Easily create and enter secure passwords on all your devices!

Take Control of
1Password

Sixth Edition
Joe Kissell

Annoyed by having to type hard-to-remember passwords? Let 1Password do the heavy lifting. With coverage of 1Password version 8 for Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS/iPadOS, Android, and Apple Watch, author Joe Kissell shows you how to generate and enter secure passwords, speed up your online shopping, and share and sync web logins and other confidential data.

All Take Control books are delivered in two ebook formats—PDF and EPUB—and can be read on nearly any device.

Clear

Wrangling your web passwords can be easy and secure, thanks to 1Password, the popular password manager from AgileBits. In this book, Joe Kissell brings years of real-world 1Password experience into play to explain not only how to create, edit, and enter web login data easily, but also how to autofill contact and credit card info when shopping online, audit your passwords and generate better ones, work with passkeys, handle two-factor authentication (2FA), sync data across devices using a hosted 1Password account (individual, family, or business), and securely share passwords with family members, coworkers, and friends.

This fully revised sixth edition covers 1Password version 8 for Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS/iPadOS, Android, and Apple Watch. It does not include instructions for using earlier versions of 1Password.

Bundle special! Save 33% when you buy this along with Take Control of Your Passwords for just $20.

Topics include:

Meet 1Password: Set your master password, explore the various 1Password components, and decide on your ideal usage strategy.

What’s New in Version 8: 1Password 8 unifies features and interface across platforms and adds important new features—but it also includes some controversial changes. Learn what has changed, how to migrate from older versions, and what new behaviors you must adjust to.

Master logins: In 1Password, a typical login contains a set of credentials used to sign in to a website. Find out how to create logins, sort them, search them, tag them, and more. You’ll also find help with editing logins—for example, changing a password or adding further details.

Understand password security: Get guidance on what makes for a good password, and read Joe’s important Password Dos and Don’ts. A special topic covers how to perform a security audit in order to improve poor passwords quickly.

Go beyond web logins: A primary point of 1Password is to speed up web logins, but 1Password can also store and autofill contact information (for more than one identity, even), along with credit card information. You’ll also find advice on storing SSH keys, passwords for password-protected files and encrypted disk images, confidential files, software licenses, scans of important cards or documents, and more.

Sync your passwords: Discover how a hosted 1Password account can sync all your data securely across your devices.

Share your passwords: Learn to store passwords within a family or team hosted account, or even with people who don’t already use 1Password at all.

You’ll also discover the answers to key questions, including:

  • Should I keep using my web browser’s autofill feature?
  • What about iCloud Keychain? Should I use that too?
  • Do I need the full 1Password app, or is the browser extension enough?
  • How does the Universal Autofill feature for Mac work across browsers and apps?
  • What are passkeys, and what can 1Password do with them?
  • How can 1Password help me with sites where I sign in with my Google, Facebook, or Twitter account?
  • What’s the easy way to prevent sensitive information from falling into the wrong hands at a border crossing?
  • What can I do quickly to get better password security?
  • How can I find and update weak passwords I created long ago?
  • What should I do about security questions, like the name of my pet?
  • How can 1Password provide a time-based one-time password (TOTP)?
Photo of Joe Kissell

About Joe Kissell

Take Control publisher Joe Kissell has written more than 60 books about technology, including many popular Take Control books. He formerly wrote for publications such as Macworld, Wirecutter, and TidBITS. He lives in Saskatoon with his wife and their two sons.

What’s New in Version 6.2

Version 6.2 updates this book to reflect the many changes in 1Password since version 6.1 appeared in June 2023. Notably:

  • Made numerous small revisions throughout to reflect changes in wording and user interface, and minor feature improvements
  • Removed items from “Missing Features” that are no longer missing, with notes mentioning what those were
  • Updated “Passkeys, WebAuthn, and the Passwordless Future” with information about 1Password’s current support for passkeys
  • Added text in “A Word About Autosubmit” and “Configure Browser Extension Settings” about a new autosubmit option for Safari
  • Added a significant new topic, “Use Passkeys in 1Password,” that describes saving and authenticating with passkeys
  • Expanded “Perform a Password Security Audit” to include new Watchtower features: Passkeys Available, Items in Wrong Account, Items with Duplicates, and Developer Credentials on Disk
  • Updated “Configure Desktop Settings” and “Configure Browser Extension Settings” to cover numerous new and revised settings
  • Included Raycast in “About 1Password and Mac Launcher Utilities”
  • Updated “Configure 1Password for iOS/iPadOS” to include the new passcode-only option and how to enable passkey support
  • Added more tips in “Extra iOS/iPadOS Tips”
  • Discussed new configuration options for Android devices (as well as limited passkey support) in “Android”
  • Revised “Apple Watch” to cover the use of 1Password complications

What Was New in Version 6.1

Version 6.1 was a minor update intended mainly to address a few changes in 1Password and other software since the previous version of the book. Most significantly:

  • In “Unlock with Touch ID,” added a note that 1Password’s Touch Bar support was removed in 1Password 8
  • Added more information about passkeys and 1Password’s support for them—now in beta testing; see “Passkeys, WebAuthn, and the Passwordless Future”
  • Revised “Store ‘Sign In with…’ Credentials” to reflect the fact that this feature is out of beta testing and available across all browsers
  • Updated “Configure Browser Extension Settings” with newly added options
  • Added mentions of third-party tools that add support for 1Password back to LaunchBar and Alfred; see “About 1Password and Mac Launcher Utilities”

What Was New in Version 6.0.1

Shortly after the release of version 6.0 of this book, 1Password made a few changes that I thought should be mentioned:

  • PIN code support in mobile versions of 1Password 8 is officially coming soon; see “Missing Features.”
  • Corrected some details in the steps for initially adding an existing account to 1Password; see “Enter Your First Login.”
  • Added information about another “coming soon” feature: the capability to unlock 1Password with a passkey; see “Passkeys, WebAuthn, and the Passwordless Future.”
  • The desktop 1Password app now lets you choose a default vault for saving new items; see “Use Multiple Vaults.”
  • You can now reorder fields and sections as described in “Use Custom Fields;” I also removed that item from the list in “Missing Features.”
  • Noted which Macs support Unlock with Apple Watch

What Was New in the Sixth Edition

The sixth edition of this book was one of the biggest revisions ever, with hundreds of changes throughout to cover 1Password 8 across all supported platforms. Some of the most significant changes were:

  • Added an extensive new topic, “Learn About 1Password 8,” which explains what’s new in 1Password 8 (including controversial changes and missing features), why this book no longer covers 1Password 7 or earlier, and how to move from 1Password 7 to 1Password 8
  • Thoroughly updated the topic “Explore the 1Password Components,” which now covers Quick Access, 1Password for Safari, and other aspects of 1Password that weren’t present when the previous edition of this book was published
  • Added the topic “Passkeys, WebAuthn, and the Passwordless Future,” which discusses passkeys and what they have to do with 1Password
  • Revised “Generate Random Passwords” to cover the new password generator
  • Explained how to store “Sign In with…” credentials that let you log in to a site with your Google, Facebook, or other third-party account
  • Added a sidebar, “About Autofill and Subdomains,” to explain 1Password 8’s new setting for dealing with subdomains
  • Rewrote “Documents and Attachments” to explain how 1Password now deals with these items
  • Added a topic about how 1Password now handles SSH keys
  • Completely revised “Perform a Search” to cover searching and filtering in 1Password 8
  • Updated “Use Previously Generated Passwords” to reflect the current options
  • In the “Work with Multiple Vaults” section, added new material on how to use collections and Travel Mode
  • Rewrote the instructions to use custom fields
  • Revised “Share Individual 1Password Items” to discuss 1Password’s newer, more secure sharing mechanism
  • Updated “Import and Export Data” to describe current import and export options
  • Greatly expanded the chapter “Customize 1Password” to include all 1Password settings
  • Rewrote nearly the entire “Use 1Password on the Go” chapter so it is up to date for 1Password 8 on iOS, iPadOS, Android, and Apple Watch
  • Revised and simplified the “Solve Problems” chapter
  • Read Me First
    • Updates and More *Basics
    • What’s New in Version 6.2
    • What Was New in Version 6.1
    • What Was New in Version 6.0.1
    • What Was New in the Sixth Edition
  • Introduction
  • 1Password Quick Start
  • Meet 1Password
    • License 1Password
    • Understand 1Password Accounts
    • Learn About 1Password 8
    • Configure 1Password
    • Explore the 1Password Components
    • Learn How Logins Work
    • Find Your Usage Pattern
    • Check for Updates
    • Learn What 1Password Isn’t Good For
  • Understand Password Security
    • Learn Password Security Basics
    • Understand Optimal Password Length
    • Password Dos and Don’ts
    • Passkeys, WebAuthn, and the Passwordless Future
  • Use 1Password for Web Browsing
    • Create and Save Logins
    • Log In
    • Deal with Multistep Logins
    • Use Passkeys in 1Password
    • Fill Web Forms Using Identities
    • Shop Online Securely
  • Store Other Information in 1Password
    • Standalone Passwords
    • One-Time Passwords
    • Security Questions
    • Software Licenses
    • Secure Notes
    • Documents and Attachments
    • SSH Keys
    • Other Data Types
  • Search and Organize Your 1Password Items
    • Make Your Life Simpler
    • Understand the Sidebar Sections
    • Use Favorites
    • Use Tags
    • Adjust the Sort Order
    • Perform a Search
    • Use Previously Generated Passwords
    • Use the Archive
    • Work with Multiple Vaults
  • Edit 1Password Items
    • Edit Saved Items
    • Work with Icons and Thumbnails
    • Update Old Passwords
    • Perform a Password Security Audit
    • Share Individual 1Password Items
    • Import and Export Data
  • Customize 1Password
    • Configure Desktop Settings
    • Configure Browser Extension Settings
    • Configure 1Password Account Settings
    • About 1Password and Mac Launcher Utilities
  • Manage a Family or Team Account
    • Create a Family or Team Vault
    • Invite Users to Your Family or Team
    • Specify Permissions
    • Suspend or Revoke Vault Access
    • Share Items with Family or Team Members
    • Manage Family Access in the 1Password App
  • Use 1Password on the Go
    • Mobile Version Basics
    • iOS/iPadOS
    • Android
    • Apple Watch
  • Solve Problems
    • Don’t Panic
    • Troubleshoot Common Problems
  • About This Book
    • Ebook Extras
    • About the Author and Publisher
    • Credits
  • Also by Joe Kissell
  • Copyright and Fine Print

Joe Kissell Discusses 1Password 8 on MacVoices

Posted by Joe Kissell on February 28, 2023

Joe Kissell joined host Chuck Joiner on MacVoices to talk about Take Control of 1Password, Sixth Edition.

In part one, Joe talks about why changes in 1Password 8, such as the move to Electron and the subscription requirement, weren’t the catastrophe some people would have you believe.

In part two, Joe covers a number of the other new features in 1Password 8.

Joe Kissell delves into passwords yet again on MacVoices

Posted by Joe Kissell on August 8, 2021

Once again, Joe Kissell joined Chuck Joiner on MacVoices to discuss passwords in the context of his recently updated books Take Control of Your Passwords version 3.2 and Take Control of 1Password, Fifth Edition.

In part one, Joe talks about passwords generally, including changes that may affect your overall password strategy.

In part two, Joe covers some of the new features in 1Password.

Joe and Chuck Discuss the Latest 1Password Features

Posted by Michael E. Cohen on January 19, 2016

1Password is new and improved in version 6, giving Joe and Chuck Joiner (of MacVoices) a perfect opportunity to tell you what’s new and improved not only in the app but also in Joe’s Second Edition of his book, which covers it. Best of all, you don’t need a password to watch the interview!

Take Control and eSellerate Unaffected by Heartbleed Bug

Posted by Adam Engst on April 15, 2014

For anyone who is wondering, neither the Take Control Web site nor the eSellerate ecommerce site that we use for purchases were ever vulnerable to the Heartbleed bug, so you don’t need to worry about the security of your Take Control transactions or account information. There’s no reason to change your Take Control password either, although it’s always a good idea to do that if your current password is weak.

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