Google is improving Chrome’s password manager, making it more convenient and secure with several welcome new features. Good news for all those who do not use a dedicated app!
We can never repeat it enough: to avoid having your accounts hacked, it is absolutely necessary to use strong and unique passwords. A basic security measure, but somewhat complicated to respect when you have to memorize multiple sesames… This is where password managers come in: these specialized tools make it possible to store and manage many passwords from securely, locking everything down with a single, easy-to-remember password. If they are not worth the dedicated apps, the password managers integrated into web browsers at least have the merit of being quick and easy to use. This is the case of Google Chrome’s password manager (Password Manager), which keeps them with the Google account to which they are associated, to enter them automatically as soon as you have to connect to a particular account (mail, bank , administration, online store, etc.). And it is to make it even more convenient and safer that Google has just announced in a statement several novelties. Welcome news, even if it is important to remember that this very popular browser is not infallible in terms of security, in particular because of various security flaws (see our article).
Chrome password manager: simplified use
One of Google’s goals is to make it easier to access saved passwords in Chrome. For this, the company has reviewed the interface of the page dedicated to them. First of all, it is possible to add a shortcut to the tool on the desktop, so that you no longer need to navigate through Chrome’s menus to consult your credentials. Then, the password manager now has a dedicated space on the PC to facilitate the consultation of all registered identifiers, the verification and modification of the tool’s parameters. It can be accessed via “Password Manager” in the Chrome menu or “Manage Passwords” when the browser asks if you want to register a new login.
You can also add notes below the passwords. A more than welcome function, which allows, for example, to record various additional information (customer code, membership number, file reference, etc.) on certain sites. To see the note, just click on the small key at the top right of the address bar.
For those who already use a password manager and would like to migrate to Chrome’s, it is now possible to import stored credentials. To do this, simply export them in a file in .csv format from your computer, from the section dedicated to the settings, and import them into the Google web browser. These three new functions are already available.
Chrome Password Manager: A More Secure Tool
Already available on the mobile version of Chrome, biometric authentication will soon land on computers. In fact, we will be able require an additional layer of security before Chrome fills in the password, such as fingerprint recognition, facial recognition, or any other authentication method supported by the computer’s operating system.
Last little news for devices running iOS: in addition to reporting compromised passwords, the Password Check-up function will also report weak and reused ones. A way to encourage users to quickly change their identifiers and which will be deployed in the coming months.
