This is an update of particular importance to 1Password users because it includes a fix for the Safari crashing bug we’ve seen with Safari 6, Mountain Lion, and our Safari browser extension.

As with all system updates, usual disclaimers apply here. You’ll need to make sure your other applications (and in our case, browser extensions) are up to date, and it’s always a good idea to have a backup of some sort before you click install, because you never know.

Fresh out of beta is version 3.9 of our browser extension, and boy it’s a doozy. We added support for multiple profiles to Firefox and Chrome, and domain matching is, as they say in the car industry, “all new,” except we actually mean it. We completely rewrote it to watch out for things like subdomains and international domains.

All told, we added over 20 new features, changes, fixes, and bits of TLC in this extension update, and you can read all the details if so inclined. As for how to get it:

• If you already have our new 1Password browser extension installed, your browser should update automatically, if it hasn’t already
• If you need to install our extension on Mac or PC (Windows Firefox users—your wait is almost over, promise!), just open 1Password’s Preferences to the Browsers pane, click Install Browser Extensions, and follow the instructions on the webpage that opens

We hope you enjoy the new extension, and let us know what you think!

This is a minor (and free) update that brings a few bug fixes and one key new feature: support for multiple browser profiles for Chrome and Firefox users. This has been a big request lately, and we’re happy to answer the call. We also improved a number of localizations in this release.

If you want to start rolling with multiple profiles in Chrome and Firefox right away, you’ll need the 3.9 beta version of our browser extension (we’re wrapping up work on it and hope to ship the final version soon). To opt into our beta extension, open 1Password and go to 1Password > Install Browser Extensions to open our extension download page. Click the beta option on that page and install any extensions you need. Alternatively, you can just wait a little bit and we should have the 3.9 version of our browser extension out soon.

Check out our forum for the rest of 1Password 3.9.4′s changelog, or just open Mac App Store to see the release notes and grab your copy.

Apple released its first big OS X update of 2012 this week, and it’s pretty big. It’s easier than ever to keep your computer up-to-date these days, but it never hurts to review good habits, especially when it comes to keeping your computer and data secure.

By far, the largest number of compromises of home computer systems is through vulnerabilities that the victims could have avoided if they only kept their systems up to date. If you want to see the numbers, take a look at Microsoft Security Intelligence Report volume 11 (PDF). While that report is specific to Microsoft Windows, the lesson applies across operating systems.

This is why I am reminding all Mac users of Lion (OS X 10.7) and Snow Leopard (OS X 10.6) to update their systems by using Software Update. For Lion, the security updates come as part of the update from 10.7.2 to 10.7.3. On Snow Leopard, it is a separate security update that does not change the version number. If you are still using OS X 10.5 (Leopard), please understand that Apple is no longer providing any updates, including security updates for it.

There are a large number of security fixes in the latest (February 1, 2012) updates, Security Update 2012-001. None of the fixed security issues directly affect 1Password or Knox, but as always, it is better to keep your system secure through regular software updates.

Automatic Operating System updates

On both the Mac and Windows you can set your system to check for updates automatically. On the Mac, just go to Apple Menu > System Preferences > Software Update and use the “Scheduled Check” tab.

On Windows 7, just go to Start > Control Panel > System and Security > Windows Update and then “Change settings” in the sidebar at the left. Note that the layout is slightly different depending on the version of Windows.

Keeping 1Password up to date

Naturally, you should also be keeping 1Password and its components up to date. If you are using the Mac App Store version of 1Password, then the App Store application will keep track of this for you. Just keep an eye out for a red badge on the App Store icon in your Dock or open the store every now and then and check the Updates tab.

If you got 1Password from our website, just go to 1Password > Preferences > Updates and make sure that you have things set to automatically check for updates.

Keeping the 1Password extension up to date

Back in the old days (before June 2011), the 1Password browser extensions came directly with the 1Password application. If we needed to make a change to, say, the Firefox extension we needed to release a new version of 1Password. Now, for all supported browsers on the Mac and for Safari and Chrome on Windows, we have a new spiffy browser extension. This extension is automatically updated through the each browsers’ extension management system so you don’t have to lift a finger!

This allows us to update the extension much more rapidly than we update the main application. It is also why the Safari upgrade to 5.1.3 that comes with yesterday’s Lion update and the release of Firefox 10 a few days ago do not require new versions of 1Password to be released.

Each browser does things a bit differently, so I won’t review their individual update processes here. Instead, take a look at our dedicated guide with step by step instructions for installing and updating the 1Password browser extension.

Make the computer do the work

Keeping software up to date used to be a chore, but more developers and more systems are working diligently to make it easier. Things like the Mac App Store along with automatic checking for updates within operating systems and individual apps lets you pass most of the work to your computer. After all, computers should be the ones performing the tedious chores. You do still need to supervise the computer in this task to make sure it gets done, though.

It’s hardly anything new or insightful to say that keeping your system up to date is one of the best things you can do for your security, but that doesn’t make it any less true.

Before we get wrapped up in colloquialisms, let’s tackle something a little easier: the new perks that both our Mac App Store and website customers can enjoy in a pair of 1Password updates we released. We’ve added the usual round of all-natural performance enhancements and polish (honest: AgileBits is a steroid-free company!). Mac App Store customers can check the “What’s New” section in the store, and website customers can check our version history page.

These updates are waiting for you, right now, up in the Agile Cloud. Here’s how to grab them:

• Mac App Store customers: Open the Mac App Store and go to the Updates tab
• Website customers: Go to 1Password > Check for Updates

You would be half right.

Our resident code architects somehow found time over the last few days to polish an update to our new 1Password extension for Safari, Firefox, and Chrome on Mac, as well as Safari and Chrome on Windows (Firefox for Windows support is still on the way for the new extension, but those customers can still install the previous extension from 1Password’s preferences).

1Password extension 3.8.9 gained some great improvements to Autosubmit (especially on sites like iCloud.com and iWork.com) and better mouse interaction. But there’s a big new feature too: “Import Saved Firefox Passwords.” As the name suggests, there is a new button in the extension’s Settings panel that allows you to import Logins from Firefox’s built-in password manager.

Now I know what some of you are about to ask: “So when will Safari and Chrome get this?” We can’t promise anything just yet, because due to the way those browsers stored your Logins before you installed 1Password, they’re tougher challenges. Rest assured, we’re working on it, so stay tuned.

Your browser should automatically update your 1Password extension to this v3.8.9 update, but you might need to check your browser’s extension manager to make sure automatic updates are installed. Here’s the full changelog:

New

Added “Import Saved Firefox Passwords” button in Settings to automatically import passwords from Firefox’s internal password manager.

Changed

• Improved Autosubmit algorithm, including websites like iCloud.com and iWork.com.
• Updated Firefox Add-on SDK (Jetpack) to latest version.Using “Helper” instead of “Agent” in messages shown to the user.
• Added the ability to disable unlock animations to work around a freezing issue in Chrome.
• To disable unlock animations, go to the Settings > About and click the 1Password icon to reveal the Advanced settings.

Fixed

• Logins within the All Logins section now highlight during mouseover and properly reveal the View Details arrow.
• Changed supported Firefox’s max-version “12.*” to “12.0a1″ to avoid being marked as incompatible.
• Password generator sliders in Firefox now update the generated password.
• Now properly filling Logins on sites that (incorrectly) use the same HTML element id for multiple input fields. For example, NAB Internet Banking.