Is LastPass Secure for Storing and Safe Keeping Passwords?

Jump to…

• What is LastPass?
• Is LastPass Safe & Secure for Me to Use?
• Benefits of Using LastPass
• How Does LastPass Keep Your Passwords Secure?
• The Downside of Using LastPass?
• It Was Hacked in 2015! But There Was No Harm Done…
• How to Protect Passwords if LastPass is Compromised Again
• Why Use a VPN for More Privacy?
• FAQs

What is LastPass?

In Summary: If you are a person who stores passwords in a file named Passwords.txt, then you need to rethink your approach to online security. This is where LastPass comes in. LastPass is a secure mobile app that stores all your passwords and security keys at a single location. Plus, you can use LastPass to auto-fill login credentials on websites saving you the hassle of typing everything.

Is LastPass Safe & Secure for Me to Use?

Based on the history of the company and users, LastPass is considered a safe app for protecting user passwords. (But nothing is safe on the internet, to be honest!) However, LastPass does use AES-256 and PBKDF2 encryption to protect your passwords from hackers or malware attacks. Also, you can either use a 2 FA or fingerprint ID to login to your account.

Benefits of Using LastPass

Here are some benefits of using LastPass as your password manager:

• Encrypt all your passwords and login credentials.
• Synchronize LastPass on your supported devices.
• The user interface is simple and easy-to-use.
• Doesn’t store any user logs or information so you are anonymous.
• All the data is encrypted in transit that adds an extra security layer

How Does LastPass Keep Your Passwords Secure?

LastPass is a great password manager that creates a secure database on your device (phone or computer) as an encrypted cloud. No one can access this encrypted cloud unless they have the master password. This encrypted cloud starts synchronizing with all supported devices automatically without informing anything to LastPass servers.

In this way, LastPass can help you keep the passwords safe from hackers. Always remember that you are as secure as your passwords, so use a master password that is tough for hackers to guess.

Now, let’s break down the details of how LastPass is keeping your password accounts safe.

• Master Password

  A strong master password is required to set up a new LastPass account. The password is also encrypted, in case the LastPass servers are hacked, so your master password would not be there in plaintext in the database.

  All you need to do is remember your master password and log into LastPass. Whenever you log into any website, LastPass’s integration with browsers and mobile devices works seamlessly, allowing you to autofill login credentials for websites.

• System Updates

  LastPass uses the best security practices to secure accounts by updating their systems regularly. Also, system updates can help reduce the risk of downtime or a single-point-of-failure. According to reports, LastPass is market-tested by over 43,000 companies, including Fortune 500 and leading tech enterprises.

• Encryption

  Encryption and decryption work seamlessly by verifying the encryption key. Once the key is verified meaning you’ve successfully entered the correct password, then only you will be able to view your passwords saved on LastPass. LastPass uses AES-256 and PBKDF2 encryption that reduces malware attacks. These encryption protocols are secure and hackers have to guess millions of passwords to break them.

• Two-Factor Authentication

  You can also enable Two-Factor Authentication on LastPass or a fingerprint ID for further privacy. This is another way of keeping your account safe and verified at all times. Hackers will stay away from accessing your LastPass account if you have a good protection mechanism. Multi-factor authentication can also work via a code sent to your device.

The Downside of Using LastPass?

LogMeIn, a company in the United States, bought LastPass in October 2015. As the United States is part of the Five Eyes Alliance, government surveillance agencies can access your data if they want to. This is the problem with LastPass as your privacy is at risk.

Bummer: The privacy policy states that LastPass has the right to collect your IP address, personal information, device type, or language setting. And LastPass can also share your information with the government following the national privacy laws..

It Was Hacked in 2015! But There Was No Harm Done…

Back in 2015, LastPass experienced an intrusion in their main servers. Hackers were trying to penetrate LastPass servers to steal passwords of users and other information. But good news: hackers failed in their mission to steal passwords. However, they managed to steal user email addresses, authentication hashes, and password reminders.

By using the authentication hashes, hackers can find a way to penetrate accounts. That’s why LastPass requested users to change their master passwords back when they were compromised. However, the company still asks users to regularly change their master passwords for more privacy.

If you have been using LastPass for some time or considering becoming a new user, then you must change the master password. Don’t forget to change the master password on other websites if you are making a new one for LastPass. Also, use 2 FA every time for signing into your LastPass account.

How to Protect Passwords if LastPass is Compromised Again

Even though hackers were unable to get any useful data after the malware attack in 2015, it is better to stay vigilant and protect your account. Don’t rely on LastPass security measures and be smart enough to protect your information on your own.

Here are a few security measures to protect you from hackers:

• Log out of your LastPass account when not in use.
• Create a strong and complex password.
• Never share passwords on messaging apps
• Use an antivirus software or a VPN for more privacy