word , in series numbers pool , ATM code — we’re all swimming in a ocean of info that ’s secret ( or should be ) . Make it easy to commend , and someone may swipe it . Make it hard to guess , and you may forget it yourself . Mac OS X has the answer : the Keychain . Here ’s how to use the Keychain in OS X 10.3 to obliterate all sort of entropy , from password hints for Web website to notes on a confidential line bargain .

Keychain Access

If you ’ve ever enter a password in your Web browser app or e - post client , or provided a password for an encrypted saucer trope , your Mac has believably asked whether you ’d care to save that watchword to your Keychain . In add-on to accessing your keychain through these dialog boxes , you’re able to work straight with your Key - chain via Keychain Access ( Applications : utility ) .

When you launch Keychain Access , you see a list of all the items in your Keychain , including information about each detail ’s name , kind , creation escort , and modification date . If you have n’t give Keychain Access before , most of these item will be watchword — Internet password , program passwords , disc image passwords .

you may edit any of these fields by clicking in the field ; however , the Comments playing field and the password domain ( which is n’t label but appear just below the Show Password pick ) are the only ones I recommend touching . Make watchword field changes only if your watchword has actually changed . When you ’re done editing , select the Save Changes button .

The Access Control tab key lists the app allowed to get at each detail . Although you’re able to manually deepen these configurations , errors are less likely if you use the dialogue box that appears when an app requests access to your Keychain .

Add Your Own Secrets

Beyond covering countersign , the Keychain is a great place to store ATM - card PINs , package serial numbers , and other sensitive data . To total a novel watchword particular , tap the Password image in the Keychain Access toolbar . Give the young particular a name ( for case , ATM PIN ) , enter the account or exploiter name associated with the parole ( if applicable ) , and then enter the word or passphrase you want stored in the Keychain . cluck on Add to save the unexampled particular .

Save Notes Securely

The Keychain can also storesecure notes . These are just snippets of text , but because they ’re part of your Keychain , they ’re secure from prying eyes . To create a secure banker’s bill , tap the Note picture in the toolbar . Give the Federal Reserve note a name ; then typewrite your note text or glue it in from another lotion , such as TextEdit , Microsoft Word , or your e - mail client ( see “ Do n’t glide by This Federal Reserve note ” ) .

A good - banknote item works much like a parole item : you’re able to see information about the note in the Attributes panel at the bottom of the Keychain Access windowpane . By selecting the Show Note selection and providing your account password , you may view the eminence itself .

you may cancel Keychain items — notes or passwords — at any time . Simply select an item and urge the delete key ( you could also select the Delete ikon or prefer Edit : Delete ) . OS X then permanently delete the detail .

Keep Your Keys Safe

Now that you ’ve stow your worthful information away , it ’s meter to interlock the Keychain itself . This is a useful feature of speech when you ’re stepping forth from your computer and you want to verify no one can get at Keychain items .

you’re able to mesh your Keychain by launching Keychain Access and get through on the Lock icon in the toolbar , but if you lock away your Keychain frequently , a more commodious method is to activate the systemwide Keychain card . From within Keychain Access , take View : Show Status In Menu Bar . This summate a menu excess ( a padlock icon ) , to your systemwide menu bar . you’re able to then lock the Keychain by clicking on the ikon , choose Lock KeychainName , and come in your Keychain word . As a bonus , the menu ’s Lock Screen dictation let you immediately turn on OS X ’s screen rescuer — and turning it off will require a word , even if you do n’t have this characteristic enable in the Security druthers pane .

you’re able to also place your Keychain to lock away mechanically after a period of inaction . ( In Keychain Access , go to Edit : Change preferences For KeychainName . ) Just be cognizant that each clip an app enter the Keychain qualify asactivity — so if your e - mail customer stores your bill passwords in the Keychain and checks for fresh mail often , your Keychain may never operate automatically . Another option is to tell the Keychain to put away when your Mac goes to kip ; when you wake your computing gadget , you ’ll need to participate your parole before you or any program can access your Keychain .

Change the Locks

By default , your Keychain password is the same as your operating system X account word , and OS X unlocks your Keychain when you enter . If you ’d rather do the unlocking yourself — so that nothing and no one can access your confidential data point until you explicitly authorize it — you’re able to disable this behavior in your Keychain ’s preferences or , more securely , vary your Keychain password ( Edit : Change Password For Keychain Name ) . select the i ( info ) button in the Change Keychain Password dialogue box to view the Password Assistant , which shows how secure your new password is . ( For more on the Password Assistant , seefind.macworld.com/0044 . )

Explore Your Keys

receive your confidential selective information fall into the wrong hands is no jest . But if you exploit the full power of OS X ’s Keychain , your arcanum will remain just that — cloak-and-dagger .

Sidebar : Keychain First Aid

[ Senior Writer DAN FRAKES ( www.danfrakes.com ) has much more to say about the Keychain and data point security . For the full storey , see his bookMac OS Power Tools , 2nd variation ( Sybex , 2004;www.macosxpowertools.com ) . ]