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Apple passwords deserve an app

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Re: Apple passwords deserve an app

#151

Post by yamtaddle »

hnrodey wrote: post #4

I tried going all-in on using iCloud Keychain (correct term?) for my passwords from having previously used LastPass. In short. 1. The experience on Windows is terrible. They can claim it's cross-platform but it's truly a sub-par product. 2. On Mac it's tied specifically to Safari. I use Safari a lot but if I'm in a different browser then my passwords are unavailable. 3. The GUI is buried in System Settings. Heaven fo…

> 1. The experience on Windows is terrible. They can claim it's cross-platform but it's truly a sub-par product.

Like a lot of other Apple stuff, I'm only able to use it because I don't use anything non-Apple for anything "serious" that involves a GUI. Windows is for gaming, Linux is my file storage and docker-service-running server that I only interact with over SSH and Web. Ditto Notes, all their Office-type programs, et c. I'd probably be on a lot more Google shit if I needed more cross-platform access to that stuff.

> 2. On Mac it's tied specifically to Safari. I use Safari a lot but if I'm in a different browser then my passwords are unavailable.

Yeah, this is super fucking weird. You'd think this would be connected in some fashion to "keychain", but nope.

> 3. The GUI is buried in System Settings. Heaven forbid you need search it's only a simple 37 clicks away!

IDGAF about clicks because I search my way to everything in Apple's settings—what does bother me is that they've made search worse in the last couple versions of iOS, and that if I type "pass" in search, "Passwords" isn't even visible on the list yet. I can get all the way to "password" and it's still the fourth entry. The fucking name of the screen is "passwords"! I shouldn't have to get farther than "pas" for it to be the first entry on the list, "pass" in the worst-case! Even fully typing "passwords" still leaves it as the second entry (of three) on my device. WTF.

Re: Apple passwords deserve an app

#152

Post by deergomoo »

whstl wrote: post #17
hnrodey wrote: post #4

I tried going all-in on using iCloud Keychain (correct term?) for my passwords from having previously used LastPass. In short. 1. The experience on Windows is terrible. They can claim it's cross-platform but it's truly a sub-par product. 2. On Mac it's tied specifically to Safari. I use Safari a lot but if I'm in a different browser then my passwords are unavailable. 3. The GUI is buried in System Settings. Heaven fo…

There seems to be a Google Chrome extension called "iCloud Passwords" but it only has two stars, so I don't think you'll be positively surprised. Also, on iPhone it's ok-ish but on Mac the experience is a subpar too: Keychain, the app you use to view your passwords, feels like a 90s Visual Basic application. Plus you can't organize your accounts, and even if you prefix them to "sort by name", the special name you giv…

> Keychain, the app you use to view your passwords

Huh, I never realised Keychain showed iCloud Passwords. I always just use Safari (which is inconvenient in its own way admittedly).

Re: Apple passwords deserve an app

#153

Post by bonestamp2 »

robotresearcher wrote: post #95
hnrodey wrote: post #4

I tried going all-in on using iCloud Keychain (correct term?) for my passwords from having previously used LastPass. In short. 1. The experience on Windows is terrible. They can claim it's cross-platform but it's truly a sub-par product. 2. On Mac it's tied specifically to Safari. I use Safari a lot but if I'm in a different browser then my passwords are unavailable. 3. The GUI is buried in System Settings. Heaven fo…

> 3. The GUI is buried in System Settings. Heaven forbid you need search it's only a simple 37 clicks away! On Mac, at any time, type: command-space passw On iOS tap on any home screen, type passw, tap suggested result

These are great tips for power users, I love it!

That said, this also proves that for non-power users: it needs an app and it needs integration with other browsers if it wants to be as easy to use (for most people) as the popular password managers.

Re: Apple passwords deserve an app

#154

Post by rpgbr »

great_psy wrote: post #33

I have been using the Apple manager since LastPass got hacked recently. Hot take , but … I like the lack of integration in other operating systems/ browsers. I see my phone as a Secure Enclave, and my passwords should be disconnected from potentially insecure systems. I see the phone as those keychain one time passwords where you have to press a physical button to get a key. Is it inconvenient to get a password, yes.…

This was precisely what drove me off Apple password manager. If your iPhone were compromised, such as in those iPhone unlocking scams[1] (something quite common here in Brazil at least since 2021), it's game over for your entire password database.

I've been using KeePass apps (MacPass on macOS, KeePassium no iOS), with a different, unique master password, unlogged by default on iPhone, plus DB locks automatically after 10 minutes of inactivity.

Maybe I'm way off, but it seems safer to me.

[1] https://www.wsj.com/articles/apple-iphone-security-theft-pas...

Re: Apple passwords deserve an app

#155

Post by geuis »

I really want to use Keychain for all of my password management. But nothing works.

Like I'm in serious need of a highly secure cross browser/cross platform password solution.

On my phone, everything is fine. But I use Chrome on MacOS and my Windows desktop. Chrome used to use Keychain on MacOS, but some years back Google changed the product to tie into their own user accounts. I refuse to sign into a browser itself just to use the web.

The iCloud password extension for Windows (chrome/edge) absolutely DOES NOT WORK. I have tried getting it to work for the better part of a year. Finally gave up and removed the useless thing.

I probably dumbly still trust Apple's security policies and would prefer to use Keychain as my fits-all-sizes security tool, but the combo of product incompatibilities and non-working Apple authored software makes it impossible.

Re: Apple passwords deserve an app

#156

Post by rpgbr »

great_psy wrote: post #114
whitewingjek wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unless Apple ever starts following Google's lead to ban accounts for any infraction and you don't store backups... Not saying Apple is doing that now, but I imagine it's not outside the realm of possibility.

We can use the same argument for any other cloud password manager. If google/Apple blocks my access, well it’s those services I am trying to log into in the first place so the point is moot. Also I have recovery keys for the more important accounts printed and stored in a safe box.

Except password managers that YOU need to take care your vault, like KeePassXC.

Re: Apple passwords deserve an app

#157

Post by yamtaddle »

robotresearcher wrote: post #95
hnrodey wrote: post #4

I tried going all-in on using iCloud Keychain (correct term?) for my passwords from having previously used LastPass. In short. 1. The experience on Windows is terrible. They can claim it's cross-platform but it's truly a sub-par product. 2. On Mac it's tied specifically to Safari. I use Safari a lot but if I'm in a different browser then my passwords are unavailable. 3. The GUI is buried in System Settings. Heaven fo…

> 3. The GUI is buried in System Settings. Heaven forbid you need search it's only a simple 37 clicks away! On Mac, at any time, type: command-space passw On iOS tap on any home screen, type passw, tap suggested result

On iOS, my only password manager I've ever used is the built-in Apple one.

I just tapped the "search" field on the home screen, and typed "passw".

"Top Hit": A store link to the LastPass password manager (which I do not and have never used—the button has the text "get", it's not installed and doesn't have the cloud-icon for previously-installed apps)

From there, it's three suggested Siri web searches: "passwords", "password manager", and "password generator"

Then two safari-iconed links (I assume these would search with my default search engine in safari?): "passwords on iphone" and "passew"

Searching inside the "settings" app is only marginally better. It's all much, much worse than it was a few iOS releases ago.

Re: Apple passwords deserve an app

#158

Post by WWLink »

AdmiralAsshat wrote: post #8
hnrodey wrote: post #4

I tried going all-in on using iCloud Keychain (correct term?) for my passwords from having previously used LastPass. In short. 1. The experience on Windows is terrible. They can claim it's cross-platform but it's truly a sub-par product. 2. On Mac it's tied specifically to Safari. I use Safari a lot but if I'm in a different browser then my passwords are unavailable. 3. The GUI is buried in System Settings. Heaven fo…

> If you are 100% Mac then it's a good product. Going outside of the walled Apple garden leaves a lot to be desired. I think Apple would consider this "working as designed."

> I think Apple would consider this "working as designed."

Punishing us geeks who like using multiple different kinds of OS on their phones and computers. :(

Re: Apple passwords deserve an app

#159

Post by thiht »

I'd never use a password manager built by Apple for the same reason I don't use Chrome's password manager or Firefox's password manager. All these passwords managers have strong incentives for "working best on ™". I want a password manager independent from any platform like Bitwarden or 1Password, because it's actually valuable for THEM to target all the platforms they can.

Re: Apple passwords deserve an app

#160

Post by lfciv »

sylens wrote: post #39

Even if macOS and iOS are my primary work (and personal) platforms these days, I still like a solution that works great on Windows, Linux, and Android as well. I'm pretty happy with 1Password - it does all of the things mentioned in this article with more platform support

I find 1Password to be sort of a pain when signing up for new accounts on my iphone – the generate secure password & autofill doesn't always work for me – on the web it's great though
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