Password Protection for Better Mobile Security

Remembering a dog’s name, 12345 or password123! is easy, but when it comes to protecting valuable information, those passwords share common patterns, creating vulnerability across the various accounts we all use every day. While many accounts are requiring stronger passwords with a combination of letters, numbers and characters, 59 percent of adults admit to reusing passwords due to the difficulty remembering them, according to a Harris Interactive survey. When using the same few passwords across countless accounts, ranging from the ones that need to be most secure, like bank and credit cards, to social media sites or free subscriptions, users are asking for trouble. If one account gets hacked, all accounts sharing the same password and email are at much greater risk.

Keeping accounts safe is simple for those who have no trouble creating and recalling complex passwords and can remember to change them every few months. However for many, that’s no easy task. Fortunately, with the help of password management apps, complex passwords can be created, stored and easily used, and often shared across platforms, including home computers, work computers, tablets and smartphones.

“With today’s devices and a robust 4G LTE with nationwide coverage, people have embraced their smartphones for shopping online, managing bank accounts, catching up on news and emailing while on the go,” said Nathan Waddell, director of sales for U.S. Cellular in the Mid-South. “Taking a few initial steps and utilizing one of the many password manager apps available can go a long way toward protecting all of your accounts and simplifying your life.”

Available for smart devices like the iPhone 6, Samsung Galaxy Edge and iPads, many of the popular password management apps share similar features, such as auto-creation of complex passwords, auto-fill of forms and encryption of information for safety. Below are some of the top rated apps for both iOS and Android systems that U.S. Cellular recommends for greater peace of mind, along with a few other helpful tips.

§  Keeper: As the number one most downloaded password management app, Keeper provides users with the ability to manage passwords across various accounts. Keeper’s free version provides local password storage and use on one device. A $29.99 per year subscription is required to access many of its quality features, including unlimited password storage, secure online storage for photos, videos and documents, and to allow access across multiple devices and the ability to share the information with other users. Those with a subscription can also set up fingerprint login for quick and secure access to their account. 

§  Dashlane: Managing passwords becomes easy with assistance from the free functions of Dashlane. In addition to creating complex passwords for accounts, Dashlane acts as a digital wallet to make secure on-the-go payments and provides security breach alerts for usernames and passwords. The premium subscription, offered for $39.99 per year, allows syncing across devices, securing Cloud backup and accessing information via the web.  Dashlane is rated among the top password manager apps and is listed as Editor’s Pick in the Google Play Store.

§  LastPass: This trusted app comes with a 4.6 rating, the highest of the three on our list per its user ratings. LastPass provides users with a secure vault and organization of accounts for user preference. Its features also allow for easy transitions between accounts on the same site. Like many other password managing apps, LastPass can also keep track of credit card information, audit account passwords, record secure audio notes and more. Premium features for $12 a year include a shared family folder, unlimited device sync, multi-factor authentication and access to accounts from any device or computer.

§  Secure connections matter too. A recent U.S. Cellular survey¹ indicates that 65 percent of smartphone users always remember to take their device with them when they leave the house. When using a smartphone away from home, how people connect to various accounts online can also impact security.  For an additional level of protection, refrain from connecting in locations offering free WiFi.  

§  Lock it. One of the easiest things to help protect information on smart devices is one of the most obvious – use built in features such as the screen lock on your device. This feature comes standard on many devices and requires a pattern, fingerprint identification or character password to be entered before anything on the device can be accessed.

Password protection starts with the user, however, a Harris Interactive survey reveals that more than half of Americans realize they need to change their password habits. To learn more about protecting passwords and improving security, U.S. Cellular offers device workshops for the entire community, including those who are not U.S. Cellular customers. These workshops provide a great platform to learn more about password management and the many other features of today’s smart devices.

¹ Between Nov. 12-21, 2015, a total of 735 online interviews were conducted among a nationally representative sample by Consumer Insights, in partnership with Maritz CX.  

Additional data charges may apply. 4G LTE service may be provided through King Street Wireless, a partner of U.S. Cellular. LTE is a trademark of ETSI.

About King Street Wireless, L.P.

King Street Wireless, L.P. currently holds 700 MHz wireless spectrum in 27 states and is partnering with Chicago-based U.S. Cellular to deliver high-speed 4G LTE service to U.S. Cellular’s customers in several of the carrier’s markets.  King Street Wireless is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia where it is recognized for its involvement in its community both through its economic development and philanthropic efforts. To learn more about King Street Wireless, visit www.kingstreetwireless.com.

About U.S. Cellular

U.S. Cellular is the fifth-largest full-service wireless carrier in the United States, providing national network coverage and industry-leading innovations designed to elevate the customer experience. The Chicago-based carrier has a strong line-up of cutting-edge devices that are all backed by a high-quality network in big and small cities and rural communities, and currently, 99 percent of customers have access to 4G LTE speeds. U.S. Cellular was named a J.D. Power and Associates Customer Champion in 2014 for the third time in four years. To learn more about U.S. Cellular, visit one of its retail stores or uscellular.com. To get the latest news, promos and videos, connect with U.S. Cellular on Facebook.com/uscellular, Twitter.com/uscellular and YouTube.com/uscellularcorp.