Should You Use The Apple Passwords App?

robfreeman.com/should-you-use-the-apple-passwords-… - If you use Apple hardware, the new Apple Passwords app in iOS 18 makes your life easier by suggesting strong passwords and helping you manage them, all from one place. But is the Apple Passwords app the safest option for you? In this video we examine: 1) the benefits of relying on Apple for password management 2) the downsides of using Apple Password Manager, 3) the benefits of third party password managers and 4) which password managers have been hacked.1 The Apple Passwords app addresses the challenges the average, non-techie Internet user faces in following password best practices, specifically, that passwords should be long (at least 12 characters), complex (using upper and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters) and unique for every website. Ideally, usernames should also be unique for every website…2 Man, that’s a lot to expect anyone to remember. If you’re all in on Apple’s ecosystem, the Apple password manager has a lot going for it, but there are also cons associated with the choice of using the Apple Passwords app, as opposed to a 3rd party password manager… Apple has a bug bounty program and is open about how it secures your data… However, iCloud Keychain is closed source, meaning independent researchers can’t verify or check how it works or if there are bugs or security issues. Could Apple get hacked? Yes, there’s a non-zero chance that Apple could get hacked. No company is immune to being hacked. However, I believe Apple (and the other tech giants for that matter) has the most to lose if they get hacked. But, if they do get hacked, a company the size of Apple has all the resources in the world to throw at the problem. You are more at risk of being the victim of a phishing attack or malware attack by falling prey to social engineering… As such, you should be aware of the risks of downloading unsigned Mac software and/or Mac malware, such as MacStealer, that could compromise the security of your iCloud Keychain. Be sure to check the security settings of your Mac antivirus to enable your firewall and maximum protections because everyone is at risk. Third party password managers are available that do a great job of helping you manage your passwords, all from one place. Companies like 1Password, Keeper, Proton, LastPass, Bitwarden, etc. offer similar functionality to Apple Passwords, and may also include other cybersecurity tools you may want, such as a VPN, encrypted email, malware scanning tools, etc. However, the greater the number of services you rely on for managing your passwords and authentication, the greater your “attack surface” becomes. Just like Apple is a target, 3rd party password managers are constantly under attack, fighting against hackers who stress test their systems. Sometimes these password managers can get hacked or vulnerabilities can be found. A password manager is an excellent tool to have as an option in your security arsenal. Using one can offload a lot of the work you need to do to stay safe online. This includes: Any password manager needs to strike a careful balance between security and customer experience, and in this regard Apple has the best chance of nailing this approach for its customers. That said, every company – including Apple – is at risk of being hacked. This includes excellent, well-established password manager companies, like LastPass, 1Password, Keeper, Proton, Bitdefender, etc. Apple has virtually unlimited resources to throw at user security, and has potentially the most to lose in the event of a breach… As such, it may be as safe a choice as any 3rd party password manager if you rely on Apple’s ecosystem.

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