MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
TL;DR useability issues with Bitwarden and non-PC devices...
Following recommendations on here, I've installed Bitwarden on my laptop, phone (Pixel 6a) and tablet (Amazon Fire thingy).
I've also exported my previously stored passwords from web browsers and imported them into Bitwarden. I'm in a long, painful process of updating many, many password as one of my accounts was hacked and I, tut tut, did a LOT of password sharing, which I'm now trying to undo.
Anyway, Bitwarden recommend disabling web browser (eg Chrome/Firefox etc) password managers and using their product (inc browser extensions) which makes sense from their perspective.
However, I've discovered that Google stores passwords in backups so that if you change your phone, the on-boarding process of a new phone will pull login info from Google.
Does this make Bitwarden irrelevant? Because it seems Google will just duplicate whatever Bitwarden does...??Â
Maybe I'm asking the wrong question but before I waste anyway more time on Bitwarden, Id just like some reassurance that it's actually worth the effort!Â
(For clarity, I mostly use Brave as a web browser on my phone as certain websites (ahem) are borderline unusable with obnoxious adverts. I generally use Firefox on my PC and tablet).
There's also a load of arsing around with new passwords for streaming apps which I run on a Samsung Smart TV and Amazon Firestick. Bitwarden can't copy complex passwords onto the TV or Firestick and I'm not confident I can get such passwords onto the TV/Firestick unless a buy a Bluetooth keyboard just for that purpose (unless I'm missing something).
I guess I could just have simple passwords for Neflix, Prime, Apple TV, Channel4, BBC etc?
Anyway, any wisdom helpful!
However, I've discovered that Google stores passwords in backups so that if you change your phone, the on-boarding process of a new phone will pull login info from Google.
Does this make Bitwarden irrelevant? Because it seems Google will just duplicate whatever Bitwarden does...??Â
...
I guess I could just have simple passwords for Neflix, Prime, Apple TV, Channel4, BBC etc?
Google will only store the passwords from it's own password manager or accounts (and some stuff like saved wifi networks etc) - anything in Bitwarden will be stored in their systems, so won't be backed up. Chrome etc also doesn't do a great job of securing passwords when they are stored - one of the first things a hacker will do is to export all of your saved passwords from your browser if they get access to your machine as they are either in cleartext or poorly encrypted, so storing them in a 'proper' password manager (behind a good password) is a much better solution.
Most of the streaming apps will direct you to a web portal when you log in - the first time you log in on a fire stick or whatever you will be asked to go to bbc.com/tvcode (or equivalent) on your laptop where you enter a code displayed by the TV and can then log in via a 'real' keyboard to avoid having to enter complex passwords on a remote.. Failing that, fire sticks, google tv etc all have remote 'apps' that let you use a phone as a remote keyboard and you can paste the password from your password manager in there...
My understanding is that Google only backs up passwords stored in their password manager, I'm not sure how else they would know?! As far as I can tell it hasn't stored any of mine that I don't want it to.
TV Apps - most have a code or QR login option so you actually sign in on your phone then link your TV app using the code or QR. There are a few on mine that don't do that but all the main ones have. It may depend how old the version your TV runs though.
Ok, thanks guys. I'll have to look a little deeper into what Google stores and in what circumstances.
Good to know about the TV apps...that was a major concern (I can't remember how I set them up originally as it was a few years ago and haven't added any new apps recently)