Joe: I'm with Firefox and they just annihilated all their addons/ plugin.
I have Firefox, but the only version of it that I use is a version the TOR router is based on. Of course, the TOR router eschews add ons/plugins because they all contribute to your identifiable online signature. On the other hand 1Password claims to work with Firefox 40 or later. 🤷â€â™‚ï¸
I had a autofiller / or auto log in? that would populate user/ pass or form that I filled in— called Secure Log in.
There are a number of similar products and Safari has that built in based on Keychain.
But here is the deal: I'm confused now difference between the plug ins for web that do auto fill or fill in passwords you typed in that you created vs. true password management software that generate passwords. What is the difference?
For starters Password Management software is a stand alone app that is totally independent of any browser. It may have a browser plugin that permits access from within the browser, but that is not necessary.
I've been using a manual excel file for so long, it's hard for me to let go or trust a real password creator or manager, your opinon? I feel what happens if there is some glitch? Excel, I have it all in my palm still.
Well let's see, in my case the password manager data is backed up on Time Machine, there are synched copies on iCloud, my server, my iPhone, and my iPad. If one
glitched I can always get the data from one of the other devices.
And what if you need to use another browser or 2?
Not a problem, open the app find the data then copy and paste into the browser, or alternatively for logins simply double click on the entry in the app and it launches the default browser and passes the url, userid, and password to open the site. If you have computer using family members up to five can share the same account and there are additional features offered such as the ability to unlock a members vault if they forget their password.
A girl recommended Last Pass, have you tried that Joe?
No but there are new ones coming out all the time. I have only tried maybe 8 or 10 different apps and since I started using 1Password three or so years back, I have not had any impetus to try any others.
Joe: Why is 1 password better or more secure than my old excel sheet? My excel sheet passwords have a code, snippint memorized in my brain plus a password. Isn't that better than a great password that maybe someone can find use?
How good is the encryption algorithm on the Excel spreadsheet? 1Password uses AES-256bit encryption, a locally generated 128 bit secret identifier key, and all synchronizing internet traffic is end-to end encrypted. There is a master password that is not stored anywhere (you have to remember it) but on my iPhone 1Password opens with facial recognition, on my MBP and iPad I have to use my fingerprint, and only on the server is the access password required. Right now I have 338 items stored including 235 logins, 33 software licenses, 26 passwords,
etc. organized by type of entry with specific templates for each type (reminds me to capture data items I might otherwise overlook and wish I had later), the ability to search on a variety of criteria, automatically flags any weak passwords, identifies all duplicate passwords, tracks how old passwords are as a reminder to update old ones.
And will it work for multiple browsers or just one?
It will work without a browser and there are extensions for Firefox 40 or later, Safari, and Chrome. In these browsers 1Password can either replace used in addition to the browser's automatic fill in.
CAVEAT The original question was in essence, why use a password manager. The MacOS App Store catalogs 80 different products and the iPad App Store lists over 200, I didn't check the iPhone App Store. They all have many of the same features and each offers some unique features. Obviously some are unique to iOS or MacOS and others work on both platforms.
I am not trying to tout you or anyone on using 1Password, I am citing it because it is the one I am most familiar with. (It is rated by the App Store as one of the
essentials.)
THE POINT IS: As I said previously I could live without a Password Manager, but I would not want to. It is too useful and I have come to rely on this one too much to give it up now.