Keychain has been around since (Classic) Mac OS 8.
It has quietly served in the background as a system repository for all the common credentials used in daily functions, like your user login, wireless network, etc.
Users wouldn't even know it existed unless they ventured into the Utilities folder and launched the Keychain Access app.
They've fleshed it out lately, to make it act more like a full-fledged password manager, but it's still more of a basic built-in feature rather than an effort to compete with third-party password management apps and services. Even on the Mac, it works only with Safari, though it will work with Chrome and Edge on Windows.
Personally, I don't even use it for more than the basic functional credentials; I keep everything else in a separate password manager.
To couch it any other way, like Big Bad Apple holding users hostage is, to put it plainly, false.
Yes, I never used it much but my use of the word “new” was from what I read that it had an upgrade.
I was disappointed as I checked out the interface. Agree basic and I was somewhat surprised it is so basic. I still may play around with it.
I do allow Apple to save passwords which is redundant but I am seeing the value in my subscription manager.
I guess it does cost money to host a cloud based manager with a robust interface like the subscription services that make managing so care free with dedicated app.
Yet I only pretty much use the password portion of the service so if I could get used to the basic Apple manager since I’m all in on Apple it might be a reason to get rid of the pay service OR start using more of the 3rd party subscription service features.
I can say I’m impressed with the reliability of the third party service, I’ve had it so long now I can’t remember how long, 6, 8, 10 years?
I have a lot of passwords and so easy to manage them with the subscription service.
I would assume Apple is just as secure as anyone else’s but think they should be able to do much better.
Agree with you last statement regarding big bad Apple. It’s amazing how we as people “eat our own” we tear apart successful AMERICAN companies in the forums, media and public officials who seek to grandstand against them. Just amazing how we tear them apart and let overseas companies, even our enemies, into every aspect of our lives.
Yet the company they attack does more for the security and privacy of the individual than any of it’s biggest competitors.
Go figure we are eating ourselves from within and glad I lived my life to the fullest when I did. Todays public is clueless and unable or too lazy to research facts and think independently of what they are “told”
arstechnica.com
www.wired.com
