If you are using Google Chrome, you may already be using the Google password manager . Recently, Google launched a new web tool – Google Password Checkup (previously available asPassword Checkup Chrome extension ), which checks to see if your password has been compromised during a recent security breach. It also tells you if you are using the same password on multiple sites and provides a one-click option to update it. Let’s see how to use it.
How to check if your Google passwords have been compromised
Follow the steps
- On your Chrome browser, click this link.
- Sign in to your primary Google account.
- Click on the ‘Check passwords’ button
- Wait a few seconds for Google to analyze your saved password.
Once done, it will show you the passwords in 3 categories: compromised, reuse, and weak. These are the accounts that are compromised in the event of a data breach, the accounts that have the same password as well as the weekly passwords. There is also an option to change your password with one click.
It is important to keep in mind that your passwords are not stored in plain text on Google’s server. Instead, passwords are stored on your desktop and are encrypted when they connect to the internet. But nothing is ever really secure. If someone has physical access to your computer or Android, they can easily view the saved passwords by going to passwords.google.com and entering the password for your Windows 10 or Mac computer.
READ ALSO: How To Find Long Lost Passwords Hidden In Your Browser
In short, while Google’s password manager has a lot of benefits like quick registration and easy access both on Android and on the web, a better way to manage your saved password is to use a dedicated password manager. They have a different master password than your Windows 10 or Windows 10 lock screen code. At techwiser, we recommend password managers like LastPass or 1Password. The former is cloud-based, so you can access your passwords from anywhere in the cloud, while the last one only works on your local system .
