In the real estate industry, it’s common for agents to juggle a variety of websites and portals. Remembering your username and password for each account can be challenging, and many people resort to using the same combination of login credentials for every site.

What most people don’t realize is this opens your real estate business up to attacks from fraudsters. In this article, we discuss the importance of using password managers and list the ones we believe are the ten best solutions in 2019.

What are password managers?

Password managers are applications that store your login information securely, so you don’t have to type it in every time you encounter a login screen. Many of these apps also generate unique random passwords you can use for better security.

Why should I get a password manager?

Using the same passwords on any of your personal or professional accounts may expose you to security threats. If one of your passwords gets compromised, ALL of your accounts are now at risk. For the best possible security, you should use different passwords that are 15 or more characters made up of capital letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.

Password managers provide the ability to create and store these complex passwords that are more secure and harder to crack. Below we’ve outlined some of the best options designed to lower risk and improve your security hygiene.

The top 10 password managers of 2019

With so many options available, how will you know which password manager is right for your needs? Here is our selection of the top ten password managers of 2019, you could use to safeguard your personal information.

1. Keeper

Source: Keeper.io

Keeper is a strong choice for a password manager--it’s also PC Mag’s Editors’ Choice. As expected, it will autofill your login details and has the added feature of generating random passwords when necessary.

This password manager lets you store your important files in an encrypted digital vault. There is also a feature where you can securely share information with others. And, in the event that you have an emergency or pass away, Keeper will allow up to five emergency contacts to access your saved usernames and passwords.

2. Dashlane

Source: Dashlane.com

Dashlane is another one of PC Mag’s Editors’ Choice. This password manager will work across all devices running Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.Dashlane offers a great perk with each subscription. Not only will you get a VPN (virtual private network) but also VPN protection.

However, this password manager comes with a hefty price tag. If you’re looking for password managers on a budget, you may want to skip this one.

3. Sticky Password Premium

Source: StickyPassword.com

This password manager is great at catching unauthorized and suspicious logins. It has two-factor authentication, and you have the option to perform secure no-cloud wifi sync.

However, currently there’s no feature to share passwords. This can be an annoyance if you frequently need to share passwords with your coworkers.

4. LastPass Premium

Source: LastPass.com

LastPass Premium gives you many multifactor authentication choices, as well as 1GB of file storage should you need it. Since the paid version only has a few additional features in comparison to the free option, we suggest picking the free version over the paid one.

5. Password Boss

Source: PasswordBoss.com

This is another password manager that will work across both Windows and Apple platforms. It includes two-factor authentication and password inheritance, which can be quite convenient.

The only bad thing about Password Boss is that you don’t have online access to your stored passwords. Another drawback is that some of their configurations may be too rigid for your liking.

6. LogMeOnce

Source: LogMeOnce.com

LogMeOnce is a great choice; not only is it free, but it’s a complete password management suite. Plus, you can use it with Linux, as well as Windows and Apple OSes. LogMeOnce has many unique features that you won’t find with other password managers.

Do note that some of their options are not free. But with so many security features, this suite offers adequate protection even if you don’t invest any money.

7. 1Password

Source: 1Password.com

If you use mobile devices a lot, then 1Password is a good option. With most mobile password managers, you still must copy and paste in your data. This password manager eliminates that tedious step while integrating with many frequently used apps for a smoother experience.

8. Blur

Source: Blur.com

Blur is another app that offers more than just password management. If you’ve used it as a browser extension before, you may have known it as “Mask Me.” This app gives you a dedicated private phone number so you don’t have to use your phone number for real estate business.

Other features you can enjoy from Blur are local storage benefits and a cloud-based vault that allows you to access your data from any device.

9. EnPass

Source: EnPass.io

EnPass is a good password manager to have if you use more obscure devices, such as BlackBerry and Linux. If portability is an important factor for you, you’ll be pleased to know that it also has a USB stick option.

The computer version of this password manager is free and mobile fees are very low, making EnPass a viable option for businesses with limited budgets.

10. RoboForm

Source: RoboForm.com

If you’re looking for a password manager with history, then you’ll find it with RoboForm. It has been around since 1999 and has been continually improving its offerings. Along with password management services, RoboForm also has cloud storage.

Make sure your organization uses password managers

Since so many people tend to reuse passwords on different sites, it’s vital your employees, partners and clients use password managers on their own devices. Your colleagues and clients must understand that weak passwords are a gateway to data breaches. Password managers give you the power to eliminate some of the vulnerabilities that cybercriminals exploit.

Pairing robust digital hygiene with a real-time identity platform makes it difficult for fraudsters to penetrate your defenses and hijack your data or transactions.

Request a demo for CertifID to see how your real estate transactions can be further protected from wire fraud.