Managing access credentials

Key Moments

Password Safe in the Browser

Password Safe does not have add-ons a for the popular web browsers. Nevertheless, you do not have to laboriously query the data in the application and then transfer it to the web browser. Instead, you can save the usernames and passwords for the individual entries in Password Safe by clicking on the Copy to Clipboard button. The access data can then be called up from the clipboard in the browser whenever you need to fill out the fields on the website.

Conclusions

Local password managers make working with large volumes of access credentials far easier. The four test candidates all cover the basic range of functions for password management, but they focus on different target groups in terms of features (Table 1).

Table 1

Graphical Password Managers

	Buttercup	KeePassXC	Pasaffe	Password Safe
License	GPLv3	GPLv2	GPLv3	GPLv3
Functions
Available across platforms	Yes	Yes	No	No
Desktop application	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Browser extension	Yes	Yes	No	No
User guidance
Multiple archives	Yes	Yes	No	No
Multiple groups	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Free text input	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Data import	Yes	Yes	Restricted	Restricted
Data export	Yes	Yes	Restricted	Restricted
Password generator	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Auto-Type	Yes	Yes	Restricted	Restricted
Security
Cloud backup	Configurable	Yes	No	No
Encryption	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Adjustable encryption algorithm	No	Yes	No	No

Password Safe and Pasaffe are more suitable for home use, as they do not offer add-ons for common web browsers. Access data must be entered here specifically via the clipboard on websites. Buttercup and KeePassXC are aimed at professional users who want to save themselves typing in their web browsers. Buttercup additionally impresses with a modern, visually appealing interface. KeePassXC converts data to and from other formats thanks to numerous filters.

Despite all the simplifications made by these password managers, cautious users are still advised to keep records and backups of their access credentials to ensure continued access to protected data in the event of an accident.

Infos