How can I use Keychain Access in Mac OS X to save my online passwords, and how does it compare to other password managers?
Keychain Access, Apple’s built-in password manager, works with many OS X applications, including Safari. You can enable Saved Passwords in Safari by navigating to Safari > Preferences > AutoFill, and checking the box labeled “User names and passwords.”
Safari works well with Keychain Access.
When you navigate to a website that requires a sign in, type in your username and password as normal, but when the “Would you like to save this password?” dialog appears, click the “Yes” button to have the password saved; click “Never for this Website” if you never want Safari to ask you to save your password when visiting that particular website; or click the “Not Now” button if you don’t wish to save the password you just typed.
Saving passwords in Safari is a snap.
If you use Safari, then Keychain Access is fine, and Chrome and Firefox can remember your passwords for you too—set that up in preferences. But if you’re looking for more features, then 1Password ($49.99, www.agilebits.com) is a great alternative for securely managing your passwords in any browser on the Mac, and it’s available for Windows and iOS devices too. 1Password also creates secure passwords for you, fills out online forms, lets you easily store your software license keys, and does a bunch of other cool tricks.
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