Backing Up Keychains

[monkey man]

Not even sure if this is the right subject header, but what I'd like to know I'm doing correctly is copying the correct files to my "setup" backup folder. I don't want to confuse myself by even touching the "Keychains" app. I'm not even sure what forum account details are classified as. For that matter, what a keychain is, really.

My setup folder contains all the most important ones that appear to have been affected or used by my installed apps. I don't use Migration Assistant and have always simply dragged these folders as needed to fresh installs.

What I'd like to know is whether or not all my forum user names and passwords are backed up by my copying these folders:
User/Lib/Keychains and Lib/Keychains.

Any guidance will as ever be extremely appreciated.

[bayswater]

If you google "how to back up keychain", there are a lot of articles, and it looks like all you have to do is copy those files. I was surprised how easy it would be to steal someone's ID and PW info.

[amergin]

Those are the right folders to backup. And don't worry about "how easy it would be to steal someone's ID and PW info" as the files are all encrypted with your system password. Without this password the files are just gobbledygook. Obviously if you have a weak system password then the files are not very secure.

A keychain is a simple list of passwords linked to websites or other 'keys'. The data is stored encrypted and then the system uses your password to decrypt when needed. In your Utilities folder you will find Apple's Keychain Access app which allows you to create new keychains for your own use (you can put your bank details or anything else in here) as well as allowing you to examine and edit the items stored in the system keychain.

You may have heard of the popular app 1Password, this does more or less exactly what Keychain Access does but in an arguably more user friendly way.

[monkey man]

Thank you, amergin.

Yes, I've fired that app up out of curiosity and found it, predictably for me, confusing. This is why I asked about a simple drag-and-drop solution. I can delete old / unnecessary ones from within Safari, and I've not transacted (money-wise) on the web yet, so I don't think there're any other important "keychains?" apart from possibly eMail (is there one?) and the App Store, which I obviously haven't used to make a purchase at yet.

If you google "how to back up keychain", there are a lot of articles, and it looks like all you have to do is copy those files. I was surprised how easy it would be to steal someone's ID and PW info.

Yup. Did this many times over the past few months, Steve, but, as it has been in the case of networks/ing, my eyes glazed over and the subject became ever-more complicated the more I read.

This is why I resorted to asking here in the hope that one of our resident gurus'd be able to distil it somewhat for lil' ol' me. As long as I only have to copy those 2 folders, it looks like I'm set. Yay!

Thank you both; I really appreciate your input. Go Unicorns!