How-To Guides

Set Up a Password Manager

Stop reusing passwords. Use Bitwarden or KeePassXC to generate, store, and auto-fill strong passwords across all your devices — free and open source.

Why a Password Manager?

If you reuse the same password across websites, one breach gives attackers access to everything. A password manager generates a unique, strong password for every site and remembers them all — you only need to remember one master password. The two best free options are Bitwarden (cloud-synced, cross-device) and KeePassXC (local-only, maximum privacy).

Step 1. Create a Bitwarden Account

1.Go to bitwarden.com and click Get Started.
2.Enter your email and create a master password. This is the only password you need to remember — make it long (a passphrase of 4+ words is ideal).
3.Save the master password somewhere safe. Bitwarden cannot recover it — if you lose it, your vault is gone.

Step 2. Install the App and Browser Extension

1.Install the Bitwarden browser extension for Firefox, Chrome, or Safari.
2.Install the mobile app from the Play Store or App Store.
3.Log in with your master password on each device. Your vault syncs automatically.

Step 3. Add and Generate Passwords

1.Visit any website and log in normally. The Bitwarden extension will prompt to save the login.
2.To create a new strong password, click the Bitwarden icon in your browser → Generator. Set length to 20+ characters with letters, numbers, and symbols.
3.Use the generated password when signing up for a new site. Bitwarden saves it automatically.
4.Go back and update old reused passwords one site at a time. Start with your email, bank, and social media.

Step 4. Use Auto-Fill

When you visit a login page, the Bitwarden extension icon shows a small badge with the number of matching logins. Click it, select your saved login, and the fields auto-fill. On mobile, use the Bitwarden auto-fill option in your keyboard or share sheet.

Tip: Enable Auto-fill on page load in Settings → Auto-fill for instant login on trusted sites.

Step 1. Download KeePassXC

1.Go to keepassxc.org and download the installer for your OS.
2.On Linux: install via your package manager (e.g. sudo apt install keepassxc or flatpak install keepassxc).
3.Install the browser extension KeePassXC-Browser for Firefox or Chrome.

Step 2. Create Your Database

1.Open KeePassXC and click Create new database.
2.Name it and optionally add a description. Click Next.
3.Set an encryption time — the default (1 second) is fine. Click Next.
4.Create a master password (a passphrase of 4+ random words). Add a key file if you want extra security.
5.Save the database file (.kdbx) to a secure location. Back it up!

Step 3. Add Entries and Generate Passwords

1.Click Entries → New Entry to add a login. Fill in title, username, URL, and password.
2.Click the dice icon next to the password field to generate a strong random password.
3.Click OK to save the entry. Repeat for each account.

Step 4. Connect the Browser Extension

1.In KeePassXC, go to Settings → Browser Integration and enable it.
2.Open the KeePassXC-Browser extension in your browser and connect it to KeePassXC.
3.KeePassXC must be running and your database unlocked for auto-fill to work.

Privacy advantage: Your database never leaves your computer. There is no cloud sync — you control where the file goes. For syncing across devices, use Syncthing, a USB stick, or your own Nextcloud.

Quick Tips

•Choose a master password that is a passphrase — e.g. "purple-dragon-river-octopus" — long but memorable.
•Enable two-factor authentication on your Bitwarden account for an extra layer of security.
•KeePassXC databases can be synced with Nextcloud or Syncthing if you need multi-device access.
•Use the Security Audit or Health Check feature to find weak or reused passwords.

Need More Help?

StarCaller Academy offers 1-to-1 sessions to help you set up password managers and secure your digital life.

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