My password manager locked me out for 2 hours and I almost lost it

Honestly, I thought I was being smart by using a password manager with a super complex master password. But last Tuesday, I mistyped it three times in a row and the app locked me out for a full 2 hours. I had no backup codes saved, no printed list, nothing. I spent that whole time sweating and trying every variation I could think of while my work accounts were all stuck behind that login. Finally it let me back in, and now I keep a physical copy of my master password in a fireproof safe. Anyone else ever get locked out of their own security setup and feel like a total idiot?

3 comments

3 Comments

rubysingh1mo ago

Yeah I used to roll my eyes at people who said they kept their passwords written down somewhere. Thought it defeated the whole point of being secure you know? But then I had a moment where I tried logging into my password manager after a system update and it just wouldn't accept my master password for like 45 minutes. I was pacing around my apartment convincing myself someone had hacked me and changed everything. When it finally worked I felt so stupid for not having a backup plan. Now I keep a handwritten sheet in my wallet and another in my desk drawer. It's not as fancy but honestly getting locked out of everything is way worse than someone finding a piece of paper.

phoenixb3429d ago

Wallet's actually a risky spot since that's the first thing stolen.

the_xena1mo ago

Heard a security researcher say the most secure password is one you can actually remember. That changed my whole view on this. Better to have a written backup than be completely locked out and stressed.

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