What is it about Keychain that people don't like so much that they are willing to pay for third-party software such 1Password, Enpass, Keepass, etc? Keychain comes with the OS. So, why pay third-party?
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Why do some people do not like Keychain?
- Thread starter coolbreeze2
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I think it maybe more of users not knowing it was there and missing functionality.
One of the key values of 1Password when it first came out was the ability to have access to my passwords on my iPhone on the go. Keychain has only recently got that functionally.
One of the key values of 1Password when it first came out was the ability to have access to my passwords on my iPhone on the go. Keychain has only recently got that functionally.
Some I have talked to do not like the all eggs in one basket mentality. They like to have their stuff not locked to one thing. And yes, Apple only recently made Keychain better - most people don't know it can run on Windows, can do 2FA, and store notes. Few know it is easy to share passwords with family this way.
I moved over to Apple Keychain from 1Password once it got all the features I wanted. I've been pretty happy with it. But most everyone I know has no clue it exists (they either use LastPass or 1Password).
I moved over to Apple Keychain from 1Password once it got all the features I wanted. I've been pretty happy with it. But most everyone I know has no clue it exists (they either use LastPass or 1Password).
I don't use Keychain for anything important, as I don't want my passwords anywhere on the Internet where they could be discovered my malicious characters. I use Codebook, where I store all my passwords locally.
If your Apple ID is compromised by a bad actor, whatever is in your Keychain becomes assessable to said person.
If the KeyChain should become unaccessible due to a software bug or some other Apple problem, you won't have access to important passwords
Sometimes, Keychain fails to save a password it suggested, even though the GUI claims it did. The user won't find out until he or she tries to access the website again.
With a third party manager, I have the app locked down with a different password (and Biometrics) than my Apple ID. I am also not at the mercy of Apple with my passwords.
The same goes for OTP.
I can think of two negative aspects of keychain.
1. It only works on Apple devices. If you need to use a Windows or Linux or Linux computer, then you need a third-party solution.
2. Security. If someone gets your iPhone passcode, they can access then delete all your passwords. Have fun as they’re locking you out and playing havoc with your accounts. If you use something like 1Password they can’t even get to your passwords much less delete them.
I’m all for using any kind of password manager. If you don’t want to spend money, then keychain is better than no password manager at all.
I think this is the biggest difference. Although whoever you have your passwords with, you at the mercy of them. In theory, you should have some sort of back up. Either print it out or on a drive and the plain text file. I would keep both in some type of safe.
This is a do as I say not as I do because at the moment, I have no back up for my passwords. If 1Password decided to tell me good luck and have a nice day, I would be SOL.
I agree. A person should have backup access to the passwords and other sensitive data. I use Strongbox, Minimalist, Bitwarden, and Enpass. Granted, having that many managers is overkill but, I rather be prepared than swinging in the wind.
We have password software for ease across all platforms but that way my wife and I also have access to each others logins in case that is ever needed.
You don’t worry about having so many different password manager accounts means higher chance of one of them being compromised? I think about LastPass and issues with them.
I hear with Bitwarden you can set it up where the passwords are stored locally. I’m not sure if that opens up another weakness. I haven’t done much research into it but maybe I should.
Does Codebook have both desktop and mobile phone apps and does it sync between the two?
The fact that you need an apple device to export your passwords
Heck, not even any apple device, you need a MAC for that
Lack of cross platform compatibility (available on apple devices only , locking you down further).
there is a chrome and edge extension , but again, its windows only. Besides who knows if they will update it to manifest V3
Heck, not even any apple device, you need a MAC for that
Lack of cross platform compatibility (available on apple devices only , locking you down further).
there is a chrome and edge extension , but again, its windows only. Besides who knows if they will update it to manifest V3
Nobody has mentioned interface convenience. Much easier to access notes and organize information with a third party app.
There is also Keychain on the Mac which allows you create a standalone ‘vault’ where you can add notes or passwords. This is backed up locally & never makes it online. The notes in keychain (Mac) can have their text formatted & include tables and pictures. There’s a password generator in there somewhere also.
Not cross platform (I use Windows, Linux, and Android also), limited, and it lost my password years ago… twice. I think it’s complete garbage.
This is another reason why I won’t use iCloud Keychain.
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- Sharing with family
- The fact that if anyone steals your iPhone unlock PIN, they get right into Keychain as well (1Password requires another password if biometrics fail)
- Not having all my eggs in one basket if something happens to my iCloud account
It only works with Safari. If Keychain worked with Firefox and/or other browsers, I'd be willing to give it a try. But alas....
Keychain is just too limited, I use other OS and browsers therefore I need something that works across all.
Keychain is more like a login storage for apple software.
The others are more like "sensitive data manager" . You can store all kinds of information, edit them, export&import them, and much more.
The others are more like "sensitive data manager" . You can store all kinds of information, edit them, export&import them, and much more.
If they are only stored locally on one device, how do I access those notes on another Mac, iPhone, or iPad? That seems like a limitation.
iCloud Keychain for sharing among devices.
Standalone keychain for the passwords which you wish to stay local.