Using a Password Manager to Access Credentials

KeePass is a free password Manager that lets you access your password wallet in your browser, across different mobile devices

KeePass is a completely open-source password manager that stores all your sensitive data locally. It lets you control your password database and store it all locally. You can download and try KeePass from this month’s PCQuest DVD.

Method 1: Use KeePass in Your Browser

KeePass doesn’t offer a browser extension, so it won’t pop up and prompt you when you visit a login page. You could copy-paste or drag-and-drop your login information from KeePass into the appropriate boxes on the web page, but that isn’t the most convenient solution. To give your credentials automatically to your browser when it opens a specific site, you may need to tweak the auto-type settings in an account entry’s setting. Just add your specific page entry here.

Method 2: Use a Third Party Extension

There is also another way. Third-party browser extensions allow you to directly integrate KeePass into your browser. Use KeeFox for Firefox or chromePass for Crome. Other plugins and third-party applications can be found in KeePass’s plugins and extensions page. Such a browser extension will integrate KeePass into your browser, providing quick logins and one-click saving of new login information to your KeePass database. Unless you would like to keep KeePass entirely separate from your browser.

Method 3: Sync Your KeePass Data Across Computers

Now, what happens if you have access to multiple computers and you need to copy your KeePass database file. As a local application, KeePass doesn’t attempt to automatically synchronize these passwords via the cloud or move them to other computers. It’s your job to back this database and sync it.

The easiest way to sync this file amongst your computers is to place it in your Dropbox, Google Drive, SkyDrive, or whatever other cloud storage service you use. Your cloud storage service will synchronize it amongst your computers, and you can open the database file directly from the folder in KeePass. If you don’t want your passwords residing in the cloud at all, you could simply move the password database around on a USB stick.

Method 4: Access Your Passwords on Your Phone Through an App

To view your KeePass info from your smartphone, you’ll just need to move the KeePass database to your phone and use a third-party mobile app that can access it. Choose an app that’s compatible with KeePass databases. Android users can try KeePassDroid, while iPhone users can try MiniKeePass. Launch the app, open your KeePass database, and enter your encryption key to access, view, and manage it on your smartphone.