One of the biggest problems with free useful software is that it doesn’t always stay free forever. In some cases, the parent company notices the demand and begins charging customers. In other instances, the software creators sell the product to outside investors and move on to other projects or retire comfortably with the proceeds of the sale. Either way, the customers are the losers in this scenario because they have to either decide to start paying or look for an alternative. Occasionally, a once-free app will have a grandfather clause that lets early customers continue using a service for free, which is about the best you can hope for.
The acquisition scenario happened recently to one of my favorite password managers, Editors’ Choice award winner Myki. If you visit the product’s website, a popup window appears explaining that Myki’s technology and team have been acquired by JumpCloud, a cloud directory platform for businesses. If you’re a current Myki user, you have until April 10, 2022, to move your passwords and other credentials off the platform.
How to Switch to a New Password Manager
If you’re not sure how to switch to a new password manager, follow these directions from MYKI or take the following steps:
- Export your credentials to a CSV file on your computer.
Keep in mind, a CSV may not contain all the information you stored in the old password manager such as your addresses, phone numbers, or credit cards. Be prepared to enter all that information over again.
- Install a new password manager. During the setup process, the password manager will ask if you want to import your current password information, which is where your new CSV file comes in.
- Import the CSV file to the new password manager.Set aside some time to make sure your logins are transferred to the new password manager and fill in blank credentials where applicable.
Farewell, Myki! You will be missed. This may not be the last we see of the service, however. In Myki’s termination announcement, the creators said, “We are confident that you will encounter our products again in the future albeit under a different shape or form.”
The Myki password manager had a lot of interesting and secure features such as the ability to store your information on each device, rather than in the cloud. It offered a password strength report, secure sharing, browser extensions for many platforms, and supported an array of multi-factor authentication methods.
What Are the Best Alternatives to Myki?
Here are two other free password managers that I have personally reviewed that may fill the Myki void:
The open-source software’s free tier has few limitations. You can store an unlimited number of passwords and sync them across all your devices. Bitwarden offers native apps for Windows (including a Microsoft Store app), macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. Bitwarden’s browser extension supports Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, and Safari, as well as the less-common Vivaldi, Brave, and Tor browsers. You can also enable multi-factor authentication via an authenticator app with the free version of Bitwarden.
NordPass’ free version does not allow you to share items from your vault, but that limitation shouldn’t deter you from giving the password manager a try. You can save an unlimited number of passwords, autofill forms, keep notes and credit cards, sync across multiple devices, and protect your passwords with multi-factor authentication.
Be sure to check out our more extensive list of free password managers reviewed by other PCMag analysts. If you can’t find what you’re looking for there, you may need to spend a little money on some of the best password managers we’ve tested.
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What Else Is Happening in the Security World This Week?
Ukraine Starts Using Facial-Recognition Tech to Detect Russian Operatives. Clearview AI offers Ukraine free access to its technology and more than 10 billion photos.
TorGuard Will Prevent VPN Customers From Using BitTorrent. The company’s settlement with a group of movie studios requires it to block the service.
Report: NSA Investigates Viasat Hack That Coincided With Ukraine Invasion. The agency is said to be collaborating with Ukrainian intelligence and ANSSI on the investigation.
Google to Acquire Cybersecurity Firm Mandiant to Bolster Its Cloud Security. The search giant is paying $5.4 billion for Mandiant, which will merge with Google Cloud, a provider of IT services to enterprises.
The Best Security Keys for Multi-Factor Authentication. Beyond a password manager, the best way to protect your online accounts is a hardware device that fits on your key ring. Our reviews help you pick the best security key to help keep your personal information private.
