Manage passwords with FREE KeePass password safe

Passwords driving you crazy? Do you forget your passwords often? More importantly, if you die, does you spouse has a way to retrieve all your passwords so he or she will be able to access your online accounts (bank accounts, retirement accounts, investments accounts, etc.)? Don't worry, now you can end your passwords nightmare and put your mind at ease with KeePass (http://keepass.info).

KeePass is a free, secure and easy-to-use password management program. I have been using KeePass for 3 years now and it has quickly became one of my absolutely must have tools. Google "password management" and KeePass shows up as the #1 link, you can rest assured its popularity.

I don't want to repeat what's already on KeePass web site so I will just dive straight in. Once you have KeePass install on your computer, create a password entry for a web site, go to the web site and then press 'CTRL-ALT-a' and KeePass will automatically fill in the user name and password for you. Sweet!

To safeguard your KeePass database, you can follow what I do, or however make sense to you:

1. Backup KeePass database file (with extension .kdb) monthly to a flash drive
   
2. Print out your KeePass database and put it in safety deposit box every 6 months (this I plan to do)
   
3. Share the master password with your spouse

Now if you die, your spouse has access to all your passwords. One less thing to worry about.

I also want to share some KeePass option settings I found helpful:

• Security - set automatically lock workspace after 180 seconds
• Security - lock workspace when locking windows, switching user or sleeping
• Interface (GUI) - minimize to tray instead of taskbar
• Advance - start and exit - Start minimized and locked

To deal with web sites with unusual login screen, KeePass has a scripting language which you can use in the 'Notes' area of each entry to customize your input sequence. Here is an example:

Auto-Type-Window-1: *google*
Auto-Type-Window-1: *yahoo*
Auto-Type-1: {USERNAME}{AT}mycompany.com{TAB}{PASSWORD}{TAB}{ENTER}
Auto-Type-Window-2: CNN*
Auto-Type-2: {USERNAME}{TAB}{ENTER}{DELAY 5000}{PASSWORD}{TAB}{ENTER}

Tips: First, it took me a while to find that KeePass doesn't regonize '@' character, you have to replace '@' with '{AT}'. Second, use '{DELAY 5000}' (meaning delay 5 seconds) to put a delay in input sequence.

With KeePass, you can now sign up as many web sites as you like and don't have to ever worry about forgetting your passwords.

I encourage you to give KeePass a try and let me know what you think. You can find out much more information on KeePass web site at http://keepass.info. If you are already a KeePass user, please share your experience, do you find KeePass useful?