1Password – Secure Password Manager for Teams and Families

What is 1Password?

1Password is a premium password manager that securely stores and manages passwords, sensitive documents, credit cards, and other private information. Founded by AgileBits in 2006, 1Password has evolved from a simple password keeper into a comprehensive security solution trusted by millions of individuals and over 100,000 businesses worldwide.

At its core, 1Password uses strong encryption to protect your data while making it easily accessible across all your devices. A single master password unlocks your vault, eliminating the need to remember hundreds of unique passwords while maintaining security best practices. The service generates strong, unique passwords for every account and automatically fills them when needed.

Beyond password management, 1Password stores secure notes, software licenses, credit cards, bank accounts, medical records, and any sensitive information you need to protect. Its family and business plans enable secure sharing while maintaining individual privacy—perfect for households and organizations managing shared credentials.

Key Features and Capabilities

Secure Vault

Your encrypted vault stores all sensitive data using AES-256 encryption. Data is encrypted end-to-end, meaning even 1Password cannot access your information. The dual-key derivation using both your master password and Secret Key ensures maximum security.

Password Generation

The built-in password generator creates strong, unique passwords using customizable criteria: length, character types, and memorable word phrases. Integration with browsers automatically suggests strong passwords during account creation.

Watchtower

Watchtower monitors your saved passwords for security issues. It alerts you to weak passwords, reused passwords, passwords exposed in data breaches, websites vulnerable to attacks, and expiring passwords or documents requiring attention.

Travel Mode

Travel Mode removes sensitive vaults from your devices when crossing borders. Only vaults marked “Safe for Travel” remain accessible, protecting private data from inspection. Turn off Travel Mode when you arrive to restore access.

Two-Factor Authentication

1Password can store and generate TOTP codes for sites supporting two-factor authentication. When logging in, 1Password automatically fills both your password and the current 2FA code, streamlining the authentication process.

Secure Sharing

Share individual items or entire vaults with family members or team members. Fine-grained permissions control who can view, edit, or manage shared items. Guest access enables temporary sharing with contractors or collaborators.

System Requirements

Desktop Apps

1Password desktop apps support Windows 10 or later, macOS 10.15 or later, and Linux (most distributions). The apps require minimal resources and integrate deeply with system browsers and features.

Mobile Apps

Mobile apps support iOS 15.0 or later and Android 9.0 or later. Full offline access to your vault enables password management even without internet connectivity.

Browser Extensions

Browser extensions are available for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Brave. Extensions provide in-browser filling, password generation, and vault access.

Installation Guide

Installing on Windows

# Download from 1password.com
# Run installer

# Using Chocolatey
choco install 1password

# Using Winget
winget install AgileBits.1Password

# Verify installation
# Launch 1Password from Start Menu

Installing on macOS

# Download from 1password.com or Mac App Store

# Using Homebrew
brew install --cask 1password

# Install browser extension
brew install --cask 1password-cli

Installing on Linux

# Debian/Ubuntu
curl -sS https://downloads.1password.com/linux/keys/1password.asc | \
  sudo gpg --dearmor --output /usr/share/keyrings/1password-archive-keyring.gpg
echo "deb [arch=amd64 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/1password-archive-keyring.gpg] https://downloads.1password.com/linux/debian/amd64 stable main" | \
  sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/1password.list
sudo apt update && sudo apt install 1password

# Fedora/RHEL
sudo rpm --import https://downloads.1password.com/linux/keys/1password.asc
sudo sh -c 'echo -e "[1password]\nname=1Password\nbaseurl=https://downloads.1password.com/linux/rpm/stable/\$basearch\nenabled=1\ngpgcheck=1\nrepo_gpgcheck=1\ngpgkey=\"https://downloads.1password.com/linux/keys/1password.asc\"" > /etc/yum.repos.d/1password.repo'
sudo dnf install 1password

# Snap
sudo snap install 1password

Getting Started

Creating Your Account

Setup Process:
1. Download 1Password
2. Create account (email required)
3. Set master password (memorable but strong)
4. Save Secret Key (store securely!)
5. Set up Emergency Kit

Master Password Tips:
- Use 4+ random words
- At least 14 characters
- Mix in numbers/symbols
- Never reuse from other sites
- Example: "correct-horse-battery-staple"

Secret Key:
- 34-character key (A3-XXXXX-...)
- Required for new device setup
- Store in Emergency Kit
- Never share electronically

Emergency Kit

Emergency Kit Contains:
- Sign-in address
- Email address
- Secret Key
- Space for master password

Storage Recommendations:
- Print physical copy
- Store in safe/safety deposit box
- Give copy to trusted person
- NEVER store digitally unencrypted

Keyboard Shortcuts

Desktop App

# Windows/Linux
Ctrl + \         - Open 1Password mini
Ctrl + Shift + \ - Autofill in browser
Ctrl + N         - New item
Ctrl + E         - Edit item
Ctrl + F         - Search
Ctrl + C         - Copy password
Ctrl + Shift + C - Copy username
Ctrl + Alt + C   - Copy one-time password
Ctrl + ,         - Open preferences
Ctrl + L         - Lock 1Password

# macOS
Cmd + \          - Open 1Password mini
Cmd + Shift + \  - Autofill in browser
Cmd + N          - New item
Cmd + E          - Edit item
Cmd + F          - Search
Cmd + C          - Copy password
Cmd + Shift + C  - Copy username
Cmd + Option + C - Copy one-time password
Cmd + ,          - Open preferences
Cmd + L          - Lock 1Password

Browser Extension

Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + X - Open extension
Ctrl/Cmd + \        - Autofill
Tab                 - Navigate suggestions
Enter               - Select item

Item Types

Supported Categories

Login:
- Website URL
- Username
- Password
- One-time password (TOTP)
- Notes

Credit Card:
- Card number
- Expiration
- CVV
- Cardholder name
- PIN

Identity:
- Full name
- Address
- Phone numbers
- Email
- Birth date

Secure Note:
- Formatted text
- Attachments
- Tags

Bank Account:
- Bank name
- Account type
- Routing number
- Account number

Software License:
- License key
- Version
- Purchase date
- Order number

Passport:
- Country
- Number
- Expiration
- Place of birth

Driver's License:
- Number
- Expiration
- State/Country
- Class

Medical Record:
- Medications
- Allergies
- Blood type
- Insurance info

Server:
- URL
- Username
- Password
- Admin URL

SSH Key:
- Private key
- Passphrase
- Key fingerprint

API Credential:
- Type
- Credential
- Hostname

Watchtower Security

Security Monitoring

Watchtower Checks:
- Compromised passwords (Have I Been Pwned)
- Weak passwords
- Reused passwords
- Unsecured websites (HTTP)
- Two-factor authentication availability
- Expiring items
- Inactive 2FA

Security Score:
- Overall vault security rating
- Breakdown by category
- Actionable recommendations

Compromised Websites:
- Vulnerable sites (Heartbleed, etc.)
- Sites with known breaches
- Deprecated TLS versions

Organization Features

Vaults

Vault Types:
- Personal: Private to you
- Shared: Family/team access
- Travel Safe: Accessible in Travel Mode

Creating Vaults:
1. Click "New Vault"
2. Name the vault
3. Choose icon
4. Set permissions
5. Add members (shared vaults)

Vault Permissions:
- View items
- Create items
- Edit items
- Delete items
- Manage vault

Tags and Favorites

Organizing Items:
- Star items as favorites
- Create custom tags
- Multiple tags per item
- Quick access via sidebar

Example Tags:
- Work
- Personal
- Shared
- Finance
- Social Media

1Password CLI

Command Line Usage

# Install CLI
brew install 1password-cli  # macOS
# Or download from 1password.com/downloads/command-line

# Sign in
op signin

# List vaults
op vault list

# List items
op item list
op item list --vault="Personal"

# Get item
op item get "Gmail" --fields password
op item get "GitHub" --otp

# Create item
op item create --category=login \
  --title="New Account" \
  --url="https://example.com" \
  username="user@example.com" \
  password="secure_password"

# Generate password
op item create --generate-password

# Use in scripts
export DB_PASSWORD=$(op item get "Database" --fields password)

# Inject secrets
op run -- ./my-script.sh

Secret References

# Environment variable format
export SECRET="op://vault/item/field"

# Example
export API_KEY="op://Private/AWS/access_key"
export DB_PASS="op://Work/Database/password"

# Run with injected secrets
op run --env-file=.env -- npm start

1Password Pricing

Plan Comparison

Individual ($2.99/month):
- Unlimited passwords
- All devices
- 1GB document storage
- 24/7 support

Families ($4.99/month):
- Up to 5 family members
- Shared vaults
- Permission controls
- Account recovery

Teams Starter ($19.95/month):
- Up to 10 users
- Admin controls
- Guest accounts
- Vault permissions

Business ($7.99/user/month):
- Unlimited users
- Advanced reporting
- Custom groups
- SSO with Okta/Azure
- SCIM provisioning

Enterprise (Custom):
- Custom onboarding
- Dedicated support
- Custom contracts
- VIP support

Security Architecture

Encryption Details

Encryption:
- AES-256-GCM encryption
- PBKDF2 key derivation (100,000 rounds)
- SRP for authentication
- Zero-knowledge architecture

Dual-Key Derivation:
Master Password + Secret Key
?
Account Unlock Key
?
Vault Encryption Key

Data Protection:
- End-to-end encrypted
- Encrypted at rest
- Encrypted in transit (TLS 1.3)
- No plaintext on servers

Best Practices

Security Recommendations

Account Security:
1. Use strong master password
2. Store Emergency Kit safely
3. Enable two-factor authentication
4. Review Watchtower regularly
5. Use Travel Mode when needed

Password Hygiene:
1. Generate unique passwords for every site
2. Use maximum practical length
3. Enable 2FA where available
4. Update compromised passwords immediately
5. Never share master password

Conclusion

1Password provides enterprise-grade security with consumer-friendly usability, making strong password hygiene achievable for everyone. Its combination of secure storage, automatic filling, security monitoring, and sharing capabilities addresses the complete password management lifecycle.

Whether protecting personal accounts or securing an organization, 1Password delivers the tools to maintain security without sacrificing convenience.