1Password is an app built to help you keep your online accounts secure. The first step of securing an account is using a strong password. The second is remembering that password.
It's easy to come up with one we feel is a strong password we can remember, then use it across a litany of sites and services. But that's not really safe, nor is it smart. If one account falls, they all fall.
Another step in securing your online accounts is enabling two-step authentication. This additional layer of security requires you to first enter the correct login information, followed by a six-digit code that's either sent via text message to your cell phone or accessed through an app such as Authy or Google Authenticator.
1Password has always been convenient in remembering your difficult passwords for you, but a bit of an inconvenience since the fact you had to install another app or rely on text messages (which in turn requires you to have cellular signal whenever you want to log into an account) to receive your one-time passwords.
Well, the team AgileBits seeks to eliminate the need for an extra app just to keep your accounts secure by introducing the ability to store your one-time passwords directly within 1Password. Currently the feature is available in the iOS version of the app, with plans to bring it to Android, OS X and Windows.
In order to use it, however, you'll need to log into the accounts you have two-step authentication enabled for and change the method or app you use to receive the short codes. Unsure where to go? Read through this post that walks you through most of the major services' two-step setup process.
Alternatively, Nicole Cozma has a solid guide for switching Google Authenticator from one phone to another, and wouldn't you know it, the same applies to changing your setup to another app. You'll need have a browser window pulled up and be logged into the respective settings page for each service before you can switch over to 1Password.
As far as the process on your iOS device goes, launch 1Password and find the account you'd like to setup. Select it, followed by the Edit button in the top-right corner.
Scroll down until you find the new section labeled Add new one time passwords and tap on it. Next, tap on the QR code icon and scan the QR code displayed on your computer and press Done.
Follow the rest of the prompts in your browser window to finish the setup process.
Going forward, whenever you log into the service and need a short code, you can find it by viewing the proper account in 1Password instead of needing to launch yet another app.
