Before I began using Dashlane, I used to stash my passwords everywhere, from random pieces of paper to the deepest corners of my computer to my sock drawer. As you can imagine, I had a difficult time keeping up with them. Show Fortunately, I’ve since learned from my bad password storage habits, and decided to share this simple guide to show you how to find all of your long-lost passwords. You’ll know where to look and exactly how to get them into your password manager. 1. Search your web browsersBegin your search by combing through each of your web browsers for passwords you may have stored. There are two methods you can use to collect passwords from a web browser: Let your password manager do it for you. Dashlane can import passwords from your web browser quickly and easily.
Do it manually. Don’t want to let Dashlane import passwords for you? You can track them down on your own. The procedure for importing from each browser is slightly different:
2. Search for files on your computer’s hard driveDo you keep passwords in a Word or Excel file on your computer? If you have such a file, you’re able to import all of those passwords to Dashlane using a .csv file or manually, if you choose. I know where to find my password documents.
I’m not sure how to find my password documents. If you don’t know the location or name of your file, you can search for the text inside the file on Windows desktop computers, as well as Mac. Once you locate your file(s), follow the instructions above for ‘I know where to find my password documents’. Searching for files on Windows:
After you have completed these steps, all of the file types you selected will be included in future searches. Searching for files on Mac:
By default, Spotlight will search outside of your Mac. To disable this feature and search only the files contained on your computer, navigate to ‘System Preferences’ > ‘Spotlight’ > ‘Search Results’. Deselect the types of results you don’t want to see when you search. 3. Collect passwords from your mobile deviceBefore you invested in a password manager, you may have used the default Notes to keep your passwords with you on-the-go. If you used the Notes app on your iPhone, you can find specific files using your Spotlight search. Find it by swiping down on your Home screen and searching keywords. However, Spotlight will only search Notes if you enable Notes in your Spotlight search Settings. To change your Spotlight, open ‘Settings’ > ‘General’ > ‘Spotlight Search’. Scroll through the list to locate ‘Notes’ and toggle it on. 4. Search through cloud-based services (Google Drive, Evernote, etc.)Although it is far from secure, many people use cloud services to store and share their passwords. Some of the most common cloud storage toolsused for this purpose include Dropbox, Apple iCloud, and Google Drive. This is an extremely dangerous practice that has led to several data breaches in the past. For example, in 2016, Dropbox announced a data breach that affected approximately 68 million records. Likewise, hackers were recently able to exploit a flaw in iCloud’s security that allowed them to unlock any iPhone. Thus, these tools can’t be trusted to keep your passwords safe. For Google Drive:
For Evernote:
5. Search images and PDFsIf you used images or PDFs to store your passwords, finding them may be more difficult. However, thanks to optical character recognition (OCR), it isn’t impossible. OCR is a technology that allows programs to convert images of typed, printed or handwritten text into machine-encoded text. This technology can be used to search non-traditional sources of text, including PDFs. OCR is available in several programs, including Google Drive, Evernote, and OneNote. 6. Search your email inboxesYour email inbox is a pot of gold for hackers! If you have shared your passwords with family, friends, or colleagues via email, copies of this information are still available for hackers to use. In addition, if you have received password reset emails from companies in which your password was included, your accounts are extremely vulnerable. For Outlook (Windows):
The procedure for searching emails on Outlook is slightly different with a Mac. Instructions can be found here. For Gmail:
For Hotmail:
For Yahoo Mail:
Regardless of the email provider you’re using, it’s easy to get bogged down in large numbers of search results. To make the process simpler, consider filtering your search by the subject line, name of the sender or another keyword, like “login” or “credential” instead of “password”. Most email providers also offer advanced search operators that can help you narrow down your results. 7. Search for passwords around your homeOver the years, you may have written down passwords on loose paper, in notebooks or on post-it notes. These papers can be located almost anywhere, but you need to find them in order to protect your security. Check all of these common areas when searching for passwords in your home:
Once you have stored all of your handwritten passwords in Dashlane, be sure to shred the original documents to prevent breaches. 8. Think hardThe last place to check for passwords is your own brain. If you have any passwords stored in your memory that haven’t already been uploaded to Dashlane, add them manually using these simple instructions:
We all know exactly how difficult is to remember so many passwords. Luckily, after you complete this process, you’ll never have to struggle with memorizing or storing them ever again! Once you have gathered all your passwords using the steps above, it’s time to make sure they are all secure. Follow these five steps to secure your passwords and protect your accounts. |