Rated one of the best password managers, 1Password has loads of features with two main focus points, easy storage, filing systems and a very secure data system.
The top features that help differentiate it from the crowd are:
- Multiple vaults
- Travel Mode
- Secrets Automation
- Watchtower security check
1Password is available on all major platforms, including Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, Chrome OS, Darwin, FreeBSD and OpenBSD. It’s also extremely secure and has a very user-friendly dashboard as well as multiple packages.
Let’s look at some of the benefits and features of 1Password.
Secure Encryption
1Password uses AES 256-bit encryption, which banks and governments around the world also use. This means your passwords are secure, and the likeliness of someone trying to hack your account head-on is extremely unlikely.
The master password you receive when setting up is also a 34-character secret key. You’ll use this for the first login. This master key is shared with you in a PDF, which you can print out or place somewhere secure. The master key is also protected by a Secure Remote Password (SRP).
While there might be a concern that you may lose this key, you can retrieve it using Window Hello, which accesses apps via biometrics. 1Password also has a zero-knowledge policy, so no one but you will know the master key.
Multiple Vaults
Each 1Password account is broken down into vaults. These form a filing system for your profile to store different sets of information or create different categories for certain data. You can create a vault for forms, passwords, secure documents, credit cards and more.
This also means that you’ll have organized your sensitive information, and you can still allow access to certain data as needed. On family and business plans, you can set up sharing settings with other users that are unique to each vault.
Travel Mode
When traveling across certain borders, some customs officials will request access to your device. With Travel Mode, you can select which vaults will be accessible to these officials.
All you need to do is select certain vaults that are safe for travel and others that are not. If your device is seized, they can’t access your sensitive information. This also serves as an extra layer to protect your information if your device is stolen while traveling. On business plans, administrators can remotely configure these settings for team members.
Watchtower
This feature notifies you if your passwords are weak, reused, vulnerable to attacks or have been compromised in a data breach. However, this isn’t unique to 1Password, as many other software packages offer the same thing.
What is different, however, is that Watchtower will inform you if your saved documents (such as passports or driver’s licenses) are close to expiration. With credit card details, this can be very useful when it comes to changing your online shopping account information.
Privacy Cards
Working with a third-party app, Privacy, you can set up Privacy Cards, which are virtual payment cards that will hide your card’s information when you make online purchases. This is only available to United States subscribers.
With this app, you can be sure that no one can use your card’s information in the event a vendor you’ve purchased something through is compromised. You can also use Privacy to set up transaction limits, making it easy to sign up for free trials without having to remember to cancel the auto-renewal.
Clipboard Options
You always need to ensure that your clipboard contents are cleared as soon as possible, as it exposes your sensitive data to hackers and malicious websites.
With 1Password, you can set a timer that clears your clipboards automatically. While this is rather a tricky feature to use with other software, it’s simple on 1Password.
1Password X
Because it is a browser extension, 1Password X offers full software usability in your web browser of choice. It’s very easy to use and makes autofilling and auto saving a breeze. There’s also an integrated password generator, which creates a unique code that is saved to a vault instantly.
You also have the option to add 2FA and can search your vaults from your browser without having to open a separate program.
