KeePassX: Keeping Your Passwords Safe

The password generator is available by clicking the Gen button within the New Entry window (or from Extras→Password Generator). A box as shown in Figure 4 appears. This feature allows you to create a random, strong password. Three tabs are available within the generator: Random, Pronounceable and Custom. Under Random, you can select various criteria for generating a password, based on types of characters used, uppercase or lowercase and so on. Under Pronounceable, some similar options to Random are available, although the selections here are to generate a password exclusively or near exclusively with letters. Finally, under Custom, an entry box is shown, allowing you to type in a word or phrase to define what characters are used to generate a password. The bottom of the password generator includes several features, such as setting the length of the password, a password bit strength indicator and use of an entropy generator. The entropy generator creates a random set of data (based on keyboard activity or mouse movement) upon which to base generated passwords.

Figure 4. KeePassX's Password Generator

The Expire option in the New Entry window allows you to set a date indicating how long the password should last. This can serve as a reminder to change passwords regularly for extra security. To view which passwords already have expired, select Extras→Show Expired Entries.

To use a stored user name or password, KeePassX has two options: either copy the information from KeePassX and paste it into the required entry areas, or select the AutoType feature. To copy the information, select either Copy Username to Clipboard or Copy Password to Clipboard from the toolbar, or choose the same-named options under the Entries menu. For AutoType, select Entries→Perform AutoType while the browser is open to the desired login page; the information will be entered automatically.

Figure 5. KeePassX's Main Window, with an Entry Displayed

To lock KeePassX from others' use (such as when you step away from the computer), select File→Lock Workspace, or select Lock Workspace from the toolbar. To unlock KeePassX, select the Unlock button displayed, and enter the database's master password. For more privacy, an option also exists to hide passwords and/or user names. Go to View and select Hide Usernames and/or Hide Passwords. Asterisks will be displayed in place of the user names and/or passwords.

Figure 6. An Entry with User Name and Password Information Hidden

If you have multiple databases to manage, KeePassX also offers a bookmark feature. To bookmark a database file, select File→Bookmarks, and choose either Add Bookmark (to bookmark a database file) or Bookmark This Database (to bookmark the presently open database). The bookmarks then will appear under the Bookmarks menu. There's also a Manage Database option to manage existing bookmarks.

To import or export database files, go to File and select Import from or Export to. Import formats besides KeePassX include PwManager and KWallet. Export formats include KeePassX and as a text file.