Windows 1Password not as good as Mac version

J Shah

I have used 1Password on Mac, iPhone and iPad for some time now. Recently, I decided to dump Roboform on my Windows laptop and go with 1Password. Compared to the 1Password experience on the Mac, I am somewhat disappointed with the experience on Windows.



For starters, why can't it work the same way on Mac and Windows? On Windows/Firefox, the 1Password browser button does not do a dropdown menu. Instead it opens a separate window from which you have to click another button to fill out user name/passwords. Very annoying. Also, it seems 1Password on Windows/Firefox cannot fill out login dialog boxes. And there is no option to open the 1Password application from the browser button.



It also seems somewhat buggy. For example, there is no browser button visible in IE even though I have selected this option on preferences. And, the Auto-Save login does not always work.



Given that AgileBits is charging a full $40 even for existing 1Password customers, I was expecting a better product.

[Deleted User]

Hi J,



I'm really sorry to hear you're disappointed in the current state of 1Password for Windows, we've got a great team working to bring feature parity between 1Password for Windows and Mac, but the nature of having a brand new version of 1Password on Windows, it's not a simple port, means that there will be some differences which can come down to things like not having the same APIs and tools available to us on the Windows platform.



First of all, if you are an existing 1Password for Mac customer, drop us a note at http://agilebits.com/contact_us and we'll be glad to offer you a discount on your 1Password for Windows license if you want to continue to use it.



With regards to the browser icon missing in IE, this may be that the 'Command Bar' is hidden, or if you're running IE in 64-bit mode which isn't currently supported as we detail here:



http://help.agilebits.com/1Password_Windows/missing-1P-button.html



Firefox should certainly work, though we're currently investigating some issues with Firefox 5, Firefox 4 should work without issues.



I hope that helps,

Stefan von Dutch

[quote name='J Shah' timestamp='1308598407' post='29674']

On Windows/Firefox, the 1Password browser button does not do a dropdown menu. Instead it opens a separate window from which you have to click another button to fill out user name/passwords.

[/quote]



Or you press Ctrl+\



[quote name='J Shah' timestamp='1308598407' post='29674']

it seems 1Password on Windows/Firefox cannot fill out login dialog boxes.

[/quote]



This is what "Auto-Type" is for.



[quote name='J Shah' timestamp='1308598407' post='29674']

there is no browser button visible in IE even though I have selected this option on preferences.

[/quote]



http://help.agilebits.com/1Password_Windows/missing-1P-button.html

CjM

With all of the security issues with DropBox recently, I am no longer confident that I can securely keep my passwords in the cloud. Considering DropBox yesterday, allowed anyone with any password to access another person's dropbox. They say they don't think anyone found the glitch...but if some hacker did know about it, why would they tell anyone? That said, the lack of a Windows Sync function in 1Password is now a big issue. While the Mac can sync directly with 1Password on the iPad, the Windows version is left wanting. Since it is cheaper to buy another password application than a Mac, I am forced to go back to eWallet, which I have been using for years and has an iPad application that will sync with Windows. I really wanted to try something new with 1Password. This should be a show stopper for anyone wanting to use 1Password for the Windows platform. I don't trust DropBox with my most sensitive information based on their "security".



If you have a Mac - great application...For Windows, find something that doesn't require you to buy a Mac and allow you to sync without the cloud.

[Deleted User]

Hi CjM,



The Dropbox security issue is certainly concerning, but with respect to Dropbox they reacted quickly and fixed the issue.



One key thing to note is that you aren't relying on Dropbox's security to keep your 1Password data safe. Your 1Password data file is encrypted using 128-bit AES encryption before it ever leaves your computer and so we still believe Dropbox is a viable sync solution for 1Password and our resident security guru Jeff describes in [url="http://forum.agile.ws/index.php?/topic/5199-dropbox-are-a-security-liability/page__pid__29761#entry29761"]this thread[/url].



Does that mean we won't be looking into alternative sync solutions? No, it would be silly of us not to, but right now the only solution we can find that effectively and reliably allows sync between 1Password on the desktop and our mobile applications is Dropbox, because they're the only service that (currently) provide us with the proper APIs we need for accessing your data on mobile devices.



Wi-Fi syncing on Windows, at least the way the Mac version handles this, is out of the question, while Bonjour is available for Windows there are many other factors that mean we can't implement this.



Hope that helps,



[quote name='CjM' timestamp='1308673668' post='29769']

With all of the security issues with DropBox recently, I am no longer confident that I can securely keep my passwords in the cloud. Considering DropBox yesterday, allowed anyone with any password to access another person's dropbox. They say they don't think anyone found the glitch...but if some hacker did know about it, why would they tell anyone? That said, the lack of a Windows Sync function in 1Password is now a big issue. While the Mac can sync directly with 1Password on the iPad, the Windows version is left wanting. Since it is cheaper to buy another password application than a Mac, I am forced to go back to eWallet, which I have been using for years and has an iPad application that will sync with Windows. I really wanted to try something new with 1Password. This should be a show stopper for anyone wanting to use 1Password for the Windows platform. I don't trust DropBox with my most sensitive information based on their "security".



If you have a Mac - great application...For Windows, find something that doesn't require you to buy a Mac and allow you to sync without the cloud.

[/quote]

Stefan von Dutch

[quote name='CjM' timestamp='1308673668' post='29769']

With all of the security issues with DropBox recently, I am no longer confident that I can securely keep my passwords in the cloud. Considering DropBox yesterday, allowed anyone with any password to access another person's dropbox. They say they don't think anyone found the glitch...but if some hacker did know about it, why would they tell anyone? That said, the lack of a Windows Sync function in 1Password is now a big issue. While the Mac can sync directly with 1Password on the iPad, the Windows version is left wanting. Since it is cheaper to buy another password application than a Mac, I am forced to go back to eWallet, which I have been using for years and has an iPad application that will sync with Windows. I really wanted to try something new with 1Password. This should be a show stopper for anyone wanting to use 1Password for the Windows platform. I don't trust DropBox with my most sensitive information based on their "security".

[/quote]



We are working on other sync options for you guys. Please hang in there.

DBrown

Regarding the differences between 1Password for Mac and 1Password for Windows:

[list]

[*][url="http://help.agilebits.com/1Password_Windows/diff-1Pwin-1Pmac.html"][i]Why doesn't 1Password for Windows [b]look[/b] like 1Password 3 on my Mac?[/i][/url]

[/list]

Regarding the security of your data in Dropbox, the thing to remember is that, no matter where it's stored, your 1Password data is protected with 128-bit AES encryption:

[list]

[*][url=http://help.agilebits.com/1Password3/security.html][i]How Secure is 1Password?[/i][/url]



[/list]

Please see these documents for a more thorough discussion of the issue:

[list]

[*][url=http://help.agilebits.com/1Password3/cloud_storage_security.html][i]Security of storing 1Password data in the Cloud[/i][/url]

[*]Our blog - [url=http://blog.agilebits.com/2011/04/dropbox-security-questions/][i]Dropbox Security Questions[/i][/url]

[*]Dropbox's blog - [url=http://blog.dropbox.com/?p=735][i]Privacy, Security, and Your Dropbox[/i][/url]

[/list]

_____



[i][b]Personal opinion:[/b] I don't care who hacks their way into my Dropbox account, because they'll still have to guess my master password, and that's just not going to happen in my lifetime.[/i]

CjM

[quote name='DBrown' timestamp='1308721900' post='29889']

Regarding the differences between 1Password for Mac and 1Password for Windows:

[list]

[*][url="http://help.agilebits.com/1Password_Windows/diff-1Pwin-1Pmac.html"][i]Why doesn't 1Password for Windows [b]look[/b] like 1Password 3 on my Mac?[/i][/url]

[/list]

Regarding the security of your data in Dropbox, the thing to remember is that, no matter where it's stored, your 1Password data is protected with 128-bit AES encryption:

[list]

[*][url=http://help.agilebits.com/1Password3/security.html][i]How Secure is 1Password?[/i][/url]



[/list]

Please see these documents for a more thorough discussion of the issue:

[list]

[*][url=http://help.agilebits.com/1Password3/cloud_storage_security.html][i]Security of storing 1Password data in the Cloud[/i][/url]

[*]Our blog - [url=http://blog.agilebits.com/2011/04/dropbox-security-questions/][i]Dropbox Security Questions[/i][/url]

[*]Dropbox's blog - [url=http://blog.dropbox.com/?p=735][i]Privacy, Security, and Your Dropbox[/i][/url]

[/list]

_____



[i][b]Personal opinion:[/b] I don't care who hacks their way into my Dropbox account, because they'll still have to guess my master password, and that's just not going to happen in my lifetime.[/i]

[/quote]





Thanks for the responses to my concerns. While I do feel at least the second layer of protection is there, what DropBox basically allowed would be similar to if I allowed hackers into my internal network and allowed them to rummage around. The first layer of protection is just as critical as the second. For example, if I kept my all of my personal data on DropBox with my latest passwords, etc., it wouldn't be impossible for someone to delete my private data either. The whole point of having all of your passwords in a manager such as this is because passwords and other information is hard to remember. If someone just deletes my 1Password data, I will still pay the price of having my data in DropBox. Yes, you can back it up but now you have to still figure out how to sync to something other than DropBox.

Stefan von Dutch

[quote name='CjM' timestamp='1308970415' post='30292']

If someone just deletes my 1Password data, I will still pay the price of having my data in DropBox.

[/quote]



1Password automatically creates local backups for you. Whatever happens to your data in Dropbox, there is always a local backup of your passwords.

adzy

[quote name='DBrown' timestamp='1308721900' post='29889']

[i][b]Personal opinion:[/b] I don't care who hacks their way into my Dropbox account, because they'll still have to guess my master password, and that's just not going to happen in my lifetime.[/i]

[/quote]

Just curious, does anyone actually use 1Password to generate their master password? (like random letters & symbols). I doubt if I'd ever remember that but it would be a good password <img src='http://forum.agile.ws/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':P' />

CjM

[quote name='Stefan von Dutch' timestamp='1308981682' post='30314']

1Password automatically creates local backups for you. Whatever happens to your data in Dropbox, there is always a local backup of your passwords.

[/quote]



Will the iPad also have a backup if DropBox file is deleted? I make alot of changes via my iPad and was wondering if DropBox is deleted, I can point locally on my iPad and my data still should be there? Thanks!

[Deleted User]

Hello CjM,



As 1P for Windows does not support Wi-Fi syncing, it would be advisable to use 1P Pro's or 1P for iPad's built-in backup feature. [url="http://help.agile.ws/1Password_iPad/backup.html"]Backing Up and Restoring Your 1Password Data (iPad)[/url]



Please review the article and reply with any questions.



Cheers!



Brandt

CjM

Hi Brandt,



Thanks for the link. I have a follow-up question: Can I restore my iPad backup on my Windows version if I needed too? Was wondering if they were interchangable.



Thanks!

[Deleted User]

Hey CjM,



[s]Yes, you can restore your iPad backup to your 1P for Windows application.[/s] No you cannot restore your iPad backup [i]directly[/i] to your 1P desktop application.



As I appear to be "link" happy tonight, I'll give you another for more details: [url="http://help.agile.ws/1Password_Windows/iOS-to-Windows.html"]Getting 1Password data from iOS to Windows[/url] The article mention the iPhone, but the steps are the same for the iPad.



Take a look at the procedure and let me know if you have any questions.



Brandt



UPDATE:



I intended to say that you could create a backup of your iPad data on your PC and that you could restore the backup copy to your iPad. In addition, you can create local backup copies of your 1P for Windows data (automatic backups are turned on by default), and that you could restore your local 1P4W backup file.



Sorry for the incorrect initial response. I was thinking about the fact that you could have local backup copies to use if you deleted Dropbox. However, that is not what you asked.

CjM

Great! I think this can work for me until you guys get the alternative to drop box running as I am not one who needs a constant sync. I just want to make sure I typically just want a secure copy on my network that I can use when my iPad isn't laying around. I don't really use the website password management as much as I use it to store serial numbers, and other sensitive personal data.

[Deleted User]

Glad this will work for you! Let us know if you have any additional questions.

Stefan von Dutch

[quote name='CjM' timestamp='1309297085' post='30630']

Will the iPad also have a backup if DropBox file is deleted? I make alot of changes via my iPad and was wondering if DropBox is deleted, I can point locally on my iPad and my data still should be there? Thanks!

[/quote]



Yes, the iPad is running a local version of your 1Password data. Your iPad does not connect to Dropbox until you actually tell it to synchronize (either automatically or manually, depending on your settings).

Stefan von Dutch

[quote name='CjM' timestamp='1309311719' post='30647']

Can I restore my iPad backup on my Windows version if I needed too? Was wondering if they were interchangable.

[/quote]



No, you cannot restore your iPad backup on the Windows version. However, you can "migrate" your 1Password data from your iPad to Windows via Dropbox.

[Deleted User]

[quote name='Stefan von Dutch' timestamp='1309334325' post='30662']

No, you cannot restore your iPad backup on the Windows version. However, you can "migrate" your 1Password data from your iPad to Windows via Dropbox.

[/quote]



Stefan is absolutely correct. I intended to state that you could restore from local backups, but that you would need to use platform specific backup files. I corrected my post, and I'm sorry for the misstatement.

DBrown

[quote name='Stefan von Dutch' timestamp='1309334189' post='30660']

Yes, the iPad is running a local version of your 1Password data. Your iPad does not connect to Dropbox until you actually tell it to synchronize (either automatically or manually, depending on your settings).

[/quote]

To the best of my knowledge: Once you have set up Dropbox sync'ing in the 1Password app on your iOS device, that sync'ing occurs automatically every time you launch the 1Password app on the iOS device and every time you create, edit, or delete a Login or other item in 1Password on the iOS device. You can also trigger a manual sync within the Settings section of the 1Password app on the iOS device.

DBrown

[quote name='adzy' timestamp='1309016171' post='30338']

[quote name='DBrown' timestamp='1308721900' post='29889']

[i][b]Personal opinion:[/b] I don't care who hacks their way into my Dropbox account, because they'll still have to guess my master password, and that's just not going to happen in my lifetime.[/i]

[/quote]

Just curious, does anyone actually use 1Password to generate their master password? (like random letters & symbols). I doubt if I'd ever remember that but it would be a good password <img src='http://forum.agile.ws/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':P' />

[/quote]

There's no reason not to use the Strong Password Generator to create your master password...except that it's be hard to remember and dang near impossible to guess. <img src='http://forum.agile.ws/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />



The same is true of using it to create your Dropbox password. That's actually a second password I recommend you remember, just in case.

Stefan von Dutch

[quote name='DBrown' timestamp='1309358727' post='30680']

To the best of my knowledge: Once you have set up Dropbox sync'ing in the 1Password app on your iOS device, that sync'ing occurs automatically every time you launch the 1Password app on the iOS device and every time you create, edit, or delete a Login or other item in 1Password on the iOS device. You can also trigger a manual sync within the Settings section of the 1Password app on the iOS device.

[/quote]



On my iPhone, whenever I launch 1Password and then go into [i]More > Settings > Sync > Dropbox[/i] it reads "automatic sync disabled". Not sure how and where you can enable (or disable) automatic sync, but I'm pretty sure 1Password on my iPhone does not sync with Dropbox until I click that "Sync Now" button.

CjM

[quote name='DBrown' timestamp='1309358727' post='30680']

To the best of my knowledge: Once you have set up Dropbox sync'ing in the 1Password app on your iOS device, that sync'ing occurs automatically every time you launch the 1Password app on the iOS device and every time you create, edit, or delete a Login or other item in 1Password on the iOS device. You can also trigger a manual sync within the Settings section of the 1Password app on the iOS device.

[/quote]



I had already removed DropBox from all of my computers. The latest story puts the ownership on the owner to deal with the mess they created (http://www.zdnet.com/blog/apple/dropbox-ceo-lone-hacker-downloaded-data-from-fewer-than-a-hundred-accounts/10476). I would rather do stuff manually at this point even if I have to manually sync my password files. Thanks for the correction on the ability to restore. Luckily I hadn't tried to restore my iPad data to my Windows version.

[Deleted User]

CjM,



I'm very happy that you did not try to restore iPad data to your Windows version. Hopefully, had you would have had an automatic 1P4Windows backup file to restore instead, but that does not mitigate the incorrect information I first posted.



Since you've removed DB from all of your computers, you may wish to hedge your bets by copying both iPad and 1P4Windows backup files to a flash drive or other medium. I do this about every week. It is a way to guard against computer failure and/or theft. Just a thought.



Hope all continues to go well with your current setup.



Brandt

DBrown

[quote name='Stefan von Dutch' timestamp='1309360464' post='30685']

On my iPhone, whenever I launch 1Password and then go into [i]More > Settings > Sync > Dropbox[/i] it reads "automatic sync disabled". Not sure how and where you can enable (or disable) automatic sync, but I'm pretty sure 1Password on my iPhone does not sync with Dropbox until I click that "Sync Now" button.

[/quote]

You need to contact Customer Support at AgileBits, Stefan! <img src='http://forum.agile.ws/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' />



The 1Password apps for iOS definitely trigger a Dropbox sync automatically on launch of the app.

DBrown

[quote name='CjM' timestamp='1309456530' post='30765']

Thanks for the correction on the ability to restore. Luckily I hadn't tried to restore my iPad data to my Windows version.

[/quote]

[quote name='bswins' timestamp='1309457593' post='30767']

I'm very happy that you did not try to restore iPad data to your Windows version. Hopefully, had you would have had an automatic 1P4Windows backup file to restore instead, but that does not mitigate the incorrect information I first posted.

[/quote]

I'm coming back to the conversation a little late, and I may be confused, so forgive me if this is obvious.



[list]

[*]You cannot "restore" 1Password data from an iOS device to 1Password for Windows.



[*]You can use the Backup command in the 1Password app for iOS to save a backup file that can be used only by the Restore command in the 1Password app for iOS.



[*]You can use the Backup command in 1Password for Windows to save a backup file that can be used only by the Restore command in 1Password for Windows.



[*]The only way to get 1Password data from the 1Password app for iOS to 1Password for Windows is to use Dropbox sync'ing.

[/list]

I hope that helps clarify things. (It helps clarify them for me, anyway. <img src='http://forum.agile.ws/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />)

Stefan von Dutch

[quote name='DBrown' timestamp='1309654406' post='30972']

You can use the Backup command in 1Password for Windows to save a backup file that can be used only by the Restore command in 1Password for Windows.

[/quote]



...or 1Password for Mac. On Windows and Mac, the backup format is interchangeable.

DBrown

[quote name='Stefan von Dutch' timestamp='1309710019' post='31052']

On Windows and Mac, the backup format is interchangeable.

[/quote]

Thanks for the reminder, Stefan!

Stefan von Dutch

[quote name='DBrown' timestamp='1309653985' post='30971']

The 1Password apps for iOS definitely trigger a Dropbox sync automatically on launch of the app.

[/quote]



I figured out why 1Password on my iPhone does not trigger an automatic Dropbox sync.



When you set up Dropbox sync, 1Password for iOS asks for your master password (the one for your data file stored in Dropbox) and then there's a "Remember" switch. Because I did not turn this switch on, automatic sync is disabled.

DBrown

That makes sense, Stefan.



Those 1Password developers seem to know what they're doing!