10/19: OS X 10.4 TIger: Keychains and Security

I read the Nov 2007 Macworld magazine with interest because of the new iPods, iLife '08 and iWork '08. But the cover story "Secure Your Mac," is one of the best articles I've read in a long time. There is something for every Mac user in this article. Here is the link to the article "Lock It Up"

So, here's some more about Keychains. What is a keychain? Why is it important? What do I do if I have a problem?

Here is how Apple describes keychains in the main Help file on your Mac:
"About keychains
You can use keychains to reduce the number of passwords you have to keep track of. A keychain can store all your passwords for applications, servers, and websites; cryptographic keys and X509 certificates; or even sensitive information unrelated to your computer, such as credit card numbers or personal identification numbers (PINs) for bank accounts.
When you connect to a network server, open an email account, or access any password-protected item that is keychain-aware, your keychain can provide the password so you don't have to type it."

Importance: Your keychain saves your passwords for most any login (when you check the save password box), and if you forget your password, you can look it up in your keychain. This is why you must open Keychain Access and LOCK YOUR KEYCHAIN! You should also change your keychain password so it is not the same as your computer login password (especially if you have no password). Read the Macworld article for instructions.

Problems: below is the link to the Apple web site link:
Mac OS X 10.4 Help
Solving problems with keychains

LAURA