Managing your passwords sure may be easy to handle. But what if the method you’re using to do it isn’t secure enough to protect them from hackers? The scammers, perhaps? Any form of suspicious activity?
A password manager is a good idea if you are worried about your personal and sensitive information being stolen by bad guys. There are many password management software programs available today. Some may be expensive, while others are free.
In this review, however, we’ll be talking about 1Password, one of the best password managers utilized by millions of users worldwide. With a huge variety of advanced online security features for prices as low as $2.99, we see 1Password as the first option you should consider!
For those of you who prefer a more visual experience, here is a video review from Modern Tech Guides’s YouTube channel. To get a comprehensive overview of 1Password, you may still want to check out our article below.
An Overview of 1Password 1Password Desktop App Windows
1Password, a password manager, has a great organization system, data breach tools and a multi-factor authentication. Packed with a suite of management tools and an intuitive user experience, it can help protect your sensitive data and information from suspicious activity online.
Rated among the best password managers for small businesses and personal users, 1Password aims to let you take hold of your data storage easily while keeping you secured. It’s currently available for all major platforms: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, Chrome OS and FreeBSD.
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Pros:
- Easy-to-navigate password organization and management
- All devices are compatible, including mobile phones and computers.
- Lets you know through dark web management if any dangerous users have infiltrated your data
- Emergency kit features help prevent you from getting your account locked
- 1GB worth of encrypted storage
- Supports multi-factored authentication
Cons:
- No password inheritance features
- There is no free plan
- Password updates are done in one click
- Support is not available via phone or chat.
Key Features
Now that we laid down the basics, let’s take a look at a couple of key features 1Password has to offer!
Multiple Storage Vaults
1Password allows you to easily manage sensitive data by using multiple vaults or storage folders. This password manager lets you use this unique filing system directly from your profile. It stores different log-in, password, or other information and organizes them into separate categories. You can, for example, create a vault that stores all information related to work and another one that holds personal credentials. You can add in other useful documents such as your driver’s license and social security number, and even your credit card details. 1Password Desktop App Windows
Instantly, 1GB of storage space will be given to you when you log into your 1Password account. Families and Business plans will be able to access the shared vault in addition to their personal one. It is worth noting that you can share certain information from your vault with other 1Password users using a generated key. This access key is linked to that user’s e-mail address to ensure you’re in good hands. You can even share with others who don’t even use 1Password through Psst!, which stands for “Password Secure Sharing Tool.”
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Travel Mode
1Password’s Travel Mode feature is a great option for anyone who travels a lot and wants to protect their data wherever they go. This is a great tool for whenever you want to hide sensitive parts of your information from customs officials while crossing borders. The process of immigration customs can vary from country to country, and some officials may require to request access to any of the devices you’re carrying. You can choose which vault you want to access through Travel Mode.
As you turn on Travel Mode from your web account, only the vaults marked as ‘safe for travel’ will be visible. Other vaults left unmarked will remain hidden until the feature is disabled. Travel Mode can be accessed on all plans; for business plans, however, the administrative user may opt to control it on their employees’ accounts through their dashboard.
Watchtower
1Password’s Watchtower alerts you if your password is compromised, weak, reused or vulnerable to cyber attacks. While you have the reliable tools to remind you if your password needs changing, this isn’t unique to 1Password as many other password managers have this similar feature.
Watchtower’s ability to notify you of the expiration dates on your credit cards and government documents, such as your passport, is what makes it unique. Apart from expiration notifications, Watchtower also includes multi-factor authentication monitoring. 1P assword will let you know right away which log-in offers MFA for an associated website.
1Password X
1PasswordX is 1Password’s web browser version on PCs. It includes a browser extension that can access 1Password through Google Chrome, Firefox and Microsoft Edge. Its design and interface are simple and more user-friendly compared to other password management extensions available. It’s also made auto-filing and auto-saving log-in credentials a breeze to handle with!
To auto-file your Facebook login, click the 1Password icon in the log-in field. Select any saved information to gain access. 1Password X’s browser extension allows you to select from your credit card credentials as well as your recorded identities, and then apply them whenever and wherever needed. You can also utilize its features to generate a new password on the spot!
Password Generator
With just one click, the extension’s integrated password generator makes it easy to create a strong and optimized password. You can also generate a Smart Password to increase your account’s security. A Smart Password usually consists of 20 characters, with a mix of numbers, letters, and symbols in between.
You can also opt for a Random Password and a Memorable Password, as well. You may use the former if you wish to have your generated password a little longer and more secure from suspicious activities. If you want to create one that’s easier to remember, you may opt for the latter. A Memorable Password may consist of a mix of English words separated by hyphens, spaces, periods, underscores, or even numbers. You may also find a PIN with up to 12 numbers.
Privacy cards
1Password integrates with the third-party payment app Privacy, allowing you to set up what is called Privacy Cards. Privacy Cards are virtual payment cards that protect and store your debit card information when you buy an item or service online. What they usually do whenever you make a purchase is to replace your actual debit card number with a different set of generated numbers. A combination of advanced payment security measures ensures that your card information will not be compromised in the event of a data breach.
Privacy Cards are simple, easy to use, and flexible. You get to customize each of your listed cards by giving it unique nicknames. You can utilize the single-use option, and also set a spending limit on one of your cards – this feature, in particular, may come in very handy if you’re signing up for a free trial without worrying about canceling auto-renewal. While Privacy Cards are useful in managing online payments, take note that this tool is only available for 1Password and Privacy users in the U.S. They do not accept credit cards. 1Password Desktop App Windows
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Other notable features
Apart from the key features we’ve just covered, there are other notable ones that you may want to explore upon using 1Password to protect your data. One of those is the clipboard clearing feature, which allows you to set a timer for the software to automatically erase contents from your clipboard, including your passwords. This is done to protect them from hackers and scammers.
Other notable tools you should look out for include 1Password’s built-in phishing protection which notifies you right away if the website you’re visiting has shady antics, a security breach alert that lets you know if your password has been compromised, and keylogger protection which prevents hackers from using a keylogger, a malware that keeps track of your keystrokes as you type, to steal all your sensitive data.
Pricing Plans
1Password offers four pricing plans, with two of them suitable for personal and family use and the other half geared towards small and established businesses. Each includes unlimited passwords and devices, access to mobile platforms, security tools, Travel Mode protection, and 1GB worth of file storage per person.
The 1Password Personal plan is $2.99 per month. It includes key password management features like two-factor authentication and access a history of deleted passwords. Although there is no Emergency Key feature in this tier, it is sufficient for individual users.
1Password Families, on the other hand, is more suited for families and/or friend groups. At $4.99/month, it includes all the features from the Personal plan, plus an allowance of up to five users and five guest accounts, a shared vault, permission controls, and account recovery through the emergency key function.
Aside from the home-use tiers, 1Password’s other two plans contain business-optimized security and management tools for business-minded groups and establishments. The 1Password Business package, costing $7.99 every month, includes an upgraded 5GB of file storage per person, activity reports, VIP support, and an allowance of up to 20 guest accounts.
1Password Teams, meanwhile, offers valuable advanced features for a valuable price of $19.95. Although it may seem expensive, this tier is highly suitable for business teams of up to 10 people. This tier includes all the tools in previous 1Password plans. It also integrates with Duo to provide more advanced two-factor authentication. There are unlimited shared vaults, item storage, and administrative controls over employees. Additionally, each of its enrolled members automatically gets a free 1Password Families account. 1Password Desktop App Windows
Ease of Use
1Password makes password management easy on your end, as it secures all your passwords and personal data and syncs them across all your devices, whether it be on your desktop or your phone. You can also use all of the other features that you would expect from most password management software.
1Password makes it easier to import password and log-in data. You can choose to bring in some of them either directly from fellow 1Password accounts or other external password managers such as Dashlane and LastPass. This process will require you to use CSV files. Although it may seem less secure, the plain text file is easier to copy.
Although it would be nice if 1Password offered more options for users to import data from other password managers, this would have been better. It’s simple to enter your password data in the same way that you export them. All data is encrypted using AES256-bit encryption so that you are protected from unwanted activity. You can also use 1Password’s multifactor authentication features to protect your access.
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Setting Up with 1Password
You will need a master password in order to access all of your passwords stored online. Take note that, when crafting a master password, it must be both easy for you to remember and hard for others to get through. Once you log in with it, you will be greeted with a Secret Key, which will serve as important when you add in a new device or browser extension.
The link to your Emergency Kit will also be sent to you: Apart from the Secret Key, the PDF file contains details such as your e-mail address, master password, the 1Password support e-mail address, and a QR code for a quicker account set-up with new devices. It is important to safe-keep your Emergency Kit in a place only you should remember. The copy can be printed to keep in secret storage, or saved digitally on a separate USB drive or hard drive.
Compatibility with Devices
As previously mentioned, 1Password works across many available platforms and devices, each having an easy-use interface, smooth navigation across its security features, and an overall remarkable experience.
It is impossible to overstate the excellent performance of 1Password on all its compatible devices. Windows, for example, supports passwords that have been obtained using the Windows Hello biometric system. This makes it easier to open the user’s computer. You can also unlock your vault on macOS with the help Face ID, which you can access from your iPhone, or your Apple Watch.
1Password’s wide range of password management tools will make your life easier, no matter where you live or what device you use.
1Password Mobile App
The 1Password mobile app gives you access to all of your log-ins and saved data across your owned devices whenever you’re on the go. Alternative password options are wholly supported by the manager, including Touch ID or Face ID on iOS and fingerprint authentication, PIN codes, or patterns on Android.
Setting up the app is simple and convenient – much more if you already have your 1Password account. You’ll only need to scan the QR code found in the Emergency Kit PDF and the My Profile section of the website. 1Password Desktop App Windows
Like its desktop software equivalent, the 1Password app’s user interface is easy to use, flexible, and customizable. You can also use the Watchtower feature and enable time-based passwords. This will let you know if your passwords are weak or re-used.
Customer Support
1Password allows users to approach its customer support and resources team in times of need. When it comes to contacting 1Password, you have the option of choosing from the following options: 1Password Support forum, Twitter account or e-mail support. These three options make for a reliable and decent service. For example, the e-mail support can provide you with helpful answers to your questions in a friendly tone. The support forum, on the other hand, is more active and can answer more than 100 questions per day.
If you happen to ask a question regarding 1Password’s features and tools, expect its customer support team’s response to arrive within 2-4 hours. Despite not having enough capabilities to run live-chat support and phone support, the password manager software’s customer hotline is surely responsive and smooth. 1Password users also have access to valuable learning resources. These include a quick guide to getting started and a list of informative articles and videos. You can also access the full manual that includes everything you may need to know about the 1Password system.
The bottom line
Is 1Password the best option? It may depend on what you feel about it, but in our opinion, we believe it may be a great option if you’re ready to set up a legitimate password manager.
Overall, 1Password’s features are extremely well-organized. They all focus on protecting the user from any suspicious online activity. They also happen to work exactly as promised! Sure, it may not offer a few tools that may have otherwise been worthy additions, such as extra import options and live chat support, but it’s easy to use – an important factor a perfect password manager should have. 1Password Desktop App Windows
1Password offers a variety of pricing plans. Each plan is perfect for any occasion. There are many packages available, so there is sure to be one that suits your needs.
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FAQ 1Password Desktop App Windows
Does 1Password have a free plan available?
Currently, 1Password does not have a free version. However, if you want to try out its services for free, you may sign up for a limited 14-day free trial that applies to all plans but the Enterprise package, the password manager’s most advanced yet. Take note, though, that you are still required to write in your credit card details.
Can I recover my 1Password account if I forget my master password and/or Secret Key?
1Password doesn’t store your master password or Safety Key details. This means that if you forget or lose those information, 1Password will not allow you to retrieve your account. But if you’re enrolled in a Families, Teams, Business, or Enterprise plan, there’s a chance that your account may be retrieved by the administrator user.
Can 1Password be hacked?
There might be a possibility for a security breach on a massive scale to occur within 1Password. The password manager may not have a full guarantee that it could never be hacked, but one thing’s for sure: It’s built in such a way that it anticipates attack. Rest assured, however, that all sensitive information in your 1Password account will be protected with the best online security measures.
Why is a password manager necessary?
1Password, or any password manager, for that matter, helps store and organize all your passwords and log-in details without the added hassles as you only need to access them with a master password. If you happen to be forgetful or use the same password iteration across different accounts, a password manager may be the best solution. 1Password Desktop App Windows