Password Managers for Longterm Use

[QueHuong]

I'm thinking of getting 1Password 4 for the iPhone/iPad tonight since it's currently on sale. Posting in OT since more people can give their input.

Currently I'm using Keepass on Windows and syncing over Dropbox. I trust Keepass since I can d/l a version from an independent developer in case development of the official app ever stops. But it's a bit of a pain since I have a Macbook that I use 50% of the time and own both an iPhone and an iPad. I don't use any of the keepass iOS apps since I don't trust them and only use KeePassX beta, a Mac port, as a read-only system since I don't trust it to not corrupt my password database.

I'm looking for a more elegant solution. Thinking of 1Password for iOS but I have reservations trusting it for the long-term. It's proprietary so only its developers can open the password database. Also, my love affair of iOS might end and may switch to Android or another mobile ecosystem in the next 3+ years.

With Lastpass, I'm wary about leaving all of my passwords in the cloud (although I'm doing that now with Dropbox) or how useful it'll be if I can't access the internet. What are the pros/cons & their workarounds of the different password managers out there, particularly 1Password?

 

[theevilsharpie]

I use KeePass 2.x. Mono is listed as a supported platform, so it should work on Mac OS X. I'm not sure about iOS, but the KeePass developers lists several compatible iOS clients on their site.

 

[Subyman]

I'd get one that uses a long pass phrase (such as a ten+ word sentence) to encrypt the database, one that you choose when you begin. I wouldn't want a proprietary lock on my passwords.

 

[QueHuong]

I just found out that 1Password gives you a web app that allows you to read (not edit or create accts though) your database. Very nice feature in case the app ever becomes inaccessible.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I could not find a cross platform or web based one so I ended up coding one myself. Rather basic, but it works, and the passwords are encrypted. I used to use a program called Pins which was ok, but this is actually better as I can search and it's web based so it's platform independent. If I want to login to my bank for example I just go to the local site, type "bank" copy the password to clipboard (it's not visible as the text is the same color as the background) and then click the link that brings me to the banking site and paste.

The nice thing with this is I have access to my passwords from Linux, Windows and at work when I VPN in.



I should look at packaging this up and making it publicly available. There's some stuff that's hard coded though.