How Does Keepass Encryption Work
First Steps Tutorial
A short tutorial showing you the basic usage of KeePass.
This short tutorial can tell you how to truly use KeePass. It describes only the essential usage, advanced features are covered on separate pages.
Developing a new database
The initial step is making a new password database. KeePass will store all of your passwords in this database. To produce one, click 'File - New...' in the primary menu or click the leftmost toolbar button. A window will be, which prompts you for a master password and/or key file. The database will undoubtedly be encrypted with the password you enter here. The password you enter here would be the only password you'll ever have to keep in mind from on now. It ought to be long and built up of mixed characters. Bear in mind that when someone gets your database file and guesses the password, he could access all passwords you stored in the database.
With this tutorial, we'll just make use of a password, not really a key file. Click in to the password edit field and enter a code of one's choice. The password edit control isn't limited in length, so feel absolve to even enter a whole sentence (just bear in mind that you will need to remember it).
KeePass 1.x Only
After clicking [OK], a second dialog appears, in which you have to repeat the master password you just entered in the previous dialog. This is in order to avoid accidental typing errors.
KeePass 2.x Only
After clicking [OK], a second dialog appears. In this dialog you can configure some generic database properties. For now, just leave everything as it is and click [OK].
Now you see the main window. On the left, you begin to see the entry groups. On the right, you see the actual password entries. The password entries are grouped together in to the password groups you see on the left. So, depending on which group on the left you selected, it'll explain to you the entries in this group in the best view. KeePass has established a few default groups for you, but you're absolutely free to delete them and create your own personal ones.
Adding an access
Time to store your 1st password in the KeePass database! Right-click into the right password entry view and choose 'Add Entry...' .A screen will pop up. In this window it's simple to edit your entry: enter some title because of it, an username, an URL, the actual password, etc. If that you don't need a few of the fields, just leave them empty. When you're done, click [OK].
You'll see your new entry in the password list on the right now.
How Does Keepass Encryption Work
| KeePass 2.40 | |
|---|---|
Installer for Windows (2.40): Download NowKeePass-2.40-Setup.exe Download the EXE file above, run it and follow the steps of the installation program. You need local installation rights (use the Portable version on the right, if you don't have local installation rights). | Portable (2.40): Download NowKeePass-2.40.zip Download the ZIP package above and unpack it to your favorite location (USB stick, ...). KeePass runs without any additional installation and won't store any settings outside the application directory. |
| Supported operating systems: Windows Vista / 7 / 8 / 10 (each 32-bit and 64-bit), Mono (Linux, Mac OS X, BSD, ...). | |
| KeePass 1.36 | |
|---|---|
| Installer for Windows (1.36):Download Now KeePass-1.36-Setup.exe Download the EXE file above, run it and follow the steps of the installation program. You need local installation rights (use the Portable version on the right, if you don't have local installation rights). | Portable (1.36):Download Now KeePass-1.36.zip Download the ZIP package above and unpack it to your favorite location (USB stick, ...). KeePass runs without any additional installation and won't store any settings outside the application directory. |
| Supported operating systems: Windows Vista / 7 / 8 / 10 (each 32-bit and 64-bit), Wine. | |
How Does Keepass Encryption Work
Using entries
You got the new entry in the password list now. Exactly what do you actually do with it now? Right-click onto the entry.
You have several options now. You are able to as an example copy the username of the entry to the Windows clipboard. When you've copied it, you are able to post it into any program of one's choice. The exact same works for copying passwords.
Alternatively, you are able to drag&drop fields into other windows. To see a good example of how this works, see this site: Drag&Dropping Fields.
KeePass can open the URL you specified. To do this, just click 'URL(s) - Open URL(s)' in the context menu. KeePass will become the default browser and open the specified URL.
How Does Keepass Encryption Work
Saving the database
It's time and energy to save our database. Click onto the 'Save' toolbar button (looks like a computer; 3rd toolbar button). As you're saving the database the very first time, at this point you need to specify a spot where you want the database file to be stored.
How Does Keepass Encryption Work
More
That's it! You've made the very first steps in using KeePass! Now you can have a go through the heightened top features of KeePass.
Passwords and Key Files: In the tutorial above we've encrypted the database utilizing a password. But KeePass also supports key files, i.e. you are able to lock your database utilizing a file (which you can carry around on your own USB stick for example). It even supports combining those two methods for maximum security.
TAN Entries: TAN entries are one-time passwords. Many banks are using TANs for better security. KeePass supports TAN entries, by making them expire automatically when using them.
Auto-Type: The auto-typing functionality is really a very powerful feature. In the tutorial above you've copied the username and password of an access to the clipboard. Wouldn't it be nice if KeePass would just type those strings for you personally into other windows? Wouldn't it be nice if you could define whole sequences of keypresses that KeePass should type for you personally? That's exactly what the Auto-Typing feature does: it sends simulated keypresses for you to other windows!
URL Field Capabilities: The URL field supports URLs of course. In the tutorial, you've learned that you can enter simple URLs into this field and KeePass will open the browser window for you. Nevertheless the URL field may do more! It really supports numerous protocols (not just
http) and supports executing Windows command lines through the cmd:// virtual protocol. The field also features a powerful substitution engine, replacing codes by other fields (username, password, ...) with this entry.Command Line Capabilities: You can open .kdb files by passing the filename to the KeePass executable file. But did you know that you can also send the password for the database and key file location on the command line? You may also utilize the command line to pre-select a vital apply for you.
Plugins (1.x, 2.x): KeePass features a powerful plugin architecture. In the event that you miss some functionality, have a consider the plugins page to see if you will find others that have already written plugins for this. Many plugins exist to import/export data from/to other file formats.
How Does Keepass Encryption Work
General information
When downloading KeePass, you've the option between 3 different packages:
- KeePass-2.xx-Setup.exe: A tech program for Windows.
- KeePass-2.xx.zip: A KeePass ZIP package (portable version).
- KeePass-2.xx-Source.zip: The origin code.
The installer and the portable version are described at length below.
The origin code package contains all you need to compile KeePass. It contains the C#/C++ source code and header files, resource files, sources for building the installer, etc.
Updating KeePass:
Each time a new KeePass version has been released, you can update your existing KeePass installation, without losing any configuration settings. The steps are depending on which package you're using (installer or portable), see below.
Translations must also be updated whenever you use a new KeePass version. You can find the most recent translation files here: KeePass Translations.
How Does Keepass Encryption Work
Installer program (KeePass-2.xx-Setup.exe file)
The KeePass development team has an installer, which copies KeePass to your hard disk, creates shortcuts in the start menu and associates KDBX files with KeePass, if desired.
Additionally, KeePass is automatically configured to store its settings in the application form data directory of the present user. In this manner multiple users can play one KeePass installation without overwriting each other's settings (each user has his own configuration file). The setup program must run with administrative rights, however KeePass runs fine without administrative rights once it is installed.
Installation:
To set up KeePass, run the
KeePass-2.xx-Setup.exe file and follow the wizard.Updating:
Run the
KeePass-2.xx-Setup.exe file. You do not need certainly to uninstall the old version first. Your configuration options will not be lost.Uninstallation:
To be able to uninstall KeePass, run the uninstallation program, that is accessible with a shortcut in the start menu folder of KeePass, or in this program section of the system control panel. If in addition you want to eliminate your configuration settings, you'll need to delete the configuration file in the application form data directory of one's user profile
Silent Installation:
The KeePass installer
KeePass-2.xx-Setup.exe supports command line switches for silent installation, i.e. the program gets installed without asking an individual for target directory or association options. The default settings of the installer are used.The
/SILENT command line switch performs a silent installation and shows a status dialog throughout the setup process. No questions will undoubtedly be asked though.The
/VERYSILENT command line switch performs a quiet installation and does not show a status dialog during the setup process.Destination Path:
The installer allows to choose the destination road to which KeePass is installed. However, when the installer detects an existing KeePass installation, it assumes that the user wants to do an update and thus doesn't display the destination path selection page; the old version will soon be overwritten by the brand new version. If you intend to move an existing KeePass installation to some other path, first uninstall the old version; the installer of the brand new version will likely then display the destination path selection page again.
Options/Components:
The installation options/components are explained in detail here: What do the 2.x installation options/components mean at length?.
How Does Keepass Encryption Work
Portable version (KeePass-2.xx.zip file)
The portable version may be carried around on portable devices (like USB sticks) and runs on any computer directly from the device, without the installation. It doesn't store anything on one's body (in contrast to the setup package, see above). KeePass doesn't create any new registry keys and it doesn't create any configuration files in your Windows or application data directory of your user profile.
Be sure that KeePass has write usage of its application directory. Otherwise, if it doesn't have, it'll attempt to store the configuration options (nothing security-relevant though) into the application data directory of the currently logged on user. For more about that, see this site
Installation:
KeePass does not have to be installed. Just download the ZIP package, unpack it with your favorite ZIP program and KeePass is able to be used. Copy it to a location of your choice (for example onto your USB stick); no additional configuration or installation is needed.
Updating:
Download the latest portable package of KeePass, unpack it and copy all new files on the old ones. Your configuration settings will not be lost (the settings are stored in the KeePass.config.xml file, which won't be overwritten, because KeePass ZIP packages don't include a KeePass.config.xml file).
Uninstallation:
Simply delete the KeePass folder. This may leave no trace of KeePass on your system.