I'm sure most people encounter the following issues in their daily lives:
- There are too many account passwords to remember, and they all require complexity. How do we remember them?
- Many account passwords are repeated, and if one account's password is leaked, how can we ensure the safety of other accounts?
Designing passwords is a very painful task for me. In the internet age, we often have hundreds of accounts on various platforms, and if we require their passwords to be complex and non-repeating, we need to remember hundreds of different passwords.
Moreover, for a developer, there is more to manage than just passwords; there are also SSH Keys, API Tokens, Software Licenses, and so on...
Remembering SSH Keys is almost impossible, and we also have to manage dozens of Key files for dozens of servers...
The same goes for API Tokens; we need to manage an API Token for each project, and these Tokens are all different. How do we manage them?
These are the issues we encounter in our daily work, and 1Password has become my powerful tool for solving these problems over the past year.
What is 1Password?#
1Password is an efficient password management software designed to help users securely store and manage numerous passwords and sensitive information. It covers everything from traditional website passwords to the management of complex data like SSH Keys, API Tokens, and software licenses, and it also offers cross-platform support and powerful customization features.
Core Features of 1Password#
Cross-Platform Support#
1Password supports various operating systems and devices, including Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android. It even works in the command line interface (CLI), providing great flexibility and convenience.
On Mac, you can use the ⌘ + \ shortcut to open the 1Password search box, then enter the name of the item you want to search for to quickly open it.
Powerful Password Generation and Management#
1Password not only supports customizable password strength and complexity but can also generate passphrase passwords. It has recently added support for PassKey management, enhancing account security1.
Secure Sharing and Diverse Storage#
This software allows users to securely share and store various passwords in different vaults, including credit cards, email accounts, bank accounts, passports, and driver's licenses, greatly expanding its applicability.
For developers, it supports the storage of data like SSH Keys, API Tokens, and Software Licenses, helping to improve workflow efficiency.
It also offers many integrations, such as Brex Card, AWS Account, Fastmail, etc., which can help us manage these accounts more conveniently.
Comparison of 1Password with Other Password Management Tools#
Comparison with Chrome Password Manager#
1Password far exceeds Chrome Password Manager in cross-platform usage and password customization. It supports independent password management for subdomains, which Chrome Password Manager does not.
Comparison with KeyChain#
As an Apple product, KeyChain has some cross-platform functionality, but its features are limited on non-Apple devices. In contrast, 1Password offers more comprehensive management features and a better user experience.
How to Use 1Password#
1Password has a variety of features, but in our daily use, we mainly utilize the following.
Web Password Management#
As a password management software, the primary function of 1Password is to manage passwords. We can create a vault in 1Password and then create an entry within it to save a password.
Here, we can generate passwords of different strengths, customize the strength, complexity, and composition of the passwords, and also support passphrase passwords.
For website domains, you can also set whether it applies to their subdomains. On Mac, you can set it to log in to applications. (On Mac, use ⌘ + \ to open the 1Password search box)
1Password supports TOTP type One-Time Passwords and PassKeys, which help enhance account security. PassKey is a new feature recently launched by 1Password, offering higher security and better user experience1.
SSH Key Management#
In addition to managing passwords, 1Password can also manage SSH Keys. We can create an SSH Key entry in 1Password to save an SSH Key.
1Password automatically runs the SSH Agent, and when the system uses the ssh command, it will automatically retrieve the SSH Key from 1Password and use it.
Credit Card Management#
1Password supports adding Credit Cards. We can add a Credit Card entry in 1Password, input the relevant information, and save a Credit Card.
When we need to enter Credit Card information on a website, we can use the Credit Card entry in 1Password to autofill.
1Password also supports Bank Account information; you can add your SWIFT Code, IBAN, and other information.
Personal Identity and Document Management#
You can add a Personal Identity entry in 1Password, input the relevant information, and save your personal identity information. This entry can be used to fill out forms or to retain fake identity information.
You can also add information like Driver License, Passport, SSN, Outdoor License, etc. 1Password supports the storage of various real-world documents, which can reduce the impact of losing documents or forgetting to carry them.
One disappointing aspect is that 1Password does not treat the password for Crypto Wallets as an entry when inputting passwords, so every time I open a Crypto Wallet, I need to manually open 1Password to retrieve the password. 😢
Shared Vaults#
In the Family and Team Plans of 1Password, you can store passwords in shared vaults to enable team collaboration and family sharing.
In the Team Plan, you can create any number of vaults and specify who can view them; however, in the Family Plan, there is only one default shared vault that includes everyone.
By setting a One-Time Password for an account and sharing this entry with family members, you can achieve higher security.
1Password CLI#
1Password CLI is the command-line tool for 1Password, allowing you to use 1Password's features in the terminal. 1Password CLI supports platforms like Linux, Mac, and Windows.
With 1Password CLI, we can use 1Password's features in scripts, such as retrieving a password in a script or creating a password in a script. This is very useful for developers.
Conclusion#
As an all-in-one password management tool, 1Password provides users with a secure and convenient way to handle various passwords and sensitive information in daily life and work. Its powerful features and ease of use make it an indispensable part of digital life.
I have been using 1Password for over a year, and I believe it has brought great convenience to my work and life, becoming an essential part of my workflow.