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Google Chrome will soon allow you to securely share passwords in family groups - but is it safe

12.09.2023
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Sharing passwords has always been a nuanced challenge, especially when your preferred browser offers no seamless way to facilitate this task. Enter Google Chrome, a browser that has long been synonymous with user convenience. Chrome's built-in password manager has allowed users to store their credentials securely, offering easy access across devices. However, until now, the process of sharing these passwords outside of your account has been less than intuitive, often resorting to manual copy-pasting. Recent developments, however, suggest that Google is working diligently to simplify the password-sharing experience.

But is sharing passwords safe?

Sharing passwords can be tricky, especially when your browser doesn't allow you to quickly hand them out. Chrome lets you store your credentials in Google's password manager, making them accessible regardless of which device you're using. However, if you'd like to share passwords outside your account, you've long been out of luck, short of manually copying and pasting. Recently, evidence has emerged that Google may be working on a way to simplify the password-sharing process.

Esteemed browser expert Leopeva64 has unearthed compelling evidence that Google is in the process of revolutionising password sharing within Chrome. While we previously glimpsed this potential feature, fresh insights indicate a crucial restriction: it seems that, initially, you'll only be able to share your login credentials with members of your Google Family Group.
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So, is it safe to share passwords with family members?

Sharing passwords which is the first line of security can be a security risk. It exposes sensitive information and accounts to potential security breaches. If the person with whom you've shared the password mishandles it or if their device gets compromised, your accounts could be vulnerable to unauthorised access.

The new functionality, as demonstrated by Leopeva64 in a revealing video, allows for selective password sharing. Within Chrome's Password Manager, users can choose which passwords they wish to share with others. By selecting a specific website, and clicking the "Share" option in the bottom right corner, you can securely share those specific account credentials exclusively with members of your family group. It's important to note that while Leopeva64 has showcased this process, Google has yet to fully implement the feature, indicating that it may still be in the experimental phase.

For individuals who do not have an existing family group, the dialogue will gently inform them that, for the time being, password sharing is exclusively limited to family groups. While this limitation may persist in the future, it undoubtedly enhances parental oversight of children's accounts and facilitates joint account management for spouses.

However, the community anticipates further expansion of this feature, possibly extending it to broader sharing capabilities. Imagine being able to share passwords seamlessly between your work and personal email accounts, even if they aren't part of the same family group. Such advancements could transform password sharing into a more versatile and user-friendly experience, akin to some of the best password manager apps beyond Google's ecosystem.

In conclusion, Google Chrome's impending password-sharing feature, though initially tailored to family groups, holds the potential to reshape the way we share and manage our digital lives. It's a step towards enhancing security and convenience in an increasingly interconnected online world, and it leaves us eagerly anticipating the evolution of password sharing within this ever-evolving browser. While password sharing can have its risks, Chrome's innovative approach offers a promising path to secure sharing within trusted circles.