SPMUG 648 Keychain

What's that Password?

If you've ever entered a user name and password to enter a website such
as a bank, travel agent or the like, you'll have noticed a dialog asking
if you'd like to save this information in your keychain.

User names and passwords stored in the Keychain are encrypted and can be
read only by someone who knows your login password. (When you log in
using your password, the Keychain is automatically unlocked so that
programs you're using can get access to the passwords they need.)

Now, let's suppose you lose track of a particular user name or password.
(This isn't hard since, once they're in the Keychain, you rarely have
occasion to see them.) How can you find out what they are?

While the following procedure might not be of immediate use, following
along will help you understand what the Keychain does and how it does
it.

As an example, suppose that you need to find out the login name and
password that you used for Apple Product Registration when you first set
up your Mac.

Launch Applications/Utilities/Keychain Access.

If necessary, click the lock at top left and provide your keychain
password (which will normally be the same as your login password) to
unlock the keychain.

If necessary, click the "Show Keychains" button at bottom left of the
window.

Click the name of the primary keychain (usually "login" or your user
name).

Click the heading of the column "Kind" to group all the "Web form
password" items together.

Scan these for the one you want -- it's probably named
"register.apple.com." Your login name for Apple registration will be
shown in parentheses at right. (It's most likely your email address.)

Double-click this to open up an info window, and if necessary, click the
"Attributes" tab.

Put a tick in the box "Show password." You'll be asked for your keychain
password, which should be the same as your login password.

The registration password will be revealed. ~ Steve Cooper

AUSOM New