"ICloud keychain": setup, use and feedback

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 mechanism of protection on the Internet, they are kept access to everything that the user probably would like to hide, which means that they must be advanced and difficult to select. The number of such passwords accumulates, exceeds a hundred, and now no one can remember them.

To protect and securely store all this information, Apple coined a tool called Keychain ("Keychain").

What is a "Keychain"?

At its core 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 this utility was a part of every release of Apple, including OS X and iOS (from 2013 is referred to as the "Keychain iCloud").

It can store data of various kinds on the Mac, for example: passwords from websites, FTP-servers, SSH-accounts, common networks, wireless networks, hidden notes, common software and hardware, as well as for certificates and encrypted disk images.

Product History

Initially, a similar mechanism was used in the PowerTalk application, which was an Apple mail client. The application was created in the early 90's, and Keychain helped control all user data from various mail services that PowerTalk could connect to.

In connection with the use of password encryption, it was difficult to remember and restore. Therefore, there was a need for a mechanism that would allow the user to enter only one password (master password) that opens access to all mail services (each with its own login and passwords).

This idea, despite its obviousness and usefulness, almost died at a time when Apple decided to stop supporting PowerTalk. But with the return of Steve Jobs, this function returned to the Mac computers and worked not only in one program, but in the whole system.

Storage and access

In Mac 10th generation and older operating systems, all Keychain files are stored in a special directory of the system, also this data can be found in a special application that is located in the "Utilities" folder.

"Keychain" is 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 contains a lot of information, only scraps and passwords are encrypted, everything else (names, links) is available to everyone.

Lock and unlock

By default, the Keychain file is protected by the same password as the user account, so the function becomes available immediately after logging in with your login and password. If necessary, it can be installed separately for this function.

Also for greater security, you can set the lock interval, for example, in 15 minutes. In this case, if the computer was not used for 15 minutes, when trying to use "Keychain" it will request a password.

"Keychain iCloud": what is it?

This product Apple announced 15 years after the appearance of the original "Keychain." In 2013, WWDC, along with iOS 7 and OS X Mavericks, introduced a technology that allows you to synchronize all sensitive user data and securely store them.

This option is an online store with all user data, including passwords from web pages, passwords from wireless networks, account information and credit card payment details (except for security codes - CVV).

All this data is encrypted according to the AES 256-bit standard and is accessible 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 correspondence of the links and offers the application a password previously stored in the system) .

Also in the service's ability is the compilation of long, complex and secure passwords for sites on which the user is registered.

"Keychain iCloud": how to use?

Start working with the "Keychain iCloud" quite easily, but first you need to make sure that the gadget (smartphone or tablet) is installed iOS 7.0.3 and newer, and on the computer - OS X 10.9 and newer.

Configuring "iCloud Keychain" (Instructions for Mac):

• First you need to start "Settings" (or from the Apple menu, which is behind the apple icon in the upper left corner, or from the Dock).
• Select the iCloud submenu.
• Then the sub-item "Keychain".
• Enter the password to unlock the computer.
• Enter the Apple ID.

How to add a credit card ("Instructions for Mac") to the "Keychain":

• You need to start Safari.
• Then go to the settings of this program.
• In the settings, select the Autofill submenu (auto-complete).
• Next to the sub-item "Credit cards" find the "Edit" button.
• Click on the "Add" button and enter your credit card details.

How to configure "iCloud keychain" (iOS instruction):

• It is necessary to launch "Settings" from the "Home" screen.
• Select the iCloud submenu.
• Then the sub-item "Keychain".
• Move the "iCloud Keychain" toggle switch to the ON position. Accordingly, to turn off, you need to reverse the 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 (security code "iCloud keychains" for activation), and also attach third-party gadgets for confirmation.

How to save a credit card in the "Keychain" (instructions for iOS):

• It is necessary to launch "Settings" from the "Home" screen.
• Select the Safari submenu.
• Then the sub-item Password & AutoFill (Passwords and AutoFill).
• Enter the passcode.
• Select the Saved Credit Cards submenu.
• Add a credit card (enter the required information and click "Finish").

Password Synchronization

Synchronizing data in the Keychain is not necessary. Moreover, you can synchronize data bypassing iCloud (only on Mac computers).

To avoid data synchronization with the cloud and their subsequent storage, during activation of the "Keychain", you need to 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 /. Usually this is used in corporate networks and if there are several common Mac computers. Unfortunately, synchronization often disappears when changing the password in the system on one of the devices (including Windows).

Access to the "Keychain"

Before you get all the information stored in the cloud, you should confirm the "Keychain iCloud". 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 the identity or full activation of the "Keychain iCloud" 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 code consisting of 6 digits, or from a complicated alphanumeric combination, which is necessary in order to access passwords and cards stored in the Keychain, as well as in case of loss of access to it.

Possible problems

Nothing is perfect, even the "Keychain iCloud". No, it's not about security holes or data loss, but there are a lot of problems with connecting this feature and returning access after updating, resetting and configuring a new device. A list of the most common questions and problems is presented below.

"The keychain iCloud" could not be configured due to the lack of an SMS code? If for some reason an SMS message with a password code does not arrive, you need:

• Check the connection to the network.
• Make sure that the phone is able to receive SMS (the tariff plan and the SIM card installed support this feature).
• Check whether the number is indicated for receiving the SMS code. To do this, in the "Keychains" settings, find the sub-item "Advanced" and specify the correct number in the "Verification number".

The iCloud keychain does not synchronize data between devices. In this case, the complete disabling and enabling of the function almost always helps. Make it necessary on all devices. After reconnecting all of them will receive the most current data from the server and will continue to work in the usual mode.

Can not find the passwords stored in the 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 the Touch ID (fingerprint sensor) to verify the identity.
• After checking, you can select any site and see the password to it.

Safari does not store data in the "Keychain" and does not offer password substitution. This problem can be solved by activating the toggle switch "Names and passwords" in the submenu "AutoComplete" in the Safari preferences.

Supported devices

"ICloud keychain" is supported on all current Apple devices. These include all computers that operate on the basis of 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 of which you can install the mobile operating system version 7.0.3). These include: iPhone with 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 function vary. Despite the fact that password managers have existed for several decades, many users still lend themselves to their paranoid ideas and do not want to synchronize data with the cloud.

During the existence of this option there were no massive sinks and data loss, which means that the system can be trusted.

Users are constantly complaining about problems with resynchronizing and setting up "Keychain". It is almost impossible to solve these problems without the help of a service center. The function just does not work, people have to call the technical support department of the company and confirm their identity (answer to secret test questions).

There were a lot of users who stated that thanks to the "Keychain iCloud" they were able to completely abandon other password managers and made their lives much easier. Moreover, people trust Apple much more than other companies.