Still trying to remember your password?

Do you know that you’re juggling 170 passwords these days? I didn’t just pull that number out of my ass, NordPass says so.

Between users being brute-forced, and organizations being sued for data breaches, many firms these days demand passwords that are a mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, special characters, and maybe even an ancient rune for good measure. 

So, what do most people do? They either:

1. Try to remember them (and fail spectacularly).

2. Save them in a file on their computer or in the cloud.

3. Write them down on a piece of paper.

If you have a different, creative method, I’d love to hear it. Reach out and let me know, maybe I’ll write a newsletter about you :) 

While all of these might seem like decent solutions, they come with some serious risks.

Why these methods are risky

Memory: Relying on memory works if you have only one or two passwords. So you’ll either forget your passwords, or you’ll use the same one for a bunch of services and risk losing access to all of them at once. 

A file on your computer: Storing a password list in a Word document, Excel sheet, or Notepad file might feel like a good idea, but what if your computer gets hacked or infected with malware? Cybercriminals often scan for files with names like “passwords” or “login info.” If they find yours, game over.

Cloud storage: Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive might feel safer because these services are behind a password themselves, but that password won’t do much good if your computer gets infected. For a cybercriminal, it makes no difference where the file is stored - they’re going to get it anyway.

Paper notes: I like old school stuff, but we misplace important documents all the time. It’s not worth the trouble.

The better solution: Use a password manager

A password manager is like a digital vault that stores and encrypts your passwords so only you can access them. Instead of remembering like 50 different passwords, you only need to remember one master password. The manager takes care of the rest.

Today, password managers do more than “just “store your passwords. They can create long strong passwords with a single click, they can autofill them in login pages for convenience, and cross-device sync so that you’re easily logged in everywhere.

Some popular password managers include 1Password, Bitwarden, Dashlane, and NordPass. Many have free plans, so you don’t even have to spend money to secure your accounts.

I use Bitwarden’s free option, but I’ve heard great things about 1Password and NordPass, too.

If you insist on storing passwords in a file…

For those who think the safest hands are still their own, here are a few tips on storing passwords in a file and minimizing the risk:

1. Encrypt the file. Use a tool like VeraCrypt or at least a password-protected ZIP file to encrypt your password list.

2. Give it a misleading name. Instead of naming it “passwords.docx,” call it something boring like “GroceryList_2025.xlsx.” Hackers are less likely to target it.

3. Store it offline. Keep the file on a USB stick or an external hard drive rather than on your main computer.

4. Use two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible. Even if someone steals your passwords, 2FA can block unauthorized logins.

That’s all for now. Until next time, stay safe everyone!

• Sead from SmallBiz CyberWiz