How many people today trust computers and smartphones? Almost all of them store photos, location information, often data and codes from credit cards and countless passwords.
The latter are the main protection mechanism on the Internet, they store access to everything that the user would probably like to hide, which means they must be advanced and difficult to select. The number of such passwords accumulates, exceeds one hundred, and now no one is able to remember them.
To protect and securely store all this information, Apple invented a tool called Keychain.
What is a Keychain ?
At its core, it is a password manager developed by Apple specifically for its operating system. This tool was introduced with the release of Mac OS 8th iteration, released in 1998. After that, this utility was part of every release of Apple, including OS X and iOS (since 2013 it has been referred to as the “iCloud Keychain”).
On a Mac, it can store data of various kinds, for example: passwords from websites, FTP servers, SSH accounts, shared networks, wireless networks, hidden notes, general software and hardware, as well as certificates and encrypted disk images.
Product history
Initially, a similar mechanism was used in the PowerTalk application, which was an email client from Apple. The application was created back in the early 90s, and Keychain helped control all user data from various mail services that PowerTalk could connect to.
Due to the use of encryption, passwords were difficult to remember and recover. Therefore, a mechanism was needed that would allow the user to enter only one password (master password), which opens access to all mail services (each of which has its own input data and passwords).
This idea, despite its obviousness and usefulness, almost died at the moment when Apple decided to stop supporting PowerTalk. But with the return of Steve Jobs, this function returned to Mac computers and worked not only in one program, but in the whole system.
Storage and access
On Mac operating systems of the 10th generation and older, all Keychain files are stored in a special system directory, and this data can also be found in a special application located in the Utilities folder.
“Keychain” is a free and free software (the source code of the utility is freely available), which is distributed under a public license from Apple.
The keychain file stores a lot of information, only notes and passwords are encrypted from it, everything else (names, links) is available to everyone.
Lock and unlock
By default, the Keychain file is protected with the same password as the user account, so the function becomes available immediately after logging in with your username and password. If necessary, it can be installed separately for this function.
Also, for greater security, you can set the lock interval, for example, at 15 minutes. In this case, if the computer has not been used for 15 minutes, when you try to use the Keychain, it will require a password.
ICloud Keychain : what is it?
Apple announced this product 15 years after the introduction of the original Keychain. In 2013, at the WWDC conference, along with iOS 7 version and OS X Mavericks, a technology was introduced that allows you to synchronize all sensitive user data and save them securely.
This option is a kind of online storage that contains all user data, which includes: passwords from web pages, passwords from wireless networks, account information and credit card payment information (except for security codes - CVV).
All this data is encrypted according to the AES 256-bit standard and is available only to a specific user and only in the Safari browser and applications adapted to work with this utility (they send a request to Safari, the browser checks the links and offers the application a password previously stored in the system) .
The service’s capabilities also include compiling long, complex and secure passwords for the sites on which the user is registered.
ICloud Keychain : how to use?
Getting started with iCloud Keychain is not difficult at all, but first of all you need to make sure that iOS 7.0.3 and newer is installed on your gadget (smartphone or tablet), and OS X 10.9 and newer on your computer.
Setting “iCloud Keychains” (instructions for Mac):
- First you need to launch “Settings” (either from the Apple menu, which is hidden behind the apple icon in the upper left corner, or from the Dock).
- Select iCloud submenu.
- Then the sub-item "Keychain".
- Enter the password to unlock the computer.
- Enter your Apple ID.
How to add a credit card to the Keychain (instructions for Mac):
- You must run the Safari program.
- Then go to the settings of this program.
- In the settings, select the Autofill submenu.
- Next to the sub-item “Credit cards” find the “Edit” button.
- Click on the “Add” button and enter credit card details.
How to set up "iCloud Keychain" (instructions for iOS):
- You need to run “Settings” from the “Home” screen.
- Select iCloud submenu.
- Then the sub-item "Keychain".
- Move the iCloud Keychain toggle switch to the ON position. Accordingly, to turn off, you need to carry out the reverse action, switch the toggle switch to the OFF position.
- After that, you will be prompted to come up with a new password or enter an existing one (iCloud Keychains security code for activation), as well as attach third-party gadgets for confirmation.
How to save a credit card in the Keychain (instructions for iOS):
- You need to run “Settings” from the “Home” screen.
- Select the Safari submenu.
- Then the sub-item Password & AutoFill (Passwords and autofill).
- Enter the password code.
- Select the Saved Credit Cards submenu.
- Add a credit card (enter the necessary information and click “Finish”).
Password Sync
Data synchronization in the Keychain is not a necessary option. Moreover, you can synchronize data bypassing iCloud (only on Mac computers).
To avoid data synchronization with the cloud and their subsequent storage there, during activation of the Keychain, you must skip the step with creating a six-digit verification code. In this case, all data will be stored only on a physical medium, locally.
It is also possible to synchronize data using files stored in / Library / Keychains /. This is typically used on corporate networks and with multiple shared Mac computers. Unfortunately, synchronization often disappears when a password is changed in the system on one of the devices (including Windows).
Keychain Access
Before you get all the information stored in the cloud, you must confirm the "iCloud Keychain". This can be done using SMS or a second device.
In the first case, the user will receive a randomly generated password code to confirm their identity or fully activate the iCloud Keychain function. You can confirm from another device if the user has a gadget on which this function already works.
Security code
This is a special cipher consisting of 6 digits, or of a complicated alphanumeric combination, which is necessary in order to gain access to passwords and cards stored in the Keychain, as well as in case of loss of access to it.
Possible problems
Nothing is perfect, not even iCloud Keychain. No, this is not about security holes or data loss, but there are many problems associated with connecting this function and returning access after updating, resetting and configuring a new device. A list of the most common questions and problems is presented below.
“ICloud Keychain” could not be configured due to the lack of SMS code? If for some reason the SMS message with the password code does not arrive, you must:
- Check the connection to the cellular network.
- Make sure that the phone is able to receive SMS (the tariff plan and the installed SIM card support this feature).
- Check if the number is indicated for receiving the SMS code. To do this, in the “Keychains” settings, find the “Advanced” sub-item and indicate the correct number in the “Verification number” item.
ICloud Keychain does not sync data between devices. In this case, completely disabling and enabling the function almost always helps. This must be done on all devices. After reconnecting, they will all receive the most current data from the server and continue to work as usual.
Can't find the passwords stored in iCloud Keychain? Data about them and credit cards stored in the cloud can be found as follows:
- Go to “Settings” from the “Home” screen.
- Select the Safari submenu.
- Then the Passwords sub-item.
- The system will require you to enter a password or use Touch ID (fingerprint sensor) to confirm your identity.
- After checking, you can select any site and see the password to it.
Safari does not save data in Keychain and does not offer password substitution. You can solve this problem by activating the “Names and Passwords” toggle switch in the “Autofill” submenu in Safari settings.
Supported Devices
ICloud Keychain is supported on all current Apple devices. These include all computers that run on the macOS operating system of the Mavericks generation and newer (almost all 2007 PCs and more modern ones).
Also, this function works on a number of mobile devices (all on which you can install the mobile operating system version 7.0.3). These include: iPhone from the 4th generation and more modern, iPad from the 2nd generation and more modern, iPod touch from the 5th generation and more modern.
Reviews
Opinions about this feature vary. Despite the fact that password managers have been around for more than a dozen years, many users still give in to their paranoid ideas and do not want to synchronize data with the cloud.
During the existence of this option, there were no mass discharges and loss of information, which means that the system can be trusted.
Users constantly complain about problems with re-synchronization and setting "Keychains". It is almost impossible to solve these problems without the help of a service center. The function simply does not work, people are forced to call the company’s technical support department and confirm their identity (answer secret security questions).
There were many users who claimed that thanks to the iCloud Keychain, they were able to completely abandon other password managers and made their life much easier. Moreover, people trust Apple much more than other companies.