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Email logins may seem convenient, but they often come with hidden pitfalls. They can slow you down, compromise your security, and leave you vulnerable in ways passwords simply don’t. Here’s why I stick with passwords for my accounts.
1Speed and Convenience
Passwords provide instant access to your accounts without the hassle of waiting for an email to arrive in your inbox. For instance, when you need to log in and complete a time-sensitive task, you won’t waste precious minutes switching to your email, refreshing your inbox, or searching for a verification link.
Moreover,password managerscan make the process even faster by allowing you to log in with a single tap. This eliminates the need to remember multiple long passwords and saves you from constantly switching between letters, symbols, and numbers on your phone’s keyboard.
2Less Risk of Phishing and MFA
Phishing scamsremain a pervasive threat. However, passwords offer a distinct advantage by reducing your reliance on a single access point: your email inbox. If you rely solely on email logins, you’re particularly vulnerable to deceptive emails that can grant attackers access to multiple accounts simultaneously.
While phishing risks still exist with passwords, they typically involve tactics like fake login pages. Nevertheless, you may add extra layers of security, likemulti-factor authentication (MFA), to give hackers a tough time.
3Decreased Risk of Unauthorized Access
With email-based logins, anyone who gains access to your email can potentially access all linked accounts. Passwords, however, decentralize your security. Using a password ensures that your account security isn’t entirely dependent on your email.
you may further isolate the risk by using unique passwords for different accounts.Password generatorscan help generate and store strong, unique passwords for each account.
4Consistent Availability
Email services experience downtime occasionally. And when your email provider has issues, you can get locked out of your accounts. Passwords, on the other hand, ensure that you have consistent access to your accounts regardless of your email provider’s status. Even during email outages or server issues, your ability to log in and continue your work remains unaffected.
5Reliable Access in Areas With Poor Network
Waiting for an email to load can be frustrating in areas with poor or unstable internet connections. This is particularly important when you might need to access your accounts on the go, such as when traveling in remote areas with spotty internet coverage.
Passwords, however, are less dependent on real-time network conditions. They allow you to access your accounts more reliably, even when the internet is slow or intermittent.
Considering all these factors, it’s clear that passwords offer a more robust, flexible, and reliable way to secure your accounts than email logins. At least for me.
