Kaspersky Password Manager boasts formidable security features and a reasonable price point. To fortify the sanctity of your data, it encompasses all the quintessential security elements, including 256-bit AES encryption, a zero-knowledge covenant, dual-factor authentication (2FA), and biometric access on mobile and Windows platforms.
Furthermore, it exhibits commendable reliability and user-friendliness. Throughout my assessment, all of Kaspersky’s password management tools functioned without any hiccups — importing, generating, and storing passwords, as well as automating the saving and populating of logins and forms, proved exceptionally effortless.
Comprehensive Examination of Kaspersky Password Manager
Kaspersky emerges as an exceedingly intuitive and user-centric password manager, replete with all the standard security attributes. In addition to robust security and seamless automated login and form-filling functions, Kaspersky introduces supplementary facets like meticulous password evaluation.
Kaspersky extends a gratis password management service, albeit with a limitation of accommodating merely five passwords. Nevertheless, it mirrors the premium version in terms of features. While Kaspersky’s premium password manager possesses merit, the market presents superior alternatives, including 1Password and Dashlane. Nonetheless, one can procure the password manager bundled with Kaspersky’s exceptional antivirus suites, all bolstered by a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
Kaspersky’s Security Enclave
Kaspersky employs 256-bit AES encryption to safeguard the entirety of your vaulted data. This impregnable encryption methodology remains unbreached. Furthermore, Kaspersky adheres to a zero-knowledge security paradigm, ensuring that exclusive access to your passwords is vested in you, with none of Kaspersky’s personnel wielding access to your password repository.
Moreover, Kaspersky affords a plethora of 2FA alternatives, spanning from telephonic verification to authenticator applications, and even encompassing the utilization of the mobile application itself. This feature proffers secondary authentication mechanisms, such as the generation of one-time codes via an authenticator application, serving as a bulwark against unauthorized access to your data on alternate devices, even if your master password were somehow compromised.
Kaspersky also encompasses an assiduous password audit. The password examiner scrutinizes your passwords for overall robustness and investigates potential breaches by malevolent actors, employing the well-regarded breach database, haveibeenpwned.com. While commendable, rivals like Dashlane employ real-time, live dark web monitoring, a more efficacious approach.
Regrettably, Kaspersky omits secure password sharing, a feature readily available in the repertoire of most premier competitors. Brands such as 1Password and Dashlane surpass it by boasting an array of supplementary security attributes, including emergency access and account recovery options.
Password Repository
Kaspersky’s password repository exudes an air of user-friendliness and intuitive navigation. Within this vault, you can archive a diverse array of entries, ranging from passwords and credit card information to documents, annotations, addresses, and even images.
Nevertheless, it would be advantageous for Kaspersky to incorporate the capacity for customized fields and entries within its repository. For instance, Bitwarden empowers users to append bespoke fields and generate an unlimited number of bespoke entries. Additionally, the option to create multiple repositories would enhance the ease of sorting and organizing passwords and other data. My preferred password manager, 1Password, allows for the creation of as many repositories as needed.
That said, the manual inclusion of entries into Kaspersky’s vault remains exceedingly straightforward. A mere selection of the item you wish to include, followed by the initiation of the “Add Account” or equivalent process for documents, addresses, notes, and similar items, culminates in the input of relevant data into designated fields.
Employing Kaspersky’s browser extension expedites the addition of fresh passwords, as it conveniently offers to automatically archive login credentials upon each initiation of a new online account.
Kaspersky provides diverse settings to safeguard entries, permitting the toggling of auto-login for designated entry types within the vault. Personally, I elected to deactivate this function for banking cards to institute an added layer of security.
Password Generation Utility
Kaspersky’s password generator garners commendation. Accessible via the browser extension and Kaspersky’s mobile and desktop applications, this tool crafts 16-character passwords by default, comprising an amalgamation of letters, numerals, and symbols. Users are also empowered to specify their preferred character composition for the generated passwords.
The default password length bears semblance to that of leading competitors; for instance, LastPass similarly generates 12-character passwords by default. Noteworthy is Kaspersky’s facilitation of passwords spanning up to 99 characters, a notable divergence from Dashlane’s cap of 40 characters (although RoboForm lays claim to the generation of passwords exceeding 500 characters).
Nonetheless, Kaspersky’s generator does not extend the capability to generate passphrases; instead, it restricts users to the generation of random strings encompassing numerals, letters, and symbols. This limitation contrasts with some of the foremost password managers in the market, including 1Password and NordPass, both of which confer the option to construct memorable passphrases, such as “ocean_tiger_airport_family_labyrinth.”
A valuable addition would be the inclusion of an intelligent password generator, akin to the offering by 1Password. Such a feature permits the crafting of passwords tailored to the stipulations of specific websites.
Password Assessment
Kaspersky’s Password Assessment serves as an auditing tool that scrutinizes all saved accounts, identifying passwords susceptible to compromise, reuse, or frailty. While not an exclusive feature (equivalent to tools featured in top competitors such as 1Password, Dashlane, and Keeper), it operates commendably. Throughout my assessments, Kaspersky diligently pinpointed all accounts burdened by compromised, reused, or feeble passwords, subsequently prodding me towards their amendment. It is noteworthy that Kaspersky also incorporates a convenient button that facilitates direct navigation to websites necessitating password alterations.
Nevertheless, it is regrettable that Kaspersky does not furnish live dark web monitoring, an aspect embraced by Dashlane. The latter employs agents perpetually scouring the dark web for any mention of your information, instantly alerting you in the event of a breach.
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
For the augmentation of security, 2FA may be activated. Upon its implementation, a secondary method of authentication becomes obligatory during the login process.
Kaspersky distinguishes itself through the provision of multiple 2FA alternatives. Users may opt to receive SMS codes via their mobile device, leverage supported third-party authenticator applications such as Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, or Authy, or employ the built-in 2FA tool within the mobile application.
The setup process for 2FA within Kaspersky is remarkably straightforward. It commences with the initiation of a sign-in to the Kaspersky website, culminating in the selection of “Account Settings.” From there, users navigate to the “Security” tab, where they encounter the “Set Up” button beneath “Two-Factor Authentication.” Following this, the entry of a password and phone number ensues. Subsequently, with 2FA via mobile established, users possess the option to procure a third-party authenticator application and elect their preferred 2FA method.
A supplementary 2FA alternative manifests within the application itself. Although currently limited to mobile devices, it presents an appealing feature. Simply peruse the application’s main sidebar and scroll to locate the “Authenticator” tab. Herein, the addition of 2FA to accounts becomes facile, facilitated through QR code scanning or input of a setup key. The importation of data from Google’s Authenticator app is also feasible. Once 2FA is integrated into an account, a login code and countdown timer materialize alongside the respective entry in the primary vault.
However, a notable drawback pertains to this feature. Entries linked to Kaspersky’s indigenous authenticator fail to synchronize across all devices. Personally, I integrated in-app 2FA for my Amazon account, only to discover its absence within the browser extension and Kaspersky application on my PC. Instead, a cryptic message alluding to an absence of data was evident. It is my earnest wish that Kaspersky expeditiously resolves this issue by incorporating the authentication tool into the desktop application.
Browser Extension
Kaspersky introduces an intuitively navigable browser extension, compatible with Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari. This extension confers access to a myriad of Kaspersky’s paramount features, including the password vault and password generator. Additionally, a designated button facilitates seamless transitioning to Kaspersky’s desktop application.
In the course of my examinations, Kaspersky’s browser extension delivered a commendable performance, notably excelling in the realms of automated login and form-filling functions. While engaged with the extension, Kaspersky proffered the convenience of saving login credentials upon each initiation of a new online account. Furthermore, the password manager faithfully filled in usernames and passwords with unwavering consistency during subsequent login attempts.
The auto-fill feature exhibited unblemished functionality during extensive testing across a spectrum of account login pages. In comparison, alternative browser extensions, including Bitwarden’s, proved considerably less intuitive in their application of auto-fill capabilities.
Kaspersky Plans & Pricing
Kaspersky Password Manager is accessible through three premium subscription tiers, offered either as a standalone product or as an integral facet of a suite encompassing antivirus and cybersecurity tools, available in the Kaspersky Plus and Kaspersky Premium packages. Each subscription type adheres to an annual billing cycle.
Analogous to its contemporaries, Kaspersky extends a 30-day money-back guarantee across all premium subscriptions, permitting risk-free exploration of the products.
Furthermore, Kaspersky proffers a no-cost iteration of its password management solution, conferring identical features as the premium variant, albeit constrained to the management of a mere five passwords or documents. This limitation may prove inadequate for the majority of users, given the presence of more compelling alternatives in the marketplace.
Here’s a quick overview of Kaspersky’s plans:
| Feature | Kaspersky Password Manager Free | Kaspersky Password Manager | Kaspersky Plus | Kaspersky Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS |
| Price | Free | PLN60.34 / year | PLN213.30 / year | PLN301.86 / year |
| Number of devices | Unlimited | Unlimited | 3, 5, or 10 | 1, 3, 5, 10 |
| Unlimited devices & multi-device sync | ✅ (password manager only) | ✅ (password manager only) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Unlimited passwords | ❌ up to 5 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Password generator | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Password auditing | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| 2FA | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| VPN | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Malware scanning & removal | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Real-time antivirus protection | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Identity protection | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
Kaspersky Customer Support
Kaspersky supplements its product offering with an assortment of customer support channels:
- Knowledge Base;
- Email Support;
- 24/7 Live Chat Support;
- Phone Support;
- Virtual Assistant.
It is imperative to note that the encompassing customer support services extend beyond the realm of password management, encapsulating the entirety of Kaspersky’s internet security suite. This breadth translates to an extensive array of support avenues, in contrast to the more focused customer support typically associated with standalone password managers.
One notable inclusion is the live chat support, a distinguishing attribute. My experience with live chat was marked by expeditious connection to a representative, with prompt and courteous responses to my inquiries.
Kaspersky’s email support functioned as a dependable resource. To engage with the company, one must submit queries via a designated form, subsequently receiving a case number. My interactions with Kaspersky’s email support yielded informative and helpful responses within an approximate span of 19 hours.
McAfee Password Manager
In the realm of password management, McAfee Password Manager stands as a viable alternative. Let’s briefly explore its key features in comparison to Kaspersky:
- Security: McAfee Password Manager emphasizes security with strong encryption and 2FA options, ensuring the protection of your data;
- User Interface: McAfee offers a user-friendly interface, making it accessible for all users;
- Pricing: McAfee Password Manager’s pricing may be competitive, depending on your needs.
In 2023, both Kaspersky and McAfee provide viable options for password management, each with its strengths and considerations. The choice ultimately depends on your specific requirements and preferences.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Kaspersky’s Password Manager strikes a perfect balance between form and function, delivering both robust security features and a user-friendly interface. Its integration with Kaspersky’s antivirus suites further boosts its appeal, offering a comprehensive digital security solution. While there are areas where it could enhance, such as the inclusion of customized fields in its vault and live dark web monitoring, its current offering remains solid and dependable. Whether you’re a novice or an advanced user, Kaspersky’s Password Manager is a promising contender in the cybersecurity arena.