KeePass: Keeping Your Passwords Safe and Secure ... and Easily Accessible Keeping Your Passwords Safe and Secure Adam Stone
Here's a three-part test we like to use when reviewing freeware:
Does it work correctly, every time, without fail? (If not, go out and pay for something that does.)
Can you download it, install it, and set it up in less time than it takes to read this review?
Does it serve an actual business need? (If not, why bother?)
This brings us to KeePass, a nifty piece of password management freeware that scores well in all three areas.
How many passwords do you keep track of on a regular basis? Windows network logon, email, online banking, online shopping, regular Web browsing ... the list seemingly never ends. And while it's true that many sites today give you the option of storing your password for future use via the use of cookies and some browsers offer to recall and fill in passwords when you repeat a visit to a page, these helpful measures carry a certain security risk and are also highly unlikely to cover all of your password demands.
Many users are wary of such functions, and for good measure, especially in relation to sensitive information such as network access or financial transactions. Those who do use these automated features run an additional risk beyond the possibility of security breach — if the automated feature fails, will you be able to remember all the passwords?
KeePass will. An open-source "password safe," this freeware app allows you to store all your passwords in a single database that is locked with a single user-defined key. As long as you remember that single master password, you'll be able to unlock the database and access all passwords stored within. The KeePass databases themeselves are encrypted with the sophisticated AES and Twofish encryption algorithms.
The first question many users will have is in regards to the ease of entering and retrieving passwords in KeePass. First, simply run the application and open the self-created database file. Passwords in the file are quickly created and organized by category: network, internet, email, and so on. Passwords can then be accessed by category, or you can search the database to look for a particular password, username, site, or other text.
Users can also take advantage of KeePass's random password generator to create new and ultra-secure passwords. The generator will accept random keystrokes and can also incorporate mouse movements into the password generation process to make the password even more difficult to crack.
KeePass's database file can easily be moved from one computer to another, and the password lists can be exported in a number of formats, including TXT, HTML, XML, or CSV. And for those operating in the international space, KeePass can be translated into 12 languages.
