A couple of years ago, I tried 1Password for Mac OS X, and I immediately uninstalled the program. It was too complicated to employ and too confounding to infuse into my daily, online, life.
With the recent release of third generation of 1Password, I decided I would give the program a second chance. I had more patience, time, and energy now to make the commitment to a complete transition.
The idea behind 1Password is simple: Let 1Password create, manage, and store all your passwords so all you have to do is remember a single password to open 1Password.
If you decide to use 1Password, you must go all in — login to all your password protected websites, bank accounts, and online services and let 1Password change all your password to something much more secure with the “Strong Password Generator.”
If you don’t do that for all your accounts and logins then you are not taking full advantage of how 1Password can best protect you.
It took me several days to change and update all my passwords — but once that dirty deed was done, I was able to relax a bit in my core knowing I now had randomized and much more secure passwords covering my life — and the great thing is I don’t have to remember any of them!
1Password remembers all those passwords and usernames and automatically logs me in with the touch of a button on my web browser.
1Password also has an iPhone app that will sync — unfortunately via WiFi only, and both your computer and iPhone must be on the same WiFi network — your desktop accounts and passwords back and forth so you can be safe and secure when you’re online with your iPhone as well.
The iPhone implementation of 1Password is okay, but clunky.
You have to unlock 1Password, then find where you want to login and copy and paste your hardened password. Not very elegant, but it works.
1Password now allows you to store its encrypted database online so you can use a web browser while away from your main computer to login and get your stored passwords.
I have Dropbox setup as my off-site backup server and if I’m on the road, I just login to Dropbox using any browser — and by typing my main 1Password password, I am able to get all the information I need to continue to live securely online even if I’m away from my main box.
If you have a Mac, 1Password is a great tool to have protecting you online — and if you also have an iPhone — then 1Password demands immediate and mandatory employment in your ethereal life.