Password managers less secure than promised
ethz.ch
Researchers from ETH Zurich have discovered serious security vulnerabilities in three popular, cloud-based password managers. During testing, they were able to view and even make changes to stored passwords.
  • Millions of people use password managers. They make accessing online services and bank accounts easy and simplify credit card payments.
  • Many providers promise absolute security – the data is said to be so encrypted that even the providers themselves cannot access it.
  • However, researchers from ETH Zurich have shown that it is possible for hackers to view and even change passwords.
  • unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
    9·
    17 hours ago

    There is no way to patch the inherent flaw that comes with delivering client software through a web browser. If the entire client is delivered as a web page from a server you dont control, then that server can modify the software however it pleases. Same applies to e2ee encrypted chat clients that run as a web page like element-web (browser based matrix client).

    • Victor@lemmy.worldEnglish
      6·
      17 hours ago

      This feels a bit extreme though. Can you even trust anything online at that point? Do you also never leave your home carrying your wallet in case someone might rob you?

      • unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
        4·
        16 hours ago

        Bro i have my bank details, all my private 2FA, work 2FA, health insurance access, my families master passwords, steam access, and more in there. Its literally the most important piece of software that can exist in this day and age. No im not taking chances with that. The only thing you can do with my physical wallet if you rob me is buy something up to 20€ beyond which you need the cards pin. Everything else i can just deactivate by calling the relevant parties.

        But on another note, websites have never really been resistant to MITM attacks. So you dont just have to trust the hoster but also everything in between you and them.

        • Victor@lemmy.worldEnglish
          2·
          11 hours ago

          I assume you follow proper backup protocol it you are using offline password management.

          How do you sync though? You keep one copy on your phone or something, I imagine? What apps and managers are you using?

          • unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
            1·
            4 hours ago

            KeepassXC is the goat :)

            The database file is encrypted so its fine to sync it however you like. I use syncthing for it which is p2p. Obviously set a very good password on it if you sync it through unsecure channels.

            • Victor@lemmy.worldEnglish
              1·
              50 minutes ago

              I had a look at this, and the only thing that intrigued be about KeePass was the ChaCha20 encryption which seems modern and nice.

              I usually use rbw which doesn’t use a web page to interact with BitWarden. It stores a local copy of the database, so the only time it contacts the servers is when adding new info or syncing or otherwise changing stuff.

              I’ll look more into KeePassXC and KeePassDX for mobile. Might be interesting, but the annoying part would be the syncing. You’d have to pay close attention to where you add new entries, and not add entries on separate devices if you want them synced to all devices. Or does that work somehow with KeePassXC?

              • unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
                1·
                28 minutes ago

                Just set it up so that the resulting .kdbx database file is always instantly synced between your devices whenever you make changes. Everything is in that file and all keepass versions can open it. I use syncthing for this because it doesnt require a server, but you can use nextcloud or whatever you have available. With syncthing it always just keeps the most recently modified version.