Create a safe vault to store all your account credentials

May 4, 2015 06:14 GMT  ·  By

Nearly every dedicated online service requires some form of authentication just to keep your private data safe. Inevitably, this means another combination of characters that you need to remember.

The general excuse for stuff you can’t or forget to do is specific to our species. We forget, and so far there’s little that can be done in this regard. Luckily, your computer doesn’t get ill and forgets activities, nor info you provide.

In case you rely on passwords to access your data on a daily basis and don’t want to risk getting an account stuck or blocked because of too many wrong or failed attempts, you can use specialized applications to remember them for you.

Keeping your credentials safe

Step 1: Download, install and run KeePass.

Step 2: Go to File and select New to create a database.

Step 3: Pick a location to save the database. It can also be a personal USB Flash drive.

Step 4-a: Write down a password to access the database.

Or:

Step 4-b: Select a file to act as a key. It can be a photo or any other kind of file. You can also save it on a USB Flash drive.

Or:

Step 4-c: Use your Microsoft Windows account, the same you use to reach the desktop.

Step 5 (optional): Add a database name, description, and other security-related details for more safety, and press OK.

Step 6: Create custom password groups (i.e: credit card, social network, email, etc.), or use the default ones.

Step 7: With the group selected, right-click the empty space and Add Entry.

Step 8: Fill in all fields for title, username, password, notes, and press OK to confirm.

Note: Customization options let you attach files, edit colors for easy identification or make it expire at a certain date and time in case the account is temporary.

Generating a password

Step 1: Select the Tools menu and hit Generate Password.

Step 2-a: Choose the characters to be used, as well as the length. You can use the Windows Character Map to add custom characters.

Or:

Step 2-b: Generate using a pattern by writing down several characters for the application to create a random algorithm for new passwords.

Step 3: Switch to the Preview tab for examples. Copy the ones you need or return for further tweaks.

Step 4: Hit Ok, right-click the new list entry, and select Edit to fill in a new account with the generated password.

Note: The password generator can be used to create lists or triggered when adding a new account by pressing the Key button next to the password field.

Create accounts and generate passwords (3 Images)

Keeps stuff safe
Creating a new accountGenerating passwords
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