In the following sections, we’ll review 1Password’s setup and security features.
Setup
Setting up 1Password during the initial launch is a breeze. You should first fill in the name and password fields, and 1Password will send you a verification email with a unique six-digit code. After you enter the code, the app will ask for your billing information. Enter it if you want to use the service after the 30-day trial period expires.
After the account verification, 1Password will provide you with a “Secret Key,” a 34-character long account password. You will need to enter it on every device you add to your account. You will also get to create the Master Password for your account. Make sure that it’s unique and that you can remember it easily.
1Password can save your account’s most sensitive data, including the Master Password and the Secret Key in a PDF file, as well as the “1Password Emergency Kit.” The latter is 1Password’s safety feature, which also contains a QR code that you can use instead of your Secret Key when adding new devices.
It’s important to note that you shouldn’t lose your account’s Master Password because you won’t be able to recover it. 1Password doesn’t store it on its servers.
Security
In terms of security, 1Password gets pretty high marks. All the data you store within the application is encrypted with top-notch 256-bit encryption. Furthermore, the encryption is end-to-end and it’s protected with TLS when you send it online.
The company behind 1Password doesn’t store any of your data on its servers; everything remains on your device. That’s why you need to pay special attention to your Secret Key and master password. This means the company can’t give out your sensitive info, even if the police were to get a subpoena for it.
1Password also comes with Watchtower, a feature that informs you of data breaches and any other security issues that have to do with passwords, data, and other potential weak points. The app also has a Travel Mode that allows you to hide some vaults you deem unsafe while you travel.
Two-factor authentication is also part of 1Password’s security ensemble. You have U2F and app-based authentication options at your disposal. That said, the company advises against using other authenticators to provide the second factor for logging into 1Password, as that can compromise the app’s safety.
Ease of Use
1Password is pretty easy to use. It is compatible with all the prominent operating systems and hardware platforms. The list includes ChromeOS, Windows, Android, Apple systems (macOS and iOS), and even Linux.
Linux and ChromeOS users will have to install the corresponding browser extension, while iOS and Android users get a dedicated browser with the app. Both mobile apps open login pages in the dedicated browser by default, though they allow you to use other browsers to access your accounts.
The user interface is streamlined across apps and extensions, and you can log into any account you want with a few taps or clicks. To log into an account via 1Password, you should first log into the app itself. After that, you can go to the site you want to log into or find it on the dashboard. Tap or click on the 1Password icon, and the app will fill out the form for you.
If you want to add a new account to 1Password’s vault, the app offers you to either create your own password or let it create one for you. Whichever option you choose, you can save your new account with one tap or click.
Finally, you can import account info from other password manager tools. First, you’ll have to export them in a CSV file and then import them. Note that CSV files are vulnerable and that you should delete them after the import.
