Password managers are invaluable for safe password storage, but what happens when you delete your app or account? Do your passwords remain somewhere in cyberspace, or are they deleted permanently?
Where Do Password Managers Store Your Data?
When you entrust a password manager with your login credentials, payment details, and other sensitive information, it’s worth knowing how this data is stored.
Trusted password managers encrypt passwords during storage so that even if they are accessed maliciously, they can’t be used without the decryption key. Many password managers use thehighly secure AES-256 encryption standardthat has never been cracked. But this isn’t a rule, so you should check what kind of encryption your password manager uses before storing sensitive information.
Depending on your password manager, your passwords may also be stored offline. This is also known as cold storage and prevents cyberattacks that rely on an internet connection. Cold storage often involves storing the passwords locally (i.e., on your device), using on-device encryption.
Any reputable password manager will have protocols to ensure that no one except you can see your stored passwords. This way, even employees can’t see the sensitive data stored on behalf of users. However, in the case of a cyberattack, passwords that aren’t stored locally could be accessed, as well as decryption keys.
Where Does Your Data Go After You Delete Your Password Manager?
When you no longer want to use a password manager, you may simply delete the app or delete your account. However, it’s important to note that these aren’t always the same.
If you’re using a password manager that stores passwords locally (i.e., on your smartphone only), deleting the app will delete all your stored data. But if your chosen password manager stores sensitive information on a remote server, deleting the app may just remove the software from your device, not your password manager account.
Think of social media apps like Facebook and Instagram. Deleting one of these apps doesn’t delete your account, as you can log back in upon re-installation. The scenario can be similar with certain password managers; you may delete the app, but your online account still exists.
In this case, your passwords may continue to be stored by the password manager regardless of whether the app is on your phone. So, it’s best to look for an account deletion option in your app account settings before uninstalling the software.
Alternatively, you may come across blockchain-based password managers, which store passwords in a tokenized form on a blockchain. This means your passwords aren’t stored locally but are still in a secure environment that uses encryption and decentralization.
What to Consider Before Deleting Your Password Manager
If you want to use a different password storage method or like the look of another app, it makes sense to delete your password manager. But there are some things to consider before doing this.
If you have a LastPass account and want to switch to a less vulnerable alternative, check out our guide ondeleting your LastPass account.
Deleting your password manager isn’t necessarily the same as deleting a social media or shopping app. This kind of software is designed for storing highly sensitive information, so it’s important to think twice before uninstalling or deleting your account.
