Inventory more than just passwords with @1Password on Mac

My original goals in pursuing a password manager were simple – first to keep track of the litany of sites and web applications I use, and secondly to utilizing more complex passwords on each site. I had fallen into the same trap as many others and found myself using the same one or two usernames and passwords over and over. While convenient, not the most efficient security strategy.

Over the last year I have certainly shared the value of using a password manager, and specifically have been touting 1Password for Mac users and RoboForm for Windows users (I purchased and use both). Both of these can be used individually and for business. An excellent way to get rid of the “password notebooks” in desk drawers, passwords posted on Post-It notes on monitors and under keyboards (and even worse practices).

For the Mac user, in particular, 1Password’s upgrade to version 3 was a big leap – offering more depth than just password management. Aside from helpful new visual password cards (thumbnail of web site or app) were expanded features for creating a secure “wallet” to manage credit cards and accounts when transacting online, managing identities (your home, work and other profiles with appropriate name, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses). Very nice for pre-filling entire online forms when making purchases, signing up for access or e-newsletters.

Something I have wanted for a while is a place to securely stow random electronic notes with tidbits of data that would fall into the confidential or private realm. One such example is a recent task I had where I needed my business partner’s tax id. Not wanting to write it down anywhere to later be lost or otherwise mishandled – I stowed it in a secure note within 1Password.

Finally – I purchase and register a large number of software applications or web apps online and frequently end up mining through my archived email to find software licenses, keys or other registration information. I can now bring this entire inventory into 1Password. Similar to the password management function, when I enter the software inventory information, with web site links, I get a visual queue of each application I inventory (see example below).

With my backup process, both online and offline, including the core 1Password folders and libraries – I have an excellent continuity solution for accessing anything I use with a password from any location where there is Internet access. A user hint – certainly to insure you maintain a secure repository for all this very useful information, 1Password suggests selecting one very strong password (the only one you need to remember!) to secure access to the application data. My recommendation is to select the setting for requiring re-authentication after a certain amount of elapsed time. Mine is set to 60 minutes.

“The future belongs to people who see possibilities before they become obvious.” — Ted Levitt