Password Managers: Guides, Reviews & Recommendations

Secure passwords for all online accounts are essential — including accounts used in Norway for banking, email, work, and everyday services. Yet simple passwords like “123456,” “hello,” and “password” are still among the most common choices. While these may be easy to remember, they are also easy for attackers to guess.

Reusing the same password across multiple accounts is also risky. If one password is compromised, criminals may be able to access your other accounts as well. For this reason, the safest approach is to use a unique, strong password for every account, even if that means managing many different login details.

A password manager can help you keep track of everything in one place.

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How does a password manager work?

A password manager is a tool that helps you store and organize usernames and passwords securely. Most password managers protect your vault using encryption and a master password.

You can think of it like a locked notebook that only you can open: instead of remembering dozens of passwords, you only need to remember one strong master password.

However, it’s important to choose a master password carefully and keep your recovery options safe. If you lose access to your master password (and recovery methods are not available), you may lose access to your stored logins.

Storing passwords with a password manager

Depending on the password manager you choose, your passwords may be stored locally on your device or, for syncing across multiple devices, within the provider’s infrastructure (often cloud-based). In either case, reputable password managers protect stored data using strong encryption.

Standalone password manager apps

Once a standalone password manager is installed and set up, it can prompt you to autofill your username and password whenever you log in to an online service. To unlock your encrypted vault, you enter a master password, which protects access to all saved logins.

Browser-integrated password managers

Many web browsers include a built-in password manager that is easy to use. Once enabled, it can automatically suggest saving passwords and fill them in when you visit a website.

However, browser-based password storage may offer fewer dedicated security controls compared to specialized password manager apps. Since browsers handle many tasks at once, saved credentials can be at greater risk if the device is compromised by malware.

Basic security tips

Using a strong master password is a good start, but you should also:

• Keep your operating system, browser, and apps up to date

• Secure access to your devices with a PIN, password, or biometric lock

• Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) where possible

These steps help improve account security for users in Norway and reduce the risk of unauthorized access.

Proton Pass

Proton Pass is a password manager developed by the Swiss-based company Proton. It is open source and has been independently audited. It uses end-to-end encryption (similar to Proton’s other services) and includes features such as:

• Generating strong passwords

• Autofilling logins across devices

• Storing passwords in secure vaults

• Secure password sharing (via shared vaults)

• Encrypted notes

Proton Pass can also help with identity management by offering email aliases, which can reduce unwanted messages and help protect your real email address.

Proton Pass is available on iOS and Android, and also supports browser extensions for desktop use.