Proton has announced the global launch of its password manager, Proton Pass, which has been in beta testing since April 20. In a blog post on Wednesday, the company explained why Proton Pass is more than just a password manager but an “identity manager.”
“Proton Pass is more than a tool to securely save passwords and automate logging in. It’s also an identity manager that generates unique email aliases, preventing your true email address from being used to track you, exposed in data breaches, or targeted for spam,” Proton explained.
Proton Pass stores users’ data using end-to-end encryption. Besides generating randomized passwords and automatically filling them in at each login, it can also autofill 2FA (two-factor authentication) codes generated by the built-in authenticator.
Users can store an unlimited number of passwords on Proton Pass and use it on an unlimited number of devices. It will also sync passwords across multiple devices.
Proton’s new password manager is available for all major browsers, including Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Brave. There’s also an app for Android and iOS.
‘More Than Just a Password Manager’
Proton Pass will allow users to use a passphrase instead of passwords to secure online accounts. Users will also be able to create email aliases to protect their identities. Using an email alias prevents tracking, reduces spam, and protects users’ identities from being exposed in a data breach, Proton CEO Andy Yen said in a blog post.
“While most password managers can protect your password, Proton Pass goes further by also protecting your email, which is arguably the more valuable of the two pieces of information websites have from you,” Yen explained.
“If you sign up for a website using a hide-my-email alias and it gets hacked, it can only expose that alias. Your real email address would remain safe. If this happens and you start to receive phishing emails or spam via that alias, you can simply disable it,” he added.
Proton Pass uses “strong bcrypt password hashing implementation” and “a hardened implementation of Secure Remote Password (SRP) for authentication.”
The new Proton Pass password manager is open source. The company said Cure53 has audited the service, and the results will be released in the coming weeks.
Proton Pass adds to Proton’s impressive array of privacy tools. According to Yen, a password manager has been Proton’s most requested product since the launch of Proton Mail in 2014. Proton has made some significant improvements to its services this year, including adding a privacy panel to the NetShield feature on Proton VPN. The company has also introduced browser extensions and new servers for its VPN service.
How to Get Started With Proton Pass
You can visit the Proton Pass page on Proton’s website to get this password manager. While free, users can opt for a 12-month or 24-month subscription with additional features. Proton is offering a limited-time offer on Proton Pass for only $1 monthly.
“This is a forever discount, so if you get the promotion, you’ll keep this price forever, even after Proton Pass Plus returns to its regular price of $3.99/month,” the blog post said.
Proton Pass is available to existing Proton users with Unlimited, Business, Lifetime, Family, and Visionary plans.
Read our article on the best free password managers to learn more about the importance of password managers and discover alternatives to Proton Pass.
For more information about Proton Pass, check out the video below.
