Windows encrypted password and data store (DPAPI)
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Most users do not know hat Windows uses a unique user master key (GUID) for encryption of logins and other secure storage data.
Copying login database for Vivaldi and other Chromium-like browsers for a restore after installing a new Windows on a new PC or new Windows user account does not give them back a readable login database.
Some information on Windows Data Protection API:
- You Cannot Access DPAPI Confidential Information After Reinstalling Windows on a Stand-Alone Computer
- Windows Data Protection
- How to recover a Vault corrupted by lost DPAPI keys
- Recover Windows User Account Credentials
- DPAPI Secrets
- Reversing dpapi and stealing windows secrets offline
- Operational Guidance for Offensive User DPAPI Abuse
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Good stuff - make it a sticky?
Maybe add information about how users can migrate their passwords to a new system.
- Enable Vivaldi Sync and sync passwords to the new machine (recommended).
- Export passwords from
chrome://settings/passwords
and import on new machine.
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@Pathduck said
Maybe add information about how users can migrate their passwords to a new system.
- Enable Vivaldi Sync and sync passwords to the new machine (recommended).
- Export passwords from
chrome://settings/passwords
and import on new machine.
you mean something like this?
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@derDay said in Windows encrypted password and data store (DPAPI):
you mean something like this?
Yes. But it should be updated, and then linked from here. That page is hidden under tips&tricks for all platforms, and this page is very Windows-specific.
Also note that the password import/export is now gone from the list of flags, but the options are there at least for me so maybe they made it default.
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@Gwen-Dragon For users who need to export and import Vivaldi login database i suggest to read the thread https://forum.vivaldi.net/topic/14642/how-to-manually-backup-restore-transfer-your-profile-to-another-device
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@derDay but to import and export password does not work anymore.
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@carlosoctavio Please do not discuss missing flags in Vivaldi here.
This si only about the encryption for the Chromium login databases!If you need help to import/export passwords, please read my article Vivaldi 2.9 – Enable PasswordImport
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i wonder how many of this 4k vivaldi community are developers?
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@ingamx We have more than 10 developers.
Those who are interested read such list of background information.
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How restore passwords after crash system or HDD?
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@Inventer89 Restore Windows user and the SID
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/windows-7/ee681624(v=ws.10)?redirectedfrom=MSDN
Then you may recover the Windows encrypted data.
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