Kinyarwanda version

Passwords are critical to the security of personal data and online accounts. Their importance can be compared to as valuable an item as your house keys, if they were to be stolen, someone could break into your home – or in this context your online accounts – and steal from you.

1. Keep a password reminder in a secure location that you carry with you

Avoid writing down your whole password and leaving it at your computer or on your workspace. Not even colleagues are supposed to know your password, and this practice makes it easy for a colleague or any other person in the office to discover it.

Keep a note of the hardest part of your password to remember in a secure location such as your wallet or phone case. Keeping this reminder with you and giving it the same value as another valuable item such as a bank card or telephone, delivers a high level of security for your password.

2. Use your browser’s password manager

Many of the more popular internet browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, and Safari all offer a password management feature. With this method, the browser’s password manager will save your password for use on all devices, so it’s important to have a master PIN or strong password set up to access your device.

The benefits of a browser password manager are that it is convenient, fast and free of charge. However, browser password managers will only work with one browser, and so if you regularly switch browsers, it may become an inconvenience for your password management.

3. Store your passwords with a password manager application

Another alternative method, is a password manager application. A reputable password manager app is a best practice method that will allow you to easily create, manage, and access your secure passwords.  

When using a password manager, always remember to;

• Use password managers with caution, by regularly changing the master password and creating backups of the password vault;

• Log out of your accounts when using a public computer (at the library, in a school computer lab, in an internet cafe, or even a shared computer at your office);

• Avoid using public computers and public Wi-Fi to access sensitive accounts such as your emails, bank accounts and others.