07 May 2008 |
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They say passwords are like toothbrushes - they should be changed every few months and should never be shared. I subscribe to slightly different view - just create a highly secure unguessable password in the first place, and store it in a safe place. KeepassX is a fantastic free tool for the Mac to help you do this - keeping all your passwords secure and organised. Everyone knows for the sake of security we should use different passwords and usernames for different sites, and complex passwords at that, yet it can be hard to keep track of them securely. KeePass is a cross platform initiative, so there are versions for Windows 2000/XP/Vista, MacOS X, Linux and PocketPCs. KeePassX is the Mac branch of the KeePass Password Safe open source software. The KeePass software enables you to store usernames, passwords, urls, attachments and comments all in one place. KeepassX is:
Copy passwords and usernames to the clipboard quicklyKeepassX is perhaps one of my most used programs at the moment. It is quite easy to commit a few passwords to memory for your most used sites - but when you are dealing with different Joomla installations, this can become impossible. It is also not always ideal to let your browser remember all your passwords for obvious security reasons. I normally leave KeepassX running in the background on my Mac, and either command-tab to it or use quicksilver (another piece of essential Mac software) to bring KeepassX to the front. Within two clicks I have my password copied to the clipboard, ready to paste into a website's login box. The program has a very neat, simple interface which allows quick navigation. By right-clicking on an entry, I am given the option to copy either the username, password or the URL to the clipboard, ready for pasting. Organise your passwordsKeepassX allows users to create groups which are collections of entries. For example you may have 'email' as a group, then Hotmail and Gmail as entries under this. It is surprising how quickly you can build up a large number of passwords. KeepassX provides an easy to navigate, intuitive way to organise your passwords. For each group you can chose a different icon, (there are around 30 to chose from), which facilities quick visual navigation. Here is an example of a screenshot of how the main window looks (image taken from KeepassX official site).
Store Passwords securelyKeepassX creates a database for your passwords, so they are stored outside of the program itself for increased security. Each database has a password (this one you will need to remember or write down elsewhere ;)), which you need to enter each time you want to reopen the database. For those that are looking for extra security, it is possible to use a key-file which can be stored on a USB memory-stick or on CD, or for ultra security a combination of key-file and password. For those interested in the technical side, KeepassX uses Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) or the Twofish algorithm and it is at 256 bit. Create more secure passwordsOne of the advantages of KeepassX is that you don't have to remember your passwords or scribble them down on pieces of paper, this means you can use more secure passwords. When creating a new entry in your database, KeepassX gives you the option to generate a password. You can set the length and type of characters included, and KeepassX will rate your password in terms of its security. KeepassX is a quick, intuitive and importantly highly secure way to store your passwords on your Mac, here at GoodWebPractices we recommend you use it! Comments (5)
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As a window user, I certainly recommend the windows version of KeePass which you can download here: http://keepass.info/ The windows version of KeePass is better than KeePassX because there is an "Auto-Type" function which automatically inserts the entry in KeePass for the website or application your using by inserting the following: |
