By now you probably know that it’s a good idea to have different, strong passwords for every login you use, whether it’s for websites, network administration, or otherwise. Recent studies have shown that the majority of people tend to use passwords that are so simple as to be easy for even a novice hacker to crack, which is only likely to embolden those interested in accessing online accounts without authorization.
Of course, it’s tough to remember multiple complex passwords, especially when you’ve got a lot of them. 1Password for Mac represents a convenient way to securely store your passwords, with a number of other useful features to boot. Is a program of this nature really worth the cost?
The Basics
1Password runs on Mac OS X 10.5.x and 10.6.x. In order to get it to run on 10.6.x (Snow Leopard), you’ll need an Intel processor, while 1Password on 10.5.x (Leopard) works with Intel or PowerPC processors. It’s priced at $39.95 US. A free trial is also available, which lasts 30 days, after which you’re limited to 20 passwords. So, for some, 1Password could essentially work as freeware.
1Password not only keeps track of your passwords, but also functions in such a way as to make sure that, in the event that you have a keylogger on your machine, it won’t be able to track your passwords, as you won’t need to type them in every time you log into a website. 1Password also protects against phishing in a similar way. So, it’s a more fully-featured program than it might initially appear to be. Much more, in fact.
The Pros
The great thing about 1Password is that it packs all kinds of powerful features in a single, easy to use utility. Quite simply, it does everything you’d need it to do, anything you’d want it to do, and more. 1Password integrates seamlessly with OS X’s Keychain utility, bringing with it all the security that Keychain already possesses.
1Password also boasts a significant amount of convenience. It will make up complex passwords for you if you so desire. You can even customize the automatic creation of passwords, setting a desired length and other parameters. 1Password is compatible with all popular web browsers for Mac, and has various integration and extension functions, including toolbar buttons, and a function called Go&Fill, which works almost like a bookmark, and logs in automatically to secure websites on command.
1Password will also sync with .Mac and external devices like the iPhone and the iPod Touch. The software license management function is probably the most powerful aspect of the program; it’s possible to attach relevant files to each license option, which can be very useful in some cases.
The Cons
There really isn’t much of anything negative to say about 1Password. It’s a simple yet highly functional program. The one drawback is that it can be unnecessarily complicated to make specific edits to individual passwords. However, given 1Password’s related functionality, this may prove to be completely unnecessary anyway.
The Verdict
Simply put, if you’re looking for a Mac-based program to manage your passwords, 1Password is the one.
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