A password manager is a software application that stores a user's login credentials for many different accounts in an encrypted database protected by one master password, and can automatically generate and fill in a strong, unique password for each site or service. Early standalone password-management utilities appeared during the 1990s as personal computer users accumulated more online accounts than they could reasonably memorize separate passwords for. Password managers are now commonly built into web browsers and operating systems and are widely recommended by security professionals as a defense against password reuse, one of the most common causes of account compromise.
Facts
Partially Attested
YearThe source says password management software dates back to the 1990s and gives March 1996 as the earliest documented availability; earlier utilities may exist. SignificanceKeeps a user's credentials in an encrypted vault whose key is commonly derived from a master password. 1 FAQs
How does a password manager help protect against phishing?
A password manager only fills in a saved password on the correct website.
Most password managers can fill in a saved password automatically, and because the password is entered only on the correct website, a convincing fake site does not receive it. This is in addition to the main job of storing a unique password for each account so that you do not have to remember them.
Connections
In Field
Source Wikipedia: Password manager
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Password manager
History section
PassKeeper was available by March 1996.
Lead section, second sentence
The vault is intended to be encrypted, and its encryption key is commonly derived from a master password chosen by the user.
In Field: Software Engineering, Introduction
A password manager is software that stores usernames and passwords in a collection called a password vault.
In Group: Network and Authentication Security Technologies, Introduction
A password manager is software that stores usernames and passwords in a collection called a password vault.
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