


When you sign in to 1Password, your private information is further protected by a unique communication system. It’s generated locally on your device when you set up your account, and just like your account password, is never sent to us.īut it doesn’t stop there. The Secret Key is a long series of randomly-selected letters and numbers, separated by dashes. This is a unique part of 1Password’s security model. You use your account password to unlock 1Password, and set up your password manager on new devices. We don’t know it, and it’s never stored on our servers. And it doesn’t rely on a single password to encrypt everything in your private vaults.Īll of your private information is protected by: Why is the situation any different for my 1Password account?”īecause 1Password uses encryption, not just authentication, to protect your data. How 1Password is secure by designĪt this point you might be thinking, “Okay, 2FA sounds great. 1Password will also autofill these codes in any browser, saving you precious time each day. That means you don’t have to waste time opening your email or a standalone authentication app to sign in to your online accounts. You can use 1Password as an authenticator for sites that support 2FA. With 2FA enabled, they wouldn’t be able to sign in to the account, because the service would ask for a one-time code that you’ve chosen to be sent via email, SMS, or an authenticator app. Two-factor authentication is a second line of defense that makes it tougher for criminals to gain access to accounts that are otherwise only protected by a username and password.įor example, imagine a criminal managed to find or guess the password to one of your social media profiles. To explain why, we need to unpack what 2FA does, and how your data is protected by 1Password’s security model. But there’s also no harm in enabling 2FA if you have a special set of circumstances, or think it will give you a little more peace of mind.

The short answer is no, it’s not necessary. You’ve probably heard or read the advice: ‘ Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) everywhere it’s offered.’ After all, it’s a great way to add an extra layer of protection to your online accounts.īut should that include your 1Password account?
