by Lance Whitney
(Credit: 1Password)People running for public office or otherwise playing a role in US elections will be able to manage their passwords for free courtesy of a new offer from 1Password.
SEE: How to beef up your Chrome and Firefox security in 2018
With the midterm elections around the corner, 1Password has unveiled a new initiative known as 1Password for Democracy. Through this offer, political candidates, election monitors, and other people taking an active role with our elections can get a free account from the password management company, according to a 1Password blog post. To take the hassle out of maintaining passwords, 1Password can create, store, and sync all your website and account passwords. The program automatically applies your login credentials at each site so you don't have to remember them.
With today's political climate, the need to keep one's accounts and information safe and secure is stronger than ever. That applies to all of us but especially to politicians and public figures who may not exercise the right judgment or measures to protect their data and communications. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was castigated for using a private email server for official communications. Now, President Trump reportedly continues to use an unsecure mobile phone, allowing Chinese and Russian spies to eavesdrop on his conversations, as reported by the New York Times. Ensuring that such information is secure is vital not just to politicians individually but to our democracy as a whole.
Beyond the basic feature of creating secure passwords, 1Password offers other benefits for those involved in the political game. A 1Password business account lets people share their passwords with others on their team, add temporary guests to an account, and spread the word about the importance of good password management. The program's Travel Mode can protect private information by temporarily removing it from a computer or mobile device when a person crosses into another country.
"We founded 1Password with the goal of protecting people's' right to privacy -- the right to have their personal information kept away from those that would seek to do harm with it," said 1Password founder Roustem Karimov. " I am proud that 1Password can be there for those fighting for democratic rights, and that we can help to mitigate some of the risk that comes with protecting privileged information."
Exactly who qualifies for a free 1Password account under this new offer? The blog says: "Whether you're running for office, ensuring elections run fairly, or protecting people's rights, we'd like to offer you a completely free 1Password account to thank you for the essential work you do for society."
A 1Password spokesperson further explained the process to Download.com.
Running for office: In this case, a free account is available to anyone running for political office worldwide. 1Password advises those involved in political campaigns to check how the use of a password manager would affect their local campaign reporting requirements.
Elections run fairly: Directed toward companies and individuals involved in the democratic process, this offer would apply to officials and organizations related to awareness around voting.
Protecting people's rights: Here, the offer is geared toward people and companies involved in such areas as digital rights. That would include the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and the Open Rights Group (ORG) in the UK, which work on issues around campaigning and activism.
Yes, some of the eligibility requirements may sound vague. In its blog, 1Password said that eligibility is assessed on a case-by-case basis
If you think you qualify, you can sign up for a free account at the 1Password for Democracy webpage. You're asked to provide your name and your official work email address and specify whether you're looking for an account for your team or your family. The page states that 1Password will "be in touch for any qualifying information we need to make your account completely free."
Takeaways
1Password is offering free accounts to political candidates and others officially involved with elections.
The offer comes at a time when the need to protect one's private accounts an information is stronger than ever.
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