How to Manage your Social Network Passwords with 1Password

Starting a blog involves a lot more work than one would expect.  Sure you can write a blog but to bring readers in requires reaching out.  So, in an effort to promote this blog, I have recently registered for many social networking and blogging sites. Every time you sign up for a new account with a new service or website you are asked to create a password.  These days with Twitter, Facebook and MySpace accounts hacked on a daily basis having a strong password (one that you do not use for all of your accounts) is absolutely necessary.   I have recently been making an effort to create stronger passwords in an effort to prevent any account hacking.  One of the first passwords I created was the password to my MsJosay  Twitter account.  Of course when I was typing in the password I thought to myself  “this is a great password, I’ll never forget this one!”  After creating that password I created probably 6 additional passwords for all of my new accounts.

The next morning I got to work and tried to sign in to my Twitter account and lo and behold I forgot my password.  I thought I had remembered it correctly but apparently after quite a few failed attempts I realized maybe my memory wasn’t as good as I thought.  Then I got the dreaded message that I have been locked out of my account due to excessive failed attempts at signing in.  LOCKED OUT?!  (Enter Twitter withdrawl).  This got me thinking about the program I have on my computer at home – 1Password.  While I was waiting to be let back in to my Twitter account I realized that 1Password is truly a lifesaver.

For those of you who don’t know, 1Password is a (Mac) program that keeps track of all of your passwords in one place.  Created by Agile Web Solutions, it is a plugin for all major browsers that allows you to automatically remember passwords for all of your accounts.  What sets 1Password apart from other password managers?

Take the Shortcut:

You can use a shortcut key to automatically enter your username and password attached to the website you are on.  1Password can help you generate strong passwords with their password generator.  Need a password that has numbers, letters and symbols?  The password generator has setting you can adjust to generate the perfect password.

Manage multiple accounts for one site:

Have multiple accounts (aka two Gmail accounts)?  After hitting the shortcut key 1Password will ask you which account you would like to sign in to.

Go & Fill:

1Password also has a ‘Go & Fill’ option that allows you to choose from a list of your favorite sites (set by you).  Too tired to open a browser window, enter a web address and enter your login information?  1Password can do that for you with Go & Fill, once you click on name of the site in the 1Password menu, 1Password will open the page and automatically log you in.

Wallet:

The wallet feature helps you manage multiple credit cards.  1Password keeps your credit card info stored to allow you to automatically enter your info when you’re shopping online.  You can enter info for as many credit cards as you want – is your AmEx maxed out?  Why not choose your Visa from your list of credit cards.

Manage your identity:

1Passwords identity manager lets you enter your real information to fill in website forms or create an alias (or two) to fill in those forms for websites that don’t need to know all of you personal information.  It can remember your favorite usernames, as well as your work and home information.

Protection from Phishing Websites:

Whenever 1Password remembers your login information for a website it also remembers the web address which prevents you from unknowingly logging in to a phishing website.  If the address for the website you are on does not match the address stored in 1Password it will not let you use your saved login.

Another great feature is that all of your information is stored locally on your computer (not on servers like some other password managers).  All of your passwords stored on 1Password are protected by, well, one password.  In order to access all of your information stored in the program you  have to enter one master password.  1Password stores other important information as well, car info, social security numbers, insurance id numbers, you name it.  Oh and for all you iPhone owners there is an app that allows you to have all of the power of 1Password on your iPhone.  You can wirelessly sync the information from your Mac to your phone to ensure that all of your passwords are current.

I would love to say that this program is free but alas, nothing good in life is ever free.  You can get the awesome functionality of this program for a price of $39.99.  In my opinion, a small price to pay for convenience and security.

Do you use 1Password?  What are you experiences with it?  Love it?  Hate it?  Leave it in the comments.