Using the KeePassXC Password Manager

Qubes OS comes with the KeePassXC password manager preinstalled. As outlined in our passphrase best practices, we recommend all SecureDrop users, including administrators, use the KeePassXC password manager to generate and retain strong and unique passphrases.

Template password database

To facilitate using KeePassXC to organize all the credentials needed for using and administering the system, SecureDrop comes with a template database with organized entries ready to be filled in.

  • Open the KeePassXC program KeePassXC in the vault VM

  • Select Database ▸ Open database, and navigate to the location of /path/to/Passwords.kdbx, select it, and click Open

  • Leave the password blank and click OK. If you receive an “Unlock failed” prompt, click Retry with empty password.

  • Edit entries as required.

  • Select Database ▸ Save Database to save your changes.

The next time you use KeepassXC in vault, the database at /path/to/Passwords.kdbx will be selected by default.

KeePassXC will show a warning every time you attempt to open a database without entering a password. Because your persistent volume is encrypted, setting up this additional password is not strictly required. It provides some additional protection, e.g., if a computer is left running, at the cost of convenience.

For passwordless access without warnings, you can protect the database using a key file, via Database ▸ Database settings ▸ Security ▸ Add additional protection ▸ Add Key File ▸ Generate. This key file has to be stored in your Persistent folder and it must be selected when you open the database.

After configuring the password database, restart KeePassXC once to verify that you are able to access it as expected.

Warning

You will not be able to access your passwords if you forget the full disk encryption or the location of the key file used to protect the database.

In case you wish to manually create a database, the suggested password fields in the template are:

Admin:

  • Admin account username

  • App Server SSH Onion URL

  • Email account for sending OSSEC alerts

  • Monitor Server SSH Onion URL

  • Network Firewall Admin Credentials

  • OSSEC Alert Public Key

  • SecureDrop Login Credentials

Journalist:

  • Auth Value: Journalist Interface

  • Onion URL: Journalist Interface

  • Personal GPG Key

  • SecureDrop Login Credentials

Backup:

  • This section contains clones of the above entries in case a user accidentally overwrites an entry.

As you proceed with the installation, enter the credentials you create in this database as you go.