iCloud Keychain

Apple just announced iCloud Keychain, a new feature that will help users create smarter passwords that iCloud will remember and sync so it’s easier to login to your favorite websites and services.

The iCloud Keychain is a 1Password and LastPass competitor that will arrive with OS X 10.9 Mavericks.

In an era of complex passwords and heightened security online, users are often looking for more complex passwords that are unique for every website they use, but remembering those can be difficult.

iCloud Keychain syncs your information across iOS and OS X.

The new Apple iCloud Keychain can store website logins, Credit card numbers, WiFi networks and Account information, and it will sync them across all your iOS and OS X devices.

iCloud Keychain doesn’t just store this information securely, it also helps users choose more complex passwords, which means it is easier to keep your web information safe.

iCloud Keychain will create secure passwords.

Once the information is entered it will back up to iCloud and on to the user’s other devices including another Mac, iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

The iCloud Keychain service can also store credit card details and detect a credit card entry on a checkout page making it easier to buy online. Users will still need to enter their Credit card security code or CCV, the three-digit number on the back of the device.

This information is shared between devices connected to the iCloud account, but it will likely only work in Safari on OS X 10.9. It’s not clear if iCloud Keychain is an iOS 7 feature or if it will arrive earlier.

iCloud Keychain will remember your credit cards.

On top of passwords and credit cards, iCloud Keychain will sync account information and WiFi information to other computers so users will only need to enter complex WiFi password phrases once.

This competes with services like 1Password and LastPass which perform similar services. These third-party services, available today, may offer a leg up as they work across Windows and Mac, on iPhone and Android and across multiple browsers like FireFox and Chrome.

OS X 10.9 Mavericks will arrive this fall, and will likely bring this feature to the new MacBook Air, teased Mac Pro and other OS X and iOS devices.