Tech Tip Tuesday (Google Password Manger)

Good morning and welcome back to a new Tech Tip Tuesday. Today’s Tech Tip will be talking about Google Password Manger.

Agenda

• What is Google Password Manger?

• Is Google Password Manger safe to store passwords?

• How to set-up Google Password Manger?

• How to add auto fill information to Google passwords?

What is Google Password Manager?

Google Password Manager is a built-in tool that helps you store and manage your passwords securely. It's available on Chrome web browser and Android devices.

Google Password Manager can do the following:

• Create and save strong, unique passwords: It suggests strong passwords when you create new accounts online and stores them securely in your Google Account.

• Automatically fill in passwords: When you revisit a website or app, it automatically fills in your saved username and password.

• Manage your saved passwords: You can see all your saved passwords, edit them, or delete them at any time. You can access this list on your Android device or through passwords.google.com on any browser.

• Check password strength and security: It can identify weak passwords and warn you if any of your saved passwords have been compromised in a data breach.

Overall, Google Password Manager helps you stay secure online by eliminating the need to remember multiple passwords and ensuring you use strong, unique ones for all your accounts.

Is Google Password Manger safe to store passwords?

Security measures-

• Encryption: Google uses strong encryption to protect your passwords, both on your device and on their servers. This means even if someone were to access Google's servers, they wouldn't be able to read your passwords.

• Optional on-device encryption: An extra layer of security is available by enabling on-device encryption. This uses your device's password or fingerprint to encrypt your passwords before they are synced to Google's servers.

Potential drawbacks-

• Limited transparency: Google doesn't disclose exactly how they secure your data or use encryption keys. Since the code isn't open-source, there's no independent verification of their security practices.

• Browser dependence: Your passwords are primarily accessible through Google Chrome. If you use other browsers or devices frequently, it might be inconvenient.

• Single point of failure: Your Google account security is crucial. If your Google account is compromised, someone could potentially access your passwords stored in the manager.

Here's the takeaway-

• Google Password Manager is a convenient and reasonably secure option for storing passwords, especially if you're already heavily invested in the Google ecosystem.

• For stronger security practices, some users prefer dedicated password manager apps that offer features like:

  • Multi-device and cross-platform access

  • Open-source code for independent security audits

  • More advanced features like secure password sharing

Ultimately, the best choice depends on your individual needs and priorities.

How to add auto fill information to Google Passwords?

Google Chrome's Autofill feature can automatically fill in your information on websites, saving you time and effort. Here's how to set it up:

On Desktop-

1. Open Chrome and click the three dots in the top right corner.

2. Select Settings.

3. Scroll down and click Autofill and Passwords (or Passwords in older Chrome versions).s

Here you can manage different types of Autofill information:

• Addresses and more: Click on this section to add, edit, or delete your shipping and billing addresses. When Chrome detects an address field on a website, it will suggest these saved addresses for autofill.

• Payment methods: Similar to addresses, you can manage your credit or debit cards for secure online payments. Chrome will suggest these cards when filling out payment forms.

Turning on Autofill-

By default, Autofill is usually enabled for both addresses and payment methods. You can double-check this:

• Under Addresses and more, ensure the toggle for "Save and fill addresses" is on (green).

• Under Payment methods, ensure the toggle for "Save and fill payment methods" is on (green).

Filling out forms with Autofill-

Once you've saved your information, Chrome will automatically suggest it when you encounter relevant fields on websites.

• When a website has an address or payment field, you'll see a dropdown menu with your saved information.

• Click on the appropriate entry to have Chrome fill it in for you.

Security Tip-

For an extra layer of security, consider enabling the option "Always verify when using Autofill" under the Payment methods section. This will require you to confirm your fingerprint or password before Chrome fills in your credit card details.

On Android-

The process for Autofill on Android devices is similar:

1. Open the Chrome app and tap the three dots in the top right corner.

2. Select Settings.

3. Tap Autofill and Passwords (or Passwords in older versions).

You can then manage your addresses and payment methods just like on desktop.