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Wanted: Secure password manager for OS X 10.9.5 please

M

magentawave

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 8, 2009
235
14
I've been using LastPass to manage my passwords and its convenient for logging me into websites, etc., but I think it would be more secure to have something on my computer instead of in the cloud.

I see lots of password managers available at the App Store ranging from free to as much as $50 and would like to get recommendations for stand-alone password manager that will work on OSX 10.9.5 please.

There are few "free" password managers at the App Store but in the right sidebar there is an option to pay for them. Anyone know the difference between the free versions of Dashlane Password Manager, Keeper Password, Enpass, Locko and the paid-for versions of the same apps?
 
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I use 1Password and have been very happy with it. It has the option to sync to iCloud or Dropbox but you don't have to sync if you don't want to. I prefer to sync so I can use it on my iPhone and iPad too. Excellent support.

Beyond passwords it can store a number of secure data types like credit cards, personal information, and software license codes.
 
Another vote for 1password. I use it for passwords, password generation, license key storage, secure notes (activation keys, network info, etc), credit card storage. I've been using it for years and there's nothing I've found that's better or more complete.
 
Your Mac comes with a password management app called Keychain. What is that not doing for you that you want something else?
 
The reason I'm considering dropping LastPass and using something local on my computer is because LastPass is in the cloud and I'm thinking that having all my passwords in the cloud is not very secure. Aren't 1Password and iCloud Keychain in the cloud too?
 
magentawave said:
The reason I'm considering dropping LastPass and using something local on my computer is because LastPass is in the cloud and I'm thinking that having all my passwords in the cloud is not very secure. Aren't 1Password and iCloud Keychain in the cloud too?
Click to expand...
1Password can be synced with iCloud, Dropbox, or Wifi. It is not mandatory that you sync using any cloud storage methods with 1Password.

Even if someone were to hack into your Dropbox account, (and they do offer 2 step verification) the 1Password file stored there is encrypted. A person would have to know or easily guess your 1Password master password, which secures your vault. As long as you have a very secure password (re: 25 character mixture) you should be fine. Currently, there isn't enough computer power or time for a person to break such a master password.

Edited to add: I use Dropbox to sync 1Password. I also back up the vault file in other ways, in case Dropbox were to be unavailable etc.
 
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I use DataVault from Ascendo and you can sync via wifi or cloud, or both.
Very reasonably priced and does the same thing as 1 Password only cheaper.
 
magentawave said:
The reason I'm considering dropping LastPass and using something local on my computer is because LastPass is in the cloud and I'm thinking that having all my passwords in the cloud is not very secure. Aren't 1Password and iCloud Keychain in the cloud too?
Click to expand...

LastPass stores them in the cloud, however, the encryption/decryption is done locally on your own computer then uploaded to their servers. Should their data be compromised, all the bad guys will get is a bunch of mumbo-jumbo that is totally useless to them. Not even the LastPass people can gain access to user's information.

You can watch security expert Steve Gibson talk about LastPass security starting at about 52 minutes in...

 
As with many others, I really have to recommend 1Password. It can sync over WiFi, so you don't need to upload your password file to any cloud service.

I resisted buying it for a few years because I assumed that a cheaper app would be just as good. But there's just nothing as good. It is genuinely worth the money.
 
Been using Datavault for over 2 years and I have it both on my Mac and iPhone its the best solution out there by far
 
Another vote for 1Password. You can the vault stored on your own computer and not any cloud services if you don't like the risks, or if you want to share it across multiple computers/iDevices then upload it to a cloud service like Dropbox.
 
maflynn said:
Another vote for 1Password. You can the vault stored on your own computer and not any cloud services if you don't like the risks, or if you want to share it across multiple computers/iDevices then upload it to a cloud service like Dropbox.
Click to expand...

I'm not knocking 1password, but I believe, in regards to ease of use and a little security and privacy, that LastPass is the king of the hill when talking about using Dropbox with it.

LastPass stores all of your information in an encrypted state on their servers. Only the person with the master password can decrypt it - that person being the account holder. The encryption is done locally on the users computer and then uploaded to the server. No one at LastPass, not a single person, can access your data in plain text. That also goes for government requests. Since they don't have the encryption key to decrypt it, they can't hand over useful data to anyone.

If we store data in Dropbox, and I do, just not sensitive stuff, we are then subject to having that stuff revealed. Dropbox does say on their website that there are employees and ways to access your stuff, but that it's very rare that it would happen. That leaves the door open for someone there with malicious intent to do bad things if they choose. Additionally, they are subject to government requests and if subpoenaed, they'd have to turn the data over, which can be in plain text to them.

Now, 1password does the same as LastPass and encrypts your data locally so that no one can access it but the person with the master password. That is just fine when using in conjunction with Dropbox. Because if your Dropbox gets compromised by an employee or a government, your 1password stuff will still be encrypted.

The reason I like LastPass better than 1password is because it integrates better across platforms and browsers with more ease. Plus, I don't have the extra steps of having to set it up with Dropbox to do the same.

In the end, it's all user preference. :)
 
magentawave said:
The reason I'm considering dropping LastPass and using something local on my computer is because LastPass is in the cloud and I'm thinking that having all my passwords in the cloud is not very secure. Aren't 1Password and iCloud Keychain in the cloud too?
Click to expand...

Follow your gut and get what you feel comfortable with.
 
I'm using Datavault and love it. I have been for like 7 years and haven't had single glitch! I started using it with my Blackberry and Mac, now on the iPhone. Can be configured to use Dropbox or iCloud sync, but I prefer to do Wifi because my secure data is safest on my own network
 
magentawave said:
I've been using LastPass to manage my passwords and its convenient for logging me into websites, etc., but I think it would be more secure to have something on my computer instead of in the cloud.

I see lots of password managers available at the App Store ranging from free to as much as $50 and would like to get recommendations for stand-alone password manager that will work on OSX 10.9.5 please.

There are few "free" password managers at the App Store but in the right sidebar there is an option to pay for them. Anyone know the difference between the free versions of Dashlane Password Manager, Keeper Password, Enpass, Locko and the paid-for versions of the same apps?
Click to expand...

Like many others on here, 1Password for me any day. For being robust and its ease of use. Thanks
 
Out of interest, does anyone know of a good password manager that also syncs browser bookmarks. Must be cross-brower and platform independent.

The closest thing I believe is what I currently use and have done for years is a Lastpass/Xmarks combo, but I was wondering if there is another service that doesn't use two separate apps/extensions.
 
I use 1password too and covers all my needs pretty well.

1password + dropbox + 2 step authentication
 
Was running Lastpass for a long time, but oh man is their web client and iOS app horrible and ugly. Now finally purchased 1password on OS X and iOS and I love it. I sync to iCloud and it works wonderful so far.
 
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