I am thrilled to welcome a new sponsor to iPhone J.D.: AgileBits, the developer of 1Password. I have been using 1Password for over four years, and it is unquestionably one of my most important apps. When attorneys ask me what apps to add to an iPhone or iPad, 1Password is always on my shortlist of must-have apps. I simply cannot imagine using an iPhone, iPad, or computer without a password manager, and I have long considered 1Password the best-of-breed for users of Apple products because of its incredible features and ease of use. If you don't use 1Password yet, you are in luck because AgileBits has a special offer for iPhone J.D. readers.
Why is 1Password so essential for everyone, and especially attorneys, to use? You need to use sophisticated, unique passwords for every service to protect yourself, and — for services related to the practice of law — to protect your clients. We are constantly hearing about hackers getting access to systems, and if you don't have a strong password, you may be the next victim. And if your passwords are not different for each website and service, then hackers who exploit a security flaw on one website might be able to get your password from one website and use it on other websites. This is not a theoretical concern; it has actually happened, many times, and surely you have read news articles about incidents like this. But there is no way to remember all of those strong, unique passwords without keeping them somewhere, and because we are talking about passwords that somewhere needs to be a secure location. Not only does 1Password create secure passwords for you and store all of your passwords in a secure app, it can also automatically enter your username and password on your PC, Mac, iPhone and iPad. Thus you get both security and ease of use.
Here is the pitch for 1Password that AbileBits asked me to share with iPhone J.D. readers:
Going paperless? Everything is moving to the cloud, from research, to document creation, to client correspondence. But when so much of your confidential information is online, your passwords better be up to the task. If just one of them is compromised, your whole practice is at risk.
1Password remembers all your passwords and makes each one strong and unique, so none of your online accounts has to be the weak link. With 1Password Teams, your whole firm benefits. Share passwords, documents, and important information without sending them over unsafe channels.
World-class security doesn't have to be a hassle — try 1Password free and see what it can do for your practice.
I recently described the new 1Password Families service that I use. It works really well. But if you want to share passwords throughout your organization, then maybe 1Password Teams is best for your company.
1Password is more than just passwords. You can store all sorts of confidential information in the app, and even if a third party has access to your iPhone, they cannot access that information. The app has built-in forms for credit cards, driver licenses, memberships, passports, Social Security numbers, software licenses and wireless routers.
The app can also store Secure Notes — similar to what you can do with Apple's built-in Notes app, except Secure Notes are safely stored within the 1Password app. Only you can access the app, either by typing in your master password, or by using your fingerprint. So if a client gives you some confidential information that you want to jot down, Secure Notes is the perfect place to put it.
And 1Password is always improving. Just a few weeks ago, 1Password added a Travel Mode function, which lets you erase all passwords and other information, except for a few items that you designate to keep in 1Password, when you leave the country. That way, even if someone gets access to your device, whether it be a criminal in another country or a TSA agent as you are coming home, all of that confidential information cannot possibly be accessed on your iPhone because it simply isn't there. Once you cross the border to return home, you can turn off Travel Mode and all of your confidential information is restored. This feature is smart and, given recent news, incredibly timely. It is a perfect example of how AgileBits is always taking additional steps to improve your security.
AgileBits knows how important security is for lawyers, so AgileBits is currently offering a special deal for iPhone J.D. readers. If you sign up for 1Password Families or 1Password Teams, you can now get unlimited and free use of the app for three months. That is more than enough time for you to kick the tires and see how the app works on your iPhone, iPad, Mac and/or PC and decide what you think about the product before you pay anything. Click this special link to take advantage of this offer.
Thanks again to AgileBits for creating and constantly updating 1Password, and also for sponsoring iPhone J.D. this month. With the special free three month offer, now is the perfect time to discover for yourself how 1Password works. My guess is that long before the end of the three month trial, you'll understand why I have been such a big fan of 1Password for so many years.
