Reusing the same password everywhere is playing Russian roulette. A password manager solves the problem at the root — and Chrome alone is not enough.
In 2024, the most commonly used password in the world was still "123456". This is not a lack of awareness about risk — it is an ergonomics problem. Remembering dozens of long, unique passwords is humanly impossible. A password manager makes this requirement trivial.
Why different passwords everywhere
One rule summarises everything: one service = one unique, randomly generated password.
The reason is arithmetic. Every year, hundreds of millions of username/password pairs are published on the dark web following data breaches. Automated tools test these combinations against thousands of services within hours — this is credential stuffing. If you use the same password for Gmail, your bank, and a poorly secured niche forum, compromising the forum exposes the other two.
A randomly generated 20-character password (k#9Lm!vQ2rT$xPj8nWdZ) cannot be guessed by dictionary attack or brute force within any reasonable timeframe. The manager generates it, stores it, and fills it in automatically. You only need to remember one secret: the master password.
Two-factor authentication as a complement
A strong password is necessary, but not sufficient. Passwords can be phished, intercepted on an unsecured network, or leaked if the service itself is compromised.
Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds a second lock: even with the password, an attacker cannot access the account without possessing your device or physical key. The best password managers natively integrate TOTP code management, centralising both factors in a single secure tool.
The main players
| Manager | Strengths | Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| 1Password | Polished UX, Travel Mode, teams | Web, Mac, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Bitwarden | Open source, self-hostable, free | All + browser extension |
| Dashlane | Dark web monitoring, built-in VPN | Web, Mac, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Proton Pass | End-to-end encryption, privacy-first | All |
| Keeper | Enterprise focus, compliance | All |
| NordPass | Simple, XChaCha20 encryption | All |
For personal use, Bitwarden is the most solid choice: open source, independently audited, free in its basic version, and self-hostable for advanced profiles. For teams, 1Password or Keeper offer fine-grained access control and shared vaults.
The limitations of Chrome as a password manager
Chrome offers to save and auto-fill passwords. It is convenient, but far from sufficient for serious security.
What Chrome does not do:
- No truly robust generation — passwords generated by Chrome are often too short and lack configurable complexity
- No universal multi-device storage — synchronisation is tied to your Google account; outside Chrome, passwords are inaccessible
- No 2FA/TOTP support — Chrome does not store two-factor authentication codes
- No secure sharing — impossible to share access with a colleague without transmitting the password in plain text
- No security audit — no proactive alerts if a service you use is compromised
- Attack surface tied to Google account — if your Google account is compromised, all your passwords are too
- No portability — switching to Firefox, Safari, or Edge requires reconfiguring everything
The browser's built-in password manager is acceptable for non-critical use. As soon as professional accounts, banking, or any service containing sensitive data is involved, a dedicated tool is necessary.
Gotan supports its clients
Access security is often the weak link in fast-growing organisations. Effective tools that are poorly deployed — or not deployed at all — leave doors wide open.
Gotan supports its clients in setting up access policies suited to their context: choosing the right password manager, configuring security policies, integrating with existing tools (SSO, Active Directory, Okta), and training teams. The goal: every team member adopts best practices without excessive friction in their daily work.