What is keychain access?

[macswitcha2]

Can someone in a nutshell explain what it is and its function? What can I use it for?

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Keychain Access is a Mac OS X application that allows the user to access the Apple Keychain and configure its contents, including passwords for Websites, Web forms, FTP servers, SSH accounts, network shares, wireless networks, groupware applications, encrypted disk images, etc. - unlocking, locking and displaying passwords saved by the system which are dynamically linked to one's login password - as well as manage root certificates, keys and secure notes.

from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keychain_Access
via http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=keychain access&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

 

[igucl]

My basic understanding of it is that it serves to save passwords/identities.

For example, whenever I need to change settings for my airport routers, I don't have to enter the router passwords because they are saved in my Mac's keychain. If I were to use a different computer to work with the routers, I would have to enter passwords.

So, it sort of works the same way that cookies work for web sites.

That's my understanding, anyway.

 

[bobr1952]

To see for yourself you should go into your applications/utility folder and open Keychain Access.

 

[techguy40]

Is keychain access secure and safe to use?

 

[igucl]

Is keychain access secure and safe to use?

I don't see why it would be any less secure than any other data stored on your mac. It is just data files that the computer accesses when called upon. It is locked behind your user account password, just like all your other files.