Challenges and Opportunities in Password Management: A Review of Current Solutions

Abstract

For over six decades, passwords have served as the primary authentication mechanism for almost all modern computer systems. However, password management is a challenging task for most computer users, and that has led users to many malpractices that open the door for most information security breaches over time. Despite many efforts, no alternative solution has ever succeeded in replacing passwords as the primary authentication mechanism. As a result, users are now heavily relying on password managers to alleviate the burden of manual password management. This paper addresses the topic of password management about different types of password managers and their inherent limitations. By evaluating the existing password management approaches and identifying potential improvements, this paper aims to signify an important research gap that exists in the study area; the need for fully automating the process of manual password management.