Keepass Password Manager

I only just recently discovered this tool myself. Password managers have been around for a while, but some people still worry about how secure they are. I think password managers are invaluable to a user who has a lot of passwords and needs to use them multiple times a week. They’re even better for users who either don’t want to remember all their passwords or don’t have the ability to remember so many passwords. Utilizing passwords is a must nowadays. You most likely have different passwords for logins, emails, FTP clients, websites, and for access to important information. Sure, you can probably hit the "forgot password" link, but what if no such link exists? Then you’re on your own. With a password manager, things won’t get to that.Keepass password manager does exactly what it advertises. Protects all of your passwords and packages them securely into a database that can be password protected and protected with a key file as well. Best of all, it’s open-source and free. The databases are encrypted with some secure stuff, so don’t you fret. I’ve been using it for a couple of weeks now and so far I’m 100% satisfied with the results. It’s so easy to use and configure.

Keepass also has a lite version for windows mobile phones which essentially does the exact same thing. You can even install it onto a USB flash drive and use it on any computer. Currently, I have the program and database of passwords on my computer. The database is protected by a password and a master key file which I store on my USB. Without the USB and the correct key file, there is no way to open up the database and retrieve the passwords. Adding new password entries is pretty simple. After entering some basic information and saving the database, you’re good to go.

There are a few features of Keepass that I’m really fond of.

The first one is the ability to lock the workspace. With the program open and using Ctrl+L on the pc, the database is locked. All you can do from a locked workspace is close the program or minimize it to the tray. To enter the database again, you’ll need your password and master key.
Another cool feature I like is the ability to synchronize password databases. With the database open, you choose synchronize from the menu and choose a target database to save to. Useful! I synchronize the database from my desktop to the one on my USB using this method. That way it is always backed up.
The last feature that I really find useful is the ability to auto-fill usernames and passwords. Once you visit a webpage where you have a password saved in a database, Keepass will detect the form and with only a few key presses, automatically fill the fields in and press enter for you.

What a great little program! It’s powerful, easy to use, and a necessary tool in a developer or any power user’s arsenal.