1Password 5: Tom's Mac Software Pick

 By: Unknown    01.21  No comments

1Password 5 is a password manager and secure wallet for keeping track of your login passwords, bank accounts, credit cards, or even just your software licenses. 1Password integrates with your browser, so accessing frequently used web sites that require logins takes just a click. The process is so simple that you'll probably be willing to abandon those easy-to-remember (and easy to crack) passwords you've been using, and use strong, secure passwords instead.

Pros

• Works as both a stand-alone app and a browser add-on.


• Built-in, highly customizable password generator.


• Web-based logins can be saved automatically.


• Automatic and manual security audits can notify you of vulnerabilities in your login information, as well as web sites that have had security breeches.


• Can create secure vaults to hold information.


• Vaults can be shared and synced.


• You can sync 1Password using iCloud or Dropbox, or locally on your own network.

Cons

• iCloud sync feature only works with Mac App Store version of the app.


• The 1Password app and Safari's built-in password service can cause minor annoyances as they both try to save or provide password information.

1Password has long been a favorite of mine when it comes to securely storing and easily retrieving login credentials, passwords, and bank or credit card information. It provides a convenient method to not only safely store personal information, but just as important, to easily use the data without having to jump through hoops or remember arcane commands.
1Password stores your information in secure vaults using tamper-proof Authenticated Encryption, with AES-256 Encrypt-then-MAC. The 1Password app never writes decrypted data to disk unless directed to by the user (exporting to unsecure formats). You're also not limited to a single vault for storing your important data. Those of use who like to organize our data and keep things tidy can create multiple vaults. It's also handy should you wish to share passwords.

Innovative approach to Incident Management.

Sure, sharing passwords is frowned upon, but the reality, especially in a home environment, is that you're likely to share a web site login with one or more family members. Or, if you’re a part of a small team of employees working on a common project, sharing 1Password vaults may be an excellent way to allow secure access to needed information. You can also share individual account information with others using 1Password.

Using 1Password

1Password is made up of three components: a stand-alone app, a mini-app that runs from the Mac's menu bar, and a set of browser plug-ins for most Mac browsers. Because I tend to access a lot of web sites that require accounts, I use the browser plug-in for 1Password quite a bit.
When you visit a web site that requires you to log in, you can click on the 1Password button in the browser's toolbar and select the login to use. In most cases, 1Password will have already preselected the login, since it recognizes the web site associated with it. In fact, if you ever visit a web site you routinely use, and 1Password doesn't offer a login option, chances are there's a security issue with the site, including the possibility that it isn't the correct site, but one created to impersonate that site and gain your credentials. In this way, 1Password can serve as a line of defense for secure sites you visit frequently, such as banking or merchant sites.
1Password also stays active in the background. When you visit a new site that requires a login, 1Password will remember both the site and the login credentials you create. Even better, 1Password is able to create highly secure passwords for you, which I recommend, since you won’t need to remember the passwords. 1Password will serve up the credentials when needed.
1Password's mini app seems to have the same capabilities as the browser plug-in. The difference is that since it runs from your Mac's menu bar, it's independent of the browser. This makes the 1Password mini app usable with just about any app you use on your Mac, allowing you to create and save login credentials for just about any service you may come across.
The main 1Password app is a stand-alone application that provides all of the 1Password services, including managing security audits and letting you organize items by categories you create. You can also tag entries, and even create folders for storing similar information.
I mentioned that I use 1Password a great deal with my browsers, but I also use the stand-alone app for keeping my network information, such as wireless access passwords, server accounts, and email account information, stored in a secure environment. 1Password contains many different premade categories and form types that you can use for storing information of any type.
1Password is easy to use, and keeps all of your data secure and out of the reach of prying eyes. It also offers a number of security audit services that can help you stay secure.
1Password 5 is $49.99. A demo is available.
See other software choices from Tom's Mac Software Picks.