Keepass

• Background information: https://www.heise.de/news/Open-Source-Adventskalender-Der-Passwort-Manager-KeePass-6288780.html

Description

KeePass(X) is a tool to store and manage passwords. It is freely available for

• MacOS/Windows/Linux - KeePass: https://keepassxc.org/.

• Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kunzisoft.keepass.free

• iOS - https://keepassium.com/

How KeePassXC works

• KeePassXC create/open/edit/save password-databases in a single file.
• A password-database is basically an encrypted file, where you can store your various usernames/passwords/URLs and also attachments like pictures or other important / private documents.
• A password-database can only be opened if you know the Master-Password. The Master Password is the key to all your stored passwords.
• If you forgot your Master-Password, you cannot access your stored passwords anymore.
• Encryption -- either the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) or the Twofish algorithm are used for encryption of the database in 256 bit sized increments

• All features: http://www.keepassx.org/features/

Using KeePassXC on the Thinlinc terminals

• Start KeePassXC:

  • Ubuntu / Thinlinc: Applications > Accessoires > KeePassXC

  • command line: keepassxc
• You can use the same password database on different computers if they have KeePassXC installed.
• When opening KeePassXC with a database, you will be asked for the master password of the file.
• When a password database is open, KeePassXC "locks itself" after a certain amount of time. After that you have to unlock the file again with your master password.

• You can hide/view usernames and passwords by clicking on "View" --> "Hide Usernames" and "View" --> "Hide Passwords"

• You can right-click on an entry and choose "Copy Username to Clipboard" or "Copy Password to Clipboard". You can then paste the password. After a few seconds, the password is no longer stored in the Clipboard.

Creating a Password Database

• Click on "File" --> "New Database..."

• you will be prompted to set a master key. Input your master password (the master password for all your other stored passwords). Then click "OK"
• repeat your master password. click "OK".
• chose a group. (Standard choices are Internet of eMail. You can also create your own groups).

• click on "Entries" --> "Add New Entry..."

• Input the information you need
  • Title: a short description of the entry
  • Username: your username
  • URL: on what homepage do you need the password
  • Password: your password
  • Repeat: repeat your password
  • Comment: a longer description of the entry

• click on "File" --> "Save Database"

• chose a location and a name for your password database. click "OK"

Best practice: Sync Database via cloud

• Only use a cloud service if you need to sync your passwords over several devices.
• Decide on your own:
  • Pro 'cloud':
    • all of your confidental data on all devices.
    • creates automatically backups.
  • Contra 'cloud':
    • If your cloud access is compromised or the cloud service provider is compromised: the thief owns the treasure.

• US based cloud provider like Google Drive, Dropbox, Apple iDrive, Microsoft OneDrive:

  • Those services are very attractive to hackers.
  • The NSA has the right to get all data from US companies. After Snowden it's for sure, the NSA is not friendly.

  • Rule of thumb: Don't use US hosted / company based services for confidential data.

• Local cloud storage provider:

  • https://drive.switch.ch - Switch Eduction cloud service - switchdrive

  • drive.math.uzh.ch - I-MATH

• How to:

  • On all devices where you like to sync your KeePass database file, install and configure drive.math.uzh.ch

  • Open the KeePass database file on all of your devices directly from the cloud folder.

Browser integration / MFA Setup / Passkeys

• KeepassXC can be used from within a browser (Chrome, Chromium, Firefox, Vivaldi, Brave, ...)
• Browser connection to KeepassXC is nice: different browsers offer the same accounts/credentials - if synced via cloud than also on different computers.
• TOTP service (one time token).
• Passkeys support.

Finally: no more MS-Authenticator app needed, no more single device dependency, login to any MFA protected website without a mobile phone.

Activate Browser Integration