Many users ask us whether they should migrate to WordPress from easy to use site builders like Weebly. Our recommendation is always to try out for few months and decide. You may not believe – one of the reasons user hesitate to use WordPress is the password management. We used to manage the Weebly site with single login and occasionally used to login to the domain registrar’s site. But now with WordPress, the situation is that we need a dedicated password manager to maintain all the required passwords. In this article we will explain more about the need of password management and various options to manage passwords in WordPress.
WordPress Means Passwords
You need the following usernames/passwords, in order to manage a simple WordPress site.
- Access to hosting account
- Access to WordPress admin panel
- MySQL database username and password
- cPanel and phpMyAdmin access
- com access if you are using Jetpack
- Access to theme developer site if you have purchased a commercial theme
- Access to plugin developers sites if you have purchased commercial plugins
- Domain registrar access
- Email provider access
- Password for FTP account
The list may be lengthier or shorter depending upon the usage but it needs huge number of passwords to be managed to run a WordPress site. You will need one or other credentials throughout the lifetime of maintaining the WordPress site.
WordPress Password Management
There are two aspects in managing your password. One is creating a strong password and second is securely storing them. Both aspects play vital role in protecting your site from hackers.
Creating Strong Password
Right from your hosting account creating, ensure to have very strong password for all your logins. If you are not able to create strong passwords then use online password generator tools to create passwords for you. You can access our free online password generator tool to create strong password for you.
Choose the complexity and length to generate tough passwords for your need. If you create your own password then use the free password strength checker tool to ensure your password is strong enough.
Securely Storing Your Passwords
Most of us will continue to create passwords on the go but failed to remember all the passwords. Rather it is a difficult task to remember all passwords. Here are some simple techniques to store all your passwords:
1. Write Down on a Notebook
Sometimes simple things look better than paid and complicated things. Writing down password on a notebook is such a simple thing will work for you when you keep the notebook safely. The problem here is you may need to bring the notebook with you all times or restrict the access only from the house.
We do not really recommend using notebook as your kid can spoil it any time or your kitten can make it a mess. You will be wiped off if the username and passwords are gone.
2. Storing it in a Password Protected File
This is similar to maintaining in a notebook but in a digital form. Nowadays, you can store the file safely on iCloud or Dropbox or OneDrive and access it anywhere you want from any device. This is an easy method will work for you as long as you are ready to copy/paste the credentials every time from the file to your login screen.
3. Using Browser’s Password Management Option
Browsers like Safari will auto suggest strong passwords and store it in the cloud. This is a good option if you are using Mac as primary laptop for accessing the web. Otherwise also Google Chrome stores the passwords securely on the browser and retrieve automatically when required.
The passwords are used across apps in the background for all Google account in iOS and Android. For example, when you logged into your YouTube account then your AdSense app will automatically use the credentials from YouTube app. Also auto sign-in feature in Chrome will allow you to login to the site with the stored password.
The major problem in using browser’s password management option is using it across devices. Especially when you use Mac and Windows laptop together it’s a hassle to sync passwords on Chrome. And you can’t use Safari on PCs at all. Also when your laptop crashes all your passwords will go off with your browser if you don’t have backup.
4. Using Password Manager
The last option to use one of the free or paid password manager tools like RoboForm. These tools save the credentials in cloud and allow you accessing from any device. Though online password manager tools look simple, it needs sometime to get acquainted with it. Most of these tools to be downloaded and installed on your Mac or PC. Again you need an add-on on the browsers to use these tools to capture the passwords. So you need to choose a tool that is compatible on all platforms and browsers you use.
Conclusion
Over the period of time, WordPress needs dedicated time in managing all usernames and passwords. Unfortunately password management is not one time task that you create strong password and forget it. In order to keep your site safe and secure all passwords are to be changed periodically. This type of maintenance activity makes the use of master Excel sheet or browser password management more convenient than using online password manager tools. Whatever the password management tool you use, we highly recommend to keep a backup on cloud for easy retrieval.
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