Smart password and security techniques are becoming increasingly important in our digital lives as new hacks seem to appear all the time, and having a unique and secure password (unlike these) helps ensure that your online identity is safe in the event of such a compromise.
LastPass, a cross platform secure digital vault app, is helping Mac users tackle the password management problem with the debut of its new Mac app. Previously only available for Mac as a browser extension and web portal, the new LastPass for Mac app brings new features to the desktop including quick search, security check, and more.
Like other password management apps, LastPass features a secure digital vault for storing login information, credit card and bank information, secure notes, and more.
Aside from storing information you already have, LastPass can help you make unique and secure passwords for use online rather than relying on the same passwords for each service. LastPass’s password generate feature allows you to set perimeters like allowing numbers and special characters, password length, and password complexity.
LastPass for Mac also includes the security check feature, which it describes as “giving users an up-to-the-minute status on the strength of their passwords, eliminating the question – ‘Are all my passwords strong enough?’” This especially helps if you’ve created your own passwords, but want to feel assured that they’re as strong as they should be.
LastPass for Mac also adds access to your vault without relying on a connection to the Internet as the native app supports offline use, and finding your password in the moment is much faster with universal keyboard shortcuts for search which allow you to pin point the right password from anywhere on your Mac.
http://youtu.be/iSutnvnBvwk
LastPass is rolling out for free on the Mac App Store, and mobile users can pick up LastPass for iPhone and iPad for free from with App Store with an annual subscription of $11.99 to remove ads, include technical support, and add multi-factor authorization. You can also access LastPass through the web and grab the Safari extension here.
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Wish this had come out earlier. I switched to 1Password a few months ago because of LastPass lack of features and clunky usability on Mac. Even the iOS versions felt clunky. 1Password is expensive, but it’s been a joy to use – especially iCloud sync. Maybe I’ll revisit LastPass in a few versions.
Wow. My experience with 1Password is completely the opposite: I think it’s the most clunky app there is. It creates an we login while I’m registering in a new site but only remembers bathe URL at that moment which is different when loggin in after you have an account. This leads to two logins in 1password.
Not everything syncs over correctly, like the Master Vault password. Plus I bought the software from them instead of the Mac App Store and now it won’t sync over wirelessly. I need to open the app on my desktop, my iPad and my iPhone and sync it over. iCloud syncing is only if you didn’t buy it from them straight away.
Editing the password field doesn’t reveal the whole password, I cannot add the creating date for a given password I already had and imported from a list… The list of clunckyness goes in and on. I cannot believe that app gets such raving reviews.
Anyhow, I’ll try this app, see if it’s bettet. If so, money well spend. Plus cheaper as well.
Hello! Thank you for your great feedback.
1Password 5 for Mac is a lot more intelligent when saving login items now, and you don’t end up with two items for the same site. It used to be that a Password-type item was created when you used 1Password’s strong password generator to create and fill a password, and a separate Login-type item was created by 1Password’s Auto-save. Now, the Password-type item is promoted to a Login-type item, eliminating redundancy and clutter in your vault. If you have saved a login from a site’s registration page, you are not prompted to save a login again for the same site on the login page.
Master Password syncing (when using Dropbox or Folder sync) was added in 1Password 4.3 for Mac. 1Password 5.1 for Mac (due out soon) further ensures that Master Password changes sync to other devices when using iCloud to sync your vault.
Wi-Fi sync is supported by both the web store version of 1Password and the Mac App Store version. In version 5.1, we have overhauled the sync preferences completely, with a clear, logical presentation of all your vaults and how you have selected to sync them. 5.1 also introduces selective Wi-Fi sync of secondary vaults.
You’re right about iCloud. Only Mac App Store and (iOS) App Store apps are allowed to use CloudKit to sync with iCloud. Sorry about that.
I’m not sure I understand the trouble you’re experiencing with editing your passwords. If you’d like to follow up on this, you’re welcome to join us in our forums; we’d love to help you.
You’re also right about not being able to modify an item’s creation date. I can see how that would be useful, thanks for the suggestion!
– Nik, Happiness Engineer @ AgileBits
1) That’s very impressive; the Happiness Engineer from 1Password replying. And swiftly.
2) I still get the 2 login item auto save issue, I’m on Version 5.0.2 (502007) from Agile’s website (running on 10.10.1 (14B25))
3) the password, when tapped on ‘reveal’, isn’t revealed but remains truncated. I need to edit the ‘login entry’ to be able to see the full password: the field is simply too small when the entry isn’t being edited.
4) I like your positive take on this – props to you.
How do these compare to ’s Keychain? What other perks do these provide?
Yes, I would also love to know this. Before the iCloud Keychain became available in OS X and iOS, I could see the point in 1Password and other apps like this. What’s the point in buying them now that iCloud Keychain is free and probably much more secure. Perhaps, the only advantage is a cross-platform password syncing with Windows or Android?
One word: sharing. You can easily share a 1Password/LastPass password database with other people.
if i am right, iCloud keychain only works with the safari browser.
i also believe, it only stores usernames and the corresponding password.
1password can store credit card information (yeah yeah i am preaching to those that cannot use apple pay), software licenses, etc.
It also has ‘Secure Notes’ Before I used the iOS build in Notes app, but in 1Password the Notes are encrypted. Check out what else it offers: https://agilebits.com/onepassword
this is great news! I’ve been using LastPass for years on a Windows PC and now that my wife has a Macbook I can keep all my passwords synced on that device too!
I have been using the online password manager “Intuitive Password” for a year now. It saves all my secure data : credit cards, debit cards, login information, any other secure notes and also saves my TAN entries. I wonder what I would do without their service, it offers a lot of help in my day to day life. Its very flexible, secure and easy to use with many custom modes. It provides so many features at a reasonable price. I think it deserves to be on this list mentioned above.