The modern 101 in online security involves using a password manager. However, that doesn’t make these security tools any less complicated. Using a password manager for the first time can be confusing, especially if you don’t have a clue about what you are doing. You will find yourself constantly annoyed, and baffled about how cumbersome it gets. With that said, this article dives into the deep corners of 1Password, which is one of the friendliest options currently available. Despite being an easy option, it doesn’t mean you don’t need guidance. This is why we have created this 1Password review to make your first trial smooth.
Before getting into it, let’s take a look at what password managers do in general. For starters, with a password manager, one can create a password that is hard to crack, store, and keep track of the passwords created; which means you don’t have to keep them in your mind. Moreover, if you are hacked, password managers make changing the previous password easier. There are plenty of password manager software available for selection, but in this article, we will only focus on 1Password.
The tool is quite handy as it can be used to sync passwords across platforms using the much reliable cloud service. The tool also gives its users an option to store their passwords locally instead of the cloud. This is a great feature and bumps the 1Password manager ahead of its competitors. However, your choice of a password manager solely depends on your preference, as well as the need for it. Therefore, there is no perfect password manager in the market; which is the reason why the competition is healthy. But, despite the strengths and weaknesses of each program, some have more pros compared to cons, making them the leading in the industry. Moreover, these are the ones that you want to end up with to get the most out of your experience.
How to Use 1Password?
Getting started with 1Password is quite straightforward. However, despite the product offering a 30-day free trial, it’s important to note that it’s a paid version throughout. The service offers two types of payment models, giving users a subscription plan or a lifetime purchase. The one-off payment is available to Mac for $65. The offer comes with some restrictions as it doesn’t allow the user to sync between platforms such as Android and Windows OS. But you can bypass this barrier by manually syncing your passwords using Dropbox or iCloud across devices.
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Alternatively, you can go for the subscription plan that comes in two varieties: single or family. The family plan is ideal if you want to cover more people as it allows up to five people. The subscription plan comes with various benefits that include the use of 1Password servers to sync passwords.
Upon deciding on the option you’re going with, you can register a new account here. The process doesn’t take long, and all you need to do is follow the prompts which include email verification, as well as downloading a setup PDF file. The file comes with a QR scan code that must be used when adding the app to devices. It is also your sole key to recovering 1Password account in case you forget the master password.
To set up 1Password to your PC, Mac, Android, or iPhone, you can follow these steps below:
- Download the app suitable for the platform you are
- Sign in to the account using the credentials created amid the registration process.
- For mobile devices, tap Scan Account Details and the app will request to access your camera. Give it the permission.
- Now, take the PDF you downloaded during registration and scan the Setup QR code.
- Get the browser extension for 1Password and install it to your browser.
To set up the app on each platform, you will need to repeat this process. Once done, you will then enjoy using this password manager app.
When you have started using 1Password, there is no need to feel pressured into entering all login details you have previously created into the tool. As you continue using the browser as normal, the tool will keep on capturing your credentials on each site that require you to log in. Here is how you can do it:
- Log in to any site you want as usually.
- 1Password will then prompt you to Save Login, click on it.
That’s how it is done. Easy, right? Well, you should also remember that the functionality of a password manager is more than just securely storing your login credentials. It also saves as a strong password generator. Therefore, you mustn’t forget to change your passwords and replace them with strong ones that are hard to crack. Moreover, when you register for a new account, allow 1Password to create a strong password for you by activating the Password Generator. Once the password has been created, the program will then enter it into the database and remember it.
Key Features
The program comes with essential features that you can find useful and can help enhance your security. A security audit feature is a vital tool that helps keep strong passwords by analyzing the ones you already have. It features scans through your passwords looking for duplicates and weak passwords, as well as alert you when one of your websites you have an account with is breached.
You can also store more personal information other than login credentials. 1Password app lets you store auto form fill details on websites such as bank card details, as well as your billing address.
1Password Pros and Cons
Pros
- Flexible payment plans
- Top-grade encryption technology
- Cross-platform and browser service
- Strong password generator
- You get to store more than just passwords
- Friendly user-interface
Cons
- A bit expensive compared to other competitors
- The one-off payment doesn’t give a variety of options