How can I access my data if my Mac gets corrupted?

stevencevans

Hi

I wonder if anyone can comment on a potential scenario. I am a relatively new user of 1Password and have now pretty much added all my log-ins to the app, plus have a 'strong' master password and a 'dice ware' generated password for dropbox so that I can access 1PasswordAnywhere. Also, I have changed all answers to security questions to 1Password generated passwords.

This means, of course, that without 1Password, I would be unable to access some logins as I wouldn't have the answers to security information.

On that basis, what would happen if the 1Password app on my Mac became corrupted and AgileBits had, sometime in the future, ceased trading preventing re-download of the app and access to 1PasswordAnywhere.

Steve

hawkmoth

Do you do regular backups of your system so that you could restore it if you did have something corrupted? At least say, Time Machine? I also use Carbon Copy Cloner daily, and I add a layer of additional protection by backing up to the cloud with Crash Plan.

stevencevans

Yes, backed up constantly through Time Machine, plus documents, app files and backups (including backups made by 1Password) 'mirrored' with dropbox, plus disk image created on external hard drive every month and stored off site.

I suppose that's the answer - maybe if I keep a 1Password installation file in dropbox then, in a scenario where the Mac is lost (along with time machine as they are both in the same location) , I could download (from dropbox) and install 1Password on another computer and access my logins that way.

Maybe I'm over thinking it!

Steve

PS thanks for your reply.

Jasper

Hi @stevencevans,

Keep in mind that you can always read your data by opening the 1Password.html file within your Agile Keychain. 1PasswordAnywhere can always be accessed, we can't do anything to prevent access since it uses a local file (1Password.html) stored in your keychain.

stevencevans

Hi @JasperP‌

Thanks for your response. I understand now, as I didn't read the manual (duh) I had wrongly assumed that 1PasswordAnywhere was a website, rather than a locally stored html.

At the risk of hijacking my own thread, I have a couple of additional questions:

1) When I open a website by double-clicking the icon within 1Password, it opens Safari with 2 tabs, the first tab being my home page, the second tab being the website I want to get to - is there a way just to open one tab, i.e. the target website;

2) As all my logins are also stored in Apple's Keychain which are autofilled for ease of access, is it generally advisable to have that function disabled (if that's possible) so I alway have to use 1Password? Obviously, that is only an issue if my MacBook is stolen (however, it does require a password to log on).

Steve

sjk

Hi Steve ( @stevencevans ),

1PasswordAnywhere provides read access to 1Password data in an Agile Keychain that's stored locally or remotely. When syncing with Dropbox, using the Dropbox website is a convenient way to remotely access 1Password data using pretty much any web browser. With local access, some web browsers restrict access to the data. There's more information about that here:

1PasswordAnywhere: Local File Restrictions

When I open a website by double-clicking the icon within 1Password, it opens Safari with 2 tabs, the first tab being my home page, the second tab being the website I want to get to - is there a way just to open one tab, i.e. the target website

Is that only happening when Safari isn't already running? Which settings are selected for New windows open with and New tabs open with in the General tab of Safari's Preferences window? For example:

When you open 1Password mini and press Command-, (⌘,) to open its preferences, which Open URLS in… setting is selected? For example:

Those settings, which I personally use, are one way to avoid the behavior you've described.

As all my logins are also stored in Apple's Keychain which are autofilled for ease of access, is it generally advisable to have that function disabled (if that's possible) so I alway have to use 1Password?

Our guide for setting up browsers generally advises:

Tip: It’s a good idea to disable your browsers’ built-in password-save and form-fill features, so you’ll always know it’s 1Password that’s protecting your data and making your Logins available across all your 1Password-enabled browsers and platforms.

… linking to the browser settings guide for more details.

Here's a related topic:

Apple keychain vs 1Password interference?

And:

Another option is to save new items to 1Password after they've been filled with login details from Safari's AutoFill (which can remain enabled as long as you'd like).

Leaving both enabled can cause confusion and frustration, especially with password changes. It's possible that only 1Password gets updated but not Apple/iCloud Keychain as well, and vice versa, which later causes failing logins when older data from one or the other is used. It's usually preferable only having Apple/iCloud Keychain active while assisting with migration to 1Password to minimize them interfering with each other.

I hope that helps. Please don't hesitate to ask other questions you have about this or anything else, whether or not they hijack your thread. :)

stevencevans

Hi @sjk‌

Many thanks for the comprehensive response, it is really useful.

As for the Safari tabs, my Safari-General settings are that both new windows and new tabs open with the home page.

I have changed the setting in 1Password Mini to Open URLs in current tab.

Current behaviour:

With Safari open, selecting a log in from 1Password Mini, opens that page in the current tab.
With Safari closed, selecting a log in from 1Password Mini, opens Safari with 2 tabs, the first being the home page, the second being the target website

With Safari open or closed, selecting a log in from the main 1Password app opens Safari with 2 tabs as above.

Steve

sjk

You're welcome, Steve ( @stevencevans ).

1Password's Go & Fill doesn't override Safari's New windows open with: Homepage setting, causing the behaviour you've described. Changing at least that setting to … Empty Page will keep the Homepage tab from opening the way it currently does for you when using Go & Fill. Pressing Shift-Command-H (⏏⌘H) to run History > Home is a quick way to open the Homepage when you want it. :)