Consumer Password Manager: 1Password, Dashlane, or LastPass

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Consumer Password Manager: 1Password, Dashlane, or LastPass

keyboard with fingerprint

You are only as strong as you weakest links. Even at home.

In this case, we are talking about passwords.
This time, we are covering quite a number of password managers. Let’s dive right in.

LastPass

If you are talking about free password managers, you cannot go wrong with LastPass.
But you can.
They experienced hacks in 2011, with coverage by CNET over here; and again in 2015. Forbes coverage here, and LastPass’s CEO’s blog post here responding to the hacks.
Just when they and we thought it was over…they were hacked again in March 2017. CNET coverage here.
Their Free edition comes with:
  • Access on all devices
  • Save & fill passwords
  • Password generator
  • Secure notes
  • Share passwords & notes
  • Security challenge
  • Two-factor authentication (2FA)
If you need a little “something something” for your security, they offer a annual subscription of US$12 (~S$20) to go up to Premium, they will include everything in Free PLUS:
  • Shared family folder – up to 5 users
  • YubiKey & Sesame 2FA options
  • Priority tech support
  • LastPass for applications
  • Desktop fingerprint identification
  • 1GB of encrypted file storage
They do not offer any trials at the moment.

Dashlane

Next up on the free list, we have Dashlane.
They claim that even they will not have access or knowledge of your master password. This is in line with their zero-knowledge system sitting on top of their Patented security architecture.
Dashlane offers 30 days of Premium benefits in their Free edition if you sign-up as their new user.
For their Free edition, you get the following on your favourite device. Singular, it means only 1 device of your choice:
  • Unlimited password and data storage on your favorite device
  • Security monitoring services and breach alerts
  • Change passwords instantly
  • Generate and save strong, unique passwords
And for their Premium edition, you will have access to everything in Free across all your devices. You will be billed at US$39.95 per year (~S$60):
U2F represents universal 2 factor authentication using U2F YubiKey
  • Sync passwords and data across devices
  • Secure account backup
  • Unlimited password sharing
  • Priority VIP Support
  • 2-factor authentication (U2F)

1Password

We’ve saved the best for last.
Introducing 1Password. We have not heard of them until recently as well, mind you.
They are the only company that we have seen that provides password managers for up to 5 family members in their Families plan.
And at a very competitive price at that.
They also don’t limit the number of devices that you can use their password managers on.
Their shortfall would be that their entry level is not free.
But they do include a 30 days trial for either their Individual, or Families plans.
As an individual, you will have to subscribe at an annual price of US$35.88 (~S$50) for access to:
  • For one person
    Use on all your devices
  • Award-winning apps
    Mac, Windows, iOS & Android
  • Web access
  • Offline access
  • Automatic syncing
  • App upgrades included
  • Email support
    Friendly, helpful support included
  • 1 GB storage
    Securely store documents
  • 365 day item history
    Restore deleted items & passwords
As a family of 5, you will each have access to everything in the individual plan at an annual subscription US$59.88 (~S$85), PLUS:
  • Sharing
    Securely share passwords & documents
  • Permission control
    Manage what members can see and do
  • Account recovery
    Restore access for locked out members
Cool! You also have the option to add more family members at only US$12 (~S$20) a year.
Clearly 1Password is not new to cyber security.
They recently rolled out one of its more important features that allows its users to use Travel Mode.
What this does is it temporarily remove all passwords, credit cards, and other stored data from a user’s device.
This can be important when you travel a lot for business or leisure, because there are increasing number of requests of border guards asking to search your phone as reported by the New York Times here.
When Travel Mode is activated from the web, all vaults that aren’t marked “safe” will be completely pulled from any devices they were syncing to.
That means there will be no data left for anyone to search through, even if a they somehow gained access.
Once Travel Mode is deactivated, the missing vaults will sync across all devices again.
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