Since the writing of this post, [1Password has added built-in Dropbox syncing as a feature][feat]. As such, the following information is no longer useful and is left intact for historical purposes.
[feat]: http://help.agile.ws/1Password3/dropbox_syncing.html “Sync using Dropbox”
*The following post was inspired by the recent postings of [Merlin Mann][merlin] and [John Gruber][gruber] RE: Why you need to be backing up your stuff as often as possible. If you haven’t, you really should give ’em a read.*
[merlin]: http://www.43folders.com/2010/03/15/yes-another-backup-lecture “Yes. Another Backup Lecture – 43 Folders”
[gruber]: http://daringfireball.net/2010/03/ode_to_diskwarrior_superduper_dropbox “And Ode to Diskwarrior, Superduper, and Dropbx”
If you’re as avid a user of the excellent password/login-storing app [1Password][password] as I am, you probably spend a decent amount of time trying *not* to think about what might happen to you if the application or it’s database were to suddenly go bad.
[password]: http://agilewebsolutions.com/products/1Password “1Password”
Ah, you’re probably thinking about it now, huh? Sorry about that. Like [the game][game], important data loss is not something you want occupying your brainspace, and yet there it is. Waiting. I come here not to terrifying you, though I may do that on purpose later if there’s time, but to help you out. You might not know it, but 1Password provides a daily keychain backup function from within the 1Password itself, and when melded to the also-excellent [Dropbox][dropbox] online backup and file sharing system, it can be made to automatically backup your 1Password database offsite, *for free*. Here’s how.
[game]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Game_(mind_game) “The Game. You Lose.”
## Get ‘Er Accomplished
**Prerequesite** Um, I am assuming you use Mac OS X and 1Password already. If not, you can pretend none of this ever happened. I won’t hold it against you. Much.
1. Download and signup for [Dropbox][dropbox]. Install that shit.
[dropbox]: https://www.dropbox.com/referrals/NTM5NDk1OQ “Dropbox”
2. Navigate to **Your Home Folder → Dropbox** and create a folder called **1Password**.
3. Open 1Password, and click **Preferences** in the **application menu**.
4. Click the **Backup tab** in the **preferences window**, and then the folder-selection box under **Backup Folder**.
5. Select the **1Password folder you created in step 2**. Click the poorly-named “Open” button in the bottom right of the window, or just hit return. Either of these will save you selection.
6. Click **Backup Now** to make sure it works. Wait a minute. If it works, 1Password will open a Finder window with your newly backed-up files.
7. Close 1Password.
8. Sleep the sleep of the just.
You’re welcome. Comments can be sent to *comments* at *the domain this post is on*, and cash gifts can be sent to [me right here][cash].
[cash]: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=RV6FE8J9JSGHE “Paypal Donation”