Linux is known for being the most secure operating system on the market. Not only is it more difficult to spread malware on Linux, but the user base is generally more conscious about online security. Because of this, hackers don’t waste their time trying to exploit Linux, focusing on Windows and macOS instead. Still, Linux can only protect you from infected software on your machine. It doesn’t prevent your online accounts from being hacked. In this case, your knight in shining armor is healthy password hygiene. But a knight isn’t anything without his sword and shield, and that’s where password managers come in. Although Linux does offer a free way for you to manage account passwords – the passwd command – this can be quite daunting for anyone worried about the dreaded black screen. That’s why it’s worth giving third-party password managers a try.
Recommended Password Managers for Linux
While there are many password managers out there, not all come with Linux-dedicated software. However, there are still some exceptional choices for Linux users.
Keeper
Keeper offers everything you could ask for in a password manager and at an affordable price too. The software comes with a reliable password generator, autofill, password sharing, automatic syncing, and much more. Although Keeper only supports passwords, payment information, and notes, it makes up for that with strong security features. It encrypts data locally using AES-256 and PBKDF2, offers two-factor authentication, and can be set up to erase all data stored locally after five consecutive, unsuccessful login attempts. Plus, you can have Keeper store all credentials offline, preventing data from traveling to the company’s servers. It’s possible to use Keeper on mobile for free, but to have it running on your Linux, you’ll have to pay for a paid subscription.
1Password
Although 1Password’s Linux app is currently in beta and releasing in 2022, it already looks promising. But that’s not surprising, considering we’re talking about 1Password – one of the best password managers on the market that is perfect for both personal and business use. Due to its wide range of data support, 1Password is your go-to place for any sensitive personal information. Besides passwords and credit card numbers, you can save driver’s licenses, passports, identities, software licenses, and more. Unlike Keeper, all plans come with dark web monitoring and 1GB worth of file storage. 1Password applies end-to-end encryption to all your information, but you can also use the software offline for extra security.
Bitwarden
If you’re looking for an open-source password manager, Bitwarden is the one to get. The best part is that you can use it completely for free, as the zero-cost subscription offers unlimited password storage and allows for cloud syncing. But, for an extremely low price, Bitwarden offers some neat extra features, such as 1GB worth of file storage, password health reports, and security keys support. All files are protected locally using AES-265 and PBKDF2 encryption, and Bitwarden offers the option to self-host all the infrastructure yourself. This way, information won’t go through Bitwarden’s servers, even when syncing is enabled. Plus, the software scans your email addresses or usernames to find if they’ve appeared in any data breaches.
Linux Password Managers
Unlike other operating systems, Linux comes with a secure way to create and store passwords. Still, there are many features that make password managers worthwhile for Linux users. The most obvious one is how easy to use they are. Instead of writing commands every time you need to add or change a credential, password managers allow you to do this with just a few clicks. The same is true for generating passwords, as you only need to check a couple of boxes to choose which characters you want to use.
Some password managers also sync across all your devices. Although this means having your information going through the provider’s servers, you can still get software that encrypts data locally on your device. This way, even if the company gets hacked, criminals won’t be able to access your data. Finally, password managers that offer dark web monitoring warn you about breached accounts right away. This is extremely useful, as no matter how strong your passwords are, nothing protects you from companies’ data breaches.
Implementing Password Security on Linux Devices
If you’re a Linux command line user, you can manage user accounts through the passwd command. There are two levels of access: normal users and superusers. While the former can only change their own account credentials, superusers have admin permission to change all profiles within the system or manage them in a distributed authentication mechanism such as NIS, Kerberos, or LDAP. Superusers can also set how complex passwords need to be, the time gap between password changes, forcibly expire credentials, and more.
Unfortunately, passwd comes with many limitations. First, it only works for local accounts, which means you can’t use it for any of your online profiles. Additionally, the command line doesn’t come with cloud syncing, which means that you won’t be able to reach your account credentials on other devices. On top of that, if someone gets their hand on your Linux superuser account, they’ll have access to all your accounts immediately.
That’s why it’s better to secure all your information with a password manager protected by a master password that only you know. Since there are all types of software out there, you’ll easily find the one that offers the number of features and amount of security that you need.
Best Password Managers of 2024
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Editor's Choice 2024
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