Veault Blog
Security
Passwords
By:
Léon van Leeuwen
Last updated:
November 7, 2025
It's a classic dilemma. You know that your partner or a trusted family member needs access to important accounts 'just in case'. But how do you arrange that?
Most of us resort to DIY methods. A notebook in a drawer. An Excel file on a USB stick. A 'secret' note in your phone.
While well-intentioned, these methods are at best impractical and at worst downright dangerous. Let's be honest about the risks and discuss the only solution that is truly safe.
The dangers of the 'DIY' password vault
The methods most people use fail in three crucial ways:
They're physically vulnerable: A notebook in a drawer can easily be damaged by fire, water, or theft. One simple break-in, and a thief has the keys to your entire digital life.
They're digitally unsafe: An Excel file (even with a password) or a note in your email is a huge risk. If your computer or email account gets hacked, the hacker gets direct access to all your accounts. It’s like serving it up on a silver platter.
They're always outdated: This is the most common problem. You change your bank password but forget to update that little notebook or file. When your family needs it, the information is useless, and they've hit a dead end.
Password manager as a solution?
A password manager is a much better idea. For everyday use, it’s an incredibly safe way to manage your passwords and login information. However, a password manager essentially gives your family a dictionary (a list of data) without context. What they need is a guidebook (a step-by-step plan with instructions). The "emergency access" doesn't solve the problem; it creates a new, overwhelming burden.
The only truly safe way: Zero-Knowledge encryption
To safely share passwords with family, you need a system specifically built for this purpose. The gold standard for this is called a "Zero-Knowledge" Architecture. And that is exactly the technology that Veault is built upon.
What it means: 'Zero-Knowledge' is a technical term for a simple promise: we cannot read your data. Even if we wanted to.
How it works: As explained in this article, your passwords are encrypted on your device before they are sent to our servers. Only you have the 'key' (your master password). We only store an unreadable, encrypted vault.
The Analogy: Think of it as a physical safe. We sell you the safe, but only you know the combination. We can’t open it for you.
More Than Safe: Make It Usable
If you’re already using a password manager, you can share the login details of this password manager with your heirs in your Veault vault. If you don’t use a password manager, we give you the option to store your most important login information directly in your vault:
Item: Netflix
Password: [your-password]
Instruction: "Please cancel. Linked to my PayPal account."
Item: Child Savings Account
Password: [your-password]
Instruction: "This is the savings account for [Child's Name]. It should be maintained until they turn 18."
Conclusion: Ditch the Notes, Start with a Plan
The 'just-in-case' plan for your family is too important to leave to a notebook. You need a system that’s secure, always up-to-date, and perhaps most importantly, clear and usable for your loved ones.
Sharing passwords is an act of trust. Make sure you have a system that earns that trust.
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