## Creating and Opening a Safe

Password Safe allows users to store all passwords in a single "safe" (password database), or to create multiple databases for different purposes (e.g., one for work, one for personal use). Each database is independent and can be moved and used on different systems, as long as the same version of Password Safe is installed. Databases are encrypted with an encryption key derived from the master password (the master password, however, is not kept in the database in any form).

If you are using Password Safe for the first time, press the New Database button. You will be asked to choose the name and location of your password database (the default, "pwsafe.psafe3", is fine). Afterwards, you will be prompted to enter a master password that is used to encrypt and lock the contents of your new safe.

### Before You Begin

Password Safe works very hard to make sure you password information is saved properly. However, Password Safe cannot protect against physical damage or loss to your hard disk, laptop or PC. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you make regular copies of your password database 'off-line', that is, to another PC or disk. This can be done manually, or by using a cloud storage service such as DropBox, SugarSync or JungleDisk, to name a few.

Another thing you might want to consider is arranging for access to your password database by relatives or co-workers if you are no longer able to do so. Password Safe has no 'back door' or 'recovery password' mechanism by design. This means that you are responsible for making the master key available to others under the appropriate circumstances. This can be as simple as a sealed envelope in a drawer or safe-deposit box, or a more elaborate mechanism such as splitting the master password and giving different parts to different parties.

### Create a New Database

There are two ways that a new database can be created. By clicking New Database from the Safe Combination Entry dialog when the program is started, or from the "File → New Database" menu once Password Safe has been opened. Using either method causes the Safe Combination Set Up dialog to appear.

Note: By default, Password Safe will show the database last used, and displays a combination prompt for it. If you use several databases, you can choose between them using the drop-down list. Alternately, you can type in the path to the database to open, or select it from a File dialog box by pressing on the ellipsis ("...") button. Once a database is open, you can change to another via the Open Database command from the File Menu.

### Virtual keyboard

To setup a master password in a secure way, you could use accented characters (e.g. on a German keyboard) such as ä, ö or similar. To realize the input of such characters, you would need a foreign keyboard. Such a keyboard is available as a virtual keyboard. This keyboard is then used to simulate all available foreign characters. The virtual keyboard can be shown by pushing the symbol . Foreign characters, that are not available at the physical keyboard, can be put in in this way. So you can build your desired master password. Even pieces of the master password can be built this way.