KWallet

The digital wallet ( wallet system or KDE Wallet) is password management and single sign -on solution of the K Desktop Environment.

Function

In addition to user names and passwords it takes, for example, on other form data and HTTP cookies. The data in central databases (so-called " digital wallets ", English wallets ) password protected with strong encryption and error detection saved. After one-time authentication using a master password programs like Google Chrome, Konqueror or Kopete can access and authenticate automatically when services or sites, for example. The user can specify that every access must be confirmed and prohibit applications to access. The " wallet " can also automatically after a certain period without access (timeout) or after the completion of all requesting programs and also be closed manually. You can create multiple password files for each user, the contents of which must be unlocked separately.

Technology

The data is stored as a QDataStream, encrypted with Blowfish and secured with a SHA -1 hash against damage. In the unencrypted header of the password file additionally MD5 hashes of the keywords are stored, under which the individual values ​​are stored. As a result, before the decrypt (ie before the user must be prompted for the password ) can be determined if the desired value is present in the file. The file format allows for future versions, other cryptographic methods.

Architecture

Wallet system consists of front and back end that communicate via D-Bus in KDE 3 and KDE 4 via DCOP together. The KDE Wallet Manager ( kwalletmanager ) is the front end which provides the user with a graphical interface to manage the digital wallets as well as an icon in the notification area, which also serves as a status indicator and communicates with other programs; behind it runs a daemon that handles all encryption.

Communication with other applications is also done via DCOP / D-Bus.

History

On November 4, 2001 first code landed in CVS - with code that was intended for an encryption filter for KOffice, which was never completed. In July 2003, began with a fourth redesign, with a lot of code and visible results emerged. On February 3, 2004, it was released with KDE 3.2.0.