administrators to monitor employees’ password strength and security.

Pros:

• Supports secure credential sharing
• Multi-factor authentication via app and security key
• Mandatory multi-factor authentication option for business accounts
• Data breach scanner and actionable password health report
• Audited

Cons:

• Pricier than competitors
• Free version cannot be used on multiple devices simultaneously

Specifications:

• Import From Browsers
• Two-Factor Authentication
• Fill Web Forms

Password Boss

Why We Recommend It:

Password Boss offers all the expected password management tasks along with secure sharing, password inheritance, and other advanced features.

Who It’s For:

Password Boss caters to all users with its secure password storage and multi-factor authentication. However, the free version does not allow syncing across multiple devices, unlike some competing password managers.

Pros:

• Secure sharing and password inheritance features
• Security dashboard
• Retains a history of notes and passwords
• Supports various platforms and browsers

Cons:

• Limited multi-factor authentication options
• Lacks a free version
• Limited import options
• Unreliable form filling

Specifications:

• Import From Browsers
• Two-Factor Authentication
• Fill Web Forms

RoboForm

Why We Recommend It:

RoboForm Everywhere offers strong form-filling capabilities and efficient password management. Its new web vault enhances the user experience, providing a modern interface.

Who It’s For:

Current RoboForm users will find it easy to transition to the latest version. While RoboForm is highly capable, its menu system may not be as slick or intuitive as some competitors.

Pros:

• Comprehensive web form filling
• Manages application passwords
• Updated and modern web vault appearance
• Syncs across multiple device types and browsers
• Generates strong and unique passwords by default

Cons:

• Limited importing from competing products
• Desktop user interface can be confusing
• Does not support hardware security keys

Specifications:

• Import From Browsers
• Two-Factor Authentication
• Fill Web Forms

Bitwarden

Why We Recommend It:

Bitwarden offers an exceptional free tier for password management. As open-source software, it undergoes regular independent audits, making it less susceptible to cyber threats. Bitwarden is easy to use and allows unlimited password storage and syncing across devices, unlike many other free options.

Who It’s For:

First-time password manager users or those seeking a free option will find Bitwarden impressive. The Premium tier is affordable and includes excellent features, such as an actionable password health report, emergency access options, TOTP code generation, and support for enhanced multi-factor authentication methods.

Pros:

• Open-source
• User-friendly interface
• Free tier and affordable paid plan
• Supports multi-factor authentication
• Sharing enabled across all subscription tiers
• Offers apps for popular platforms and browsers

Cons:

• Insecure password sharing through the Send feature
• Clunky password capture and replay

Specifications:

• Import From Browsers
• Two-Factor Authentication
• Fill Web Forms

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www.everymansci.com

The post The Top Password Managers for 2023 appeared first on Everyman Science.

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Kaspersky’s Research

Kaspersky researchers reviewed historic telemetry data and discovered that some of the cloud infrastructure and malware used by Red Stinger had similarities to espionage campaigns in Ukraine identified by security companies ESET in 2016 and CyberX in 2017. Georgy Kucherin, a Kaspersky malware researcher, noted that Malwarebytes found out more about the initial infection stage and the installer used in some of the group’s attacks since 2020. After publishing their report about the malware, they decided to view historical data about similar campaigns with similar targets that have occurred in the past. This is how they discovered the two similar campaigns from ESET and CyberX, concluding with medium to high confidence that all three campaigns are likely to be executed by the same actor.

Similarities to Past Hacking Activity

The different activity through time has similar victimology, meaning that Red Stinger focused on the same types of targets – including both officials working for pro-Russia factions within Ukraine and Ukrainian government officials, politicians, and institutions. Kucherin also noted that there were similarities and multiple overlaps in the code of the plugins used by Red Stinger’s malware, with some code appearing to be copied and pasted from one campaign to another. The researchers also saw similar use of cloud storage and characteristic file formats on files exported to their servers.

Tactic Used by Red Stinger

Malwarebytes documented five campaigns since 2020 by Red Stinger, including one targeting a member of Ukraine’s military who works on Ukrainian critical infrastructure and another targeting pro-Russia election officials in eastern Ukraine, an adviser to Russia’s Central Election Commission, and one who works on transportation in the region. In 2016, ESET wrote of an activity it called “Operation Groundbait” which targeted anti-government separatists in self-declared Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics as well as Ukrainian government officials, politicians, and journalists. Malwarebytes also found that one particularly invasive tactic used by Red Stinger was recording audio directly from victims’ compromised devices in addition to collecting other data like documents and screenshots – something CyberX named “Operation BugDrop” when they discovered it in 2017.

Kaspersky cites ESET’s conclusion from 2016 that Operation Groundbait was likely created by Ukrainians but notes that they did not investigate or verify this finding. Kucherin believes that Red Stinger has been able to remain largely hidden for so long because their attacks are typically highly targeted with at most dozens of individuals at a time rather than launching mass exploitation. He also adds that Ukraine has been such an intense digital battleground for so many years that other actors and activities seem to have distracted researchers.

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The post Uncovering Red Stinger: 15 Years of Hacking History Revealed appeared first on Everyman Science.

The post Uncovering Red Stinger: 15 Years of Hacking History Revealed appeared first on Everyman Science.