Introduction
KeePassXC is an evolution of the KeePass password manager, which stores data in your local device. It can be used on the following devices:
- iOS devices - iPad, iPhone, iMac, Apple MacBook
- Android devices
- Windows OS computers, laptops and tablets
- Linux
App | Pros | Cons | Summary |
---|---|---|---|
KeePassXC |
|
| KeePassXC is a highly customizable and secure option that offers auto-filling passwords and syncs across devices with third-party tools. It's best for users who prioritize security and customization but are willing to invest more time in the initial setup. It also offers smart device applications and browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox and Edge. |
Key features of KeePassXC:
- secure password vault for storing user IDs and passwords (check KeePassXC Database Operations)
- Auto-Type (check KeePassXC Auto-Type)
- password generator for creating secure passwords (check KeePassXC Password Generator)
- two-step login (check Adding TOTP to an Entry using KeePassXC)
- biometric authentication (check KeePassXC Quick Unlock)
Recommendations
The University of Tartu recommends:
- export all passwords from web browsers before using a password manager (check Export and import passwords)
- when creating a password management software account, make sure you create a password that is sure to be remembered, but still secure (check KeePassXC Password Generator)
- do not use the same password in different places (check Stop using the same password on multiple sites)
Additional information:
Installation (Microsoft Windows desktop application)
- Open the KeyPassXC website (https://keepassxc.org/download).
- Click the See more options button and select Portable ZIP (64-bit, Windows 10/11) → Download.
- Extract the KeePassXC-2.7.5-Win64.zip file.
- Open the KeePassXC application in the unzipped folder.
- The KeePassXC password manager application will open.
- To install updates automatically, select Yes in the opened window.
Creating a database and making an entry
- On the home page, select Create new database.
- In the General Database Information window that opens, fill in the cells as follows:
- Database Name: enter the Database name
Description: enter description of the database
- Database Name: enter the Database name
- In the Encryption Settings window that opens, select the following settings:
- Decryption Time: 1.0s
- Database format: KDBX 4 (recommended)
- If necessary, you can also go to the Advanced Settings panel, where you can change the encryption algorithm, key derivation function, conversion multiplier, memory usage and parallelism.
- After making the settings, press Continue.
- Enter the database master password. You can also generate it by pressing the dice symbol next to the password cell. Then press Done.
- Choose the location C:\Users\<username>\OneDrive - University of Tartu\Documents, where <username> is the computer's username.
If necessary, rename the database to your liking and press Save. - The created database opens.
- Press the right mouse button on the white background or press CTRL+I on the keyboard and select New Entry to add a new entry to the database.
Then fill in the cells as follows:- Title: enter the title of the entry (we recommend writing the page where you use the entry here)
- Username: enter the username
- Password: enter the password (if necessary, the application will automatically generate a strong password to use)
- URL: enter the entry link (web address where you use the entry)
- Tags: add tags to associate the entry with (e.g. external web, internal web, etc.)
- Quality: check the strength of the password (on the scale red → green, where red means weak and green means strong)
- Expires: set the expiration date of the entry (if you add a checkmark, you can add the time when the entry expires, initially this function is disabled)
- Notes: add notes (you can add clarifying notes)
- Press OK to save.
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