The blog post below came about due to a question raised at our engineering meeting. Every two weeks, we meet with all our technical staff to discuss the latest developments in technology or with clients. Good client questions also arise during these meetings, such as this one. Time to do some research. Thank you, Wiebe!

You probably recognize it: you log into a website and your browser asks if it should remember the password. Convenient, fast, and you don't have to remember anything. Yet, there's a risk. In practice, we see many security incidents starting with something small. Like saving passwords in the browser.

The problem: convenience over safety

Browsers like Chrome, Edge, and Firefox offer a password manager by default. That's convenient, but they weren't primarily built for it: security isn't their main job.

The consequence? Your passwords are less well protected than you think.

1. Less strong security than specialized solutions

Browser password managers often use basic security. They lack advanced features that dedicated password managers have, such as extensive encryption and extra security layers. In simple terms, this means if someone gains access to your system, your passwords are more likely to become visible.

2. Vulnerable to malware

One of the biggest risks is malware. This is malicious software that can be specifically designed to steal passwords. Once malware is on your computer, it can read and forward stored browser passwords to an attacker. And that happens faster than you think. One wrong download or phishing email can be enough.

3. Autofill makes it even easier for attackers

Autofill seems convenient, but it increases the risk. Cybercriminals can exploit this to collect data or intercept auto-filled passwords. Furthermore, data stored in browsers is a popular target for so-called “stealer malware.”. 

What begins as convenience, then ends in loss of control over your accounts.

4. Access to your device = access to your passwords

If someone has physical access to your laptop or PC, it's often surprisingly easy to view saved passwords. In many browsers, no additional password is required to make them visible. 

This means that a stolen or unsecured laptop immediately poses a security risk.

5. One leak can have major consequences

When an attacker gains access to your browser data, they often have not only your passwords but also:

• Cookies and active sessions
• Autofill forms
• Possibly even payment details

With that, someone can log into accounts directly without needing to re-enter your password. 

The solution: safely managing passwords

Fortunately, it's easily solvable. With a few smart choices, you can significantly reduce the risk:

• Use a dedicated password manager (for example, 1Password or Bitwarden)
• Set Multi-factor authentication (MFA) to where possible
• Use unique passwords per service
• Train employees to recognize phishing and risks

Specialized password managers are designed with security as a prerequisite and offer stronger encryption and better protection. 

What does this mean for your organization?

For many SMEs, this is an underestimated risk. Employees logically opt for convenience, but that can directly impact the security of your organization. We help you to make these types of risks visible and to solve them practically. So you don't have to worry about your ICT – and can simply work securely.

Would you like to know how your organization is doing?

We'd be happy to help you. Please feel free contact up!