Manage passwords on Mac
Step one is to find the best way to strengthen – and securely store – passwords on your computer with a master password
Passwords and other sensitive information should be stored safely inside a secure database known as a container or vault, locked with an encrypted key. This key should be difficult – if not impossible – to break: AES 256 is one of the most trusted forms of encryption out there, used by Apple’s own password manager (known as Keychain) as well as most of the third-party tools we feature here.
Your secure password container’s encryption key can only be unlocked using your master password (see below for tips on creating a strong one). This is the only password you need to remember, so you can update all your passwords with stronger ones. A strong password should be long – 14 characters minimum – and either a collection of random letters, numbers and special characters, or a lengthy passphrase – four random words that can be memorised, but not guessed. Your password manager should provide a password or passphrase generator to do the hard work of setting random passwords.