I consider myself a security paranoid. When I sign up with a site, I use a different password, sometimes even different username. Over the years I must have hundreds of account accumulated on the internet.
To help with remembering, I started with standard menonics, then use associations. Then I became more lazy started using standard passwords for sites that I don’t really care about.
Still, the problem is how to manage passwords overload ?
Let me introduce KeePass .
Many years (5?) back I found a program call Gator, the concept is simple - a program that stay behind the scene and remembers all the password and pops up when it is needed. It was like godsend. That was my first introduction to password management utility.
Later I found that it contains spyware and wipe it off. Since then I stayed off such program if it comes from a commercial company. Imagine, a program that saves your password spying on you. That’s the ultimate betrayal.
Anyway, after years of staying off password remembering softwares, I ran across an opensource version called Password Safe. I was skeptical at first but my guard lowered when I learned it was opensource.
One of the benefits of open source softwares is that the source is open for all to review. While this does not stop evil person from doing evil, it allows knowledgeable people to make sure the code is safe.
Truth is I am going crazy remembering passwords and I really need a tool, any tool.
Password Safe is really a simple program. The look and feel is not very polished and the interface need a little use to. But the show-stopper for me is that there is not support for Chinese.
Then I found KeePass.
Actually I found KeePass a while back. But a typical change-resister that I am, I was reluctant to learn a new software. Especially when I had many passwords already stored in Password Safe.
The reason for finally making the switch is unclear now. Maybe it was because I found KeePass listed as one of the top SourceForge project. Or it could be the nice website. The last straw broke the camel’s back.
First impression
Looks aside, the interface is a much welcomed change from Password Safe. The Tree-Content-Data windows layout on the left-right-bottom is well thought out. Very much like the familiar email client. Compared to in Password Safe, KeePass layout makes it very easy and fast to find and see data.
KeePass also seems to have more features and more mature. For example, in setting up a new password database, there is a very fancy interface to generate password from mouse movement!
It also allows you to keep notes and attach file to the account.
What I like about KeePass Password Safe?
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Auto-type feature.
Auto fill username password and the enter key with a simple key-stoke combination. Brilliant. -
Password generation. No more thinking of password, just generate and save.
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Opensource, no spyware
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Nice interface
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Good information layout
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I mention it supports Chinese? (and other languages)
Room for improvement
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Auto-type could be more accurate in determining username/password to use.
Chinese support
Entries and Notes can be entered in Chinese and display correctly. Chinese translation for the interface can be downloaded from keepass.sourceforge.net/translations.php.
Just follow the 3 steps instruction on the page to switch the interface language.
Where to get it?
- KeePass is at http://keepass.sourceforge.net/
- Current version: 1.05
- Function: Password management utility
Popularity: 12%
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