KeePass

setup a new database

The database you'll be setting up will be an encrypted, passphrase protected database. You can get fancy by either using a keyfile or a combination of keyfile and passphrase. Start off with simple stuff first and play with the rest later.

1. After starting the program, click on the File menu then on New. This creates a new empty database.
2. You'll need to create a master password. Press the ... to the right to view what you're typing instead of those blasted dots or stars. Nothing more annoying than not knowing what you're typing.
3. Press OK button.
4. Retype your master password to confirm.

Now you're viewing the database. On the left side is a folder labeled General with categories listed inside/beneath. Click on a category you want to add password info into. There are different ways to add info. All of these do the same thing. Try them and choose the easiest for you to remember.

• Right-click in the right window pane and left-click Add Entry
• Click on the Edit menu then select Add Entry
• Use your keyboard and the key combo of CTRL+Y.

adding password information

1. Fill in Title. If this was password info for my Google E-mail I could type in GMail. This is so you can identify it.
2. Fill in User Name. This is the user name associated with the password. Continuing the GMail example, if I go to the GMail Web site I need to fill in a user name and a password. If my GMail user name is Biff_McGurk I'd fill in this line with Biff_McGurk.
3. The next line down is the Password field. There will probably be a pre-generated password. Just delete what is already there. Type in the password associated with the account. I would type in the password I use to log into GMail with the user name of Biff_McGurk.
4. Next is the line labeled Repeat. Erase the pre-generated password and type in your password again.
5. The Quality bar dictates how good the password is based upon complexity. You may notice that the bits number is larger depending upon characters and the order they are used. A passphrase that goes into the green and has a high bit number is good.
6. The URL line is the Web site address associated with the password info. I'd fill in http://mail.google.com/ since that is the Web page address to go to for GMail.
7. The Notes box is for any personal notes about the password info.
8. The Expires checkbox is useful if the password is required to be changed on a regular basis.
9. Click the OK button when done.

Web browser integration

The simplest form of integration is drag-n-drop. Drag your user name from the password listing and drop on the user name field in the Web page form. Do the same for your password.

If you want to make it really interesting then try this:

1. From within KeePass select one of your Web site login entries. I have one set up for my GMail account.
2. Double-click on the URL field for the entry. The Web site should open in your default Web browser. In my case it opens http://mail.google.com/ in Firefox.
3. Switch back to the KeePass window. You can use the ALT+TAB keyboard combo if you like.
4. Right-click on the database entry you used from step 2. In the menu that appears click on Perform Auto-Type. The keyboard combo of CTRL+V will also activate the Auto-Type feature.

If you're paying attention then you'll notice that your user name and password were quickly filled in and now you're logged in to the Web site. For me it filled in my user name and password I use for my GMail account. Now I'm logged in and viewing my e-mail.