Store passwords safely with KeePass

KeePass is a open source password manager that helps manage passwords securely. Passwords are stored in a database, which can be accessed only with a master key, key file or Windows account details. If Windows user account is used, the database can only be opened by the same person who created it.

Key Features :

• The database is locked with one of the best encryption algorithm, AES and Towfish. By default, the KeePass database is stored on a local file system.
• KeePass can be carried on an USB stick and runs on Windows systems without being installed.
• The password list can be exported to various formats like TXT, HTML, XML and CSV.
• KeePass can import from over 30 other most commonly used password managers
• A password database consists of only one file that can be transferred from one computer to another easily.
• KeePass can generate strong random passwords for you.
• Other people can write plugins for KeePass.
• KeePass is free and you have full access to its source code.

So lets start the tutorial :

( Each step is shown with a gif )

• Download Keepass from https://keepass.info/download.html
  

• Extract the downloaded file. We can use any extracting tool to unzip the downloaded file. In below gif I have used 7-Zip.
  

• Double click KeePass.exe to open KeePass.
  

• We now have to create a new database to store credentials and their details.

• To create a database select File > New
• This will open "Create New Password database" dialog box. Enter a desired password for the database. This is the master password.
• Click Ok
• Confirm by entering the master password again
• Click Ok
  

• To create a new entry in the DB, click on "add entry" icon () . This will open a new dialog box with several fields in it.

• Select a group from the available list of groups to store the details. In the gif we have selected "Windows" to store credentials for a remote Windows system.
• Click on "Icon" to select an icon for this entry
• Enter a title for the credentials in "Title"
• Enter the username in "Username"
• Enter the password in "Password". To automatically generate a random password, select the icon with three dots next to Password field.
• Renter the same password in the "Repeat"
• "Quality" shows the strength of the password
• If you have an URL for the credential, enter in "URL" field
• Enter description for the credential in "Notes"
• Select additional fields if required and click "OK"

The newly created entry is now stored in the DB.

• To check the entry, select the group in which the credentials are stored.
  

• Before closing KeePass we have to store the database file on the local filesystem. To save the DB, click on File > Save.

• Select the location where the DB file has to be stored and click "Save"

• Close the KeePass app.
  

Access the credentials stored in KeePass

• To access the credentials and its details, open KeePass app and enter the master key (created at the time of installation).
• Search the required credential.
• To access username, right click on the required credential and select "Copy UserName"
• To access password, right click on the required credential and select "Copy Password"
  

Conclusion

KeePass is a simple and easy to use Password Manager for Windows. The information is protected by a very high level of encryption. We have to remember only one master password to unlock a database that contains all your stored passwords.

If you have any questions, comments or have used KeePass before, I'd would love to hear from you in comment section.

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Posted on Utopian.io - Rewarding Open Source Contributors

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