====== Using Your VA Password Manager (Bitwarden) Account ======

See also **[[quick_guide:bitwarden_create_acct|Create a VA Password Manager (Bitwarden) Account]]**

See also **[[quick_guide:bitwarden_mobile|VA Password Manager for Mobile (Bitwarden)]]**

See also **[[quick_guide:bitwarden_firefox|VA Password Manager for Firefox (Bitwarden)]]**

**Bitwarden User Basics Video**: https://youtu.be/sf8qa2HcKSs

https://pw.virtualarchitects.com

https://bitwarden.com

https://github.com/dani-garcia/vaultwarden

https://bitwarden.com/help/security-faqs/

https://bitwarden.com/help/emergency-access/

<note>We offer **free accounts for individuals** and **very low cost accounts for any size or type of organization**.  There is no longer any valid excuse not to use a password manager!</note>

<note tip>Our servers are located in the secure [[https://www.involta.com/data-centers/data-center-locations/arizona|Involta Datacenter]] in Tucson, AZ.  If you would rather have your account on Bitwarden servers, please support them! We thank [[https://bitwarden.com|Bitwarden]] and [[https://github.com/dani-garcia/vaultwarden|Vaultwarden]] for their fantastic free, open-source software!</note>

===== Why Bitwarden (Vaultwarden) =====

  * **Sync all your passwords** (and other data) across all of your devices
  * **Great web interface**
    * https://pw.virtualarchitects.com
  * **Browser plugins for all major browsers**
  * **Mobile apps for Android and iOS**
  * **Very Secure**
    * Your data is securely encrypted
      * AES-CBC 256-bit encryption with PBKDF2 SHA-256
    * **Only you can unlock the data**
    * Two Factor Authentication (2FA) Optional
  * Securely **store important files or documents**
  * Securely **send important files or documents to anyone**
  * Securely **store credit card details**
  * Securely **share private data with coworkers or family members**
  * **Emergency Access** Option
  * and much more

===== Three Ways to Use Bitwarden =====

You will probably want to **use all three methods** to make your life easier.

  * **Web Interface**
    * Easiest for managing your data
  * **Mobile App**
    * Always on you
  * **Web Browser Plugins**
    * Mobile or desktop

==== Web Interface ====

https://pw.virtualarchitects.com

This is a full featured interface to the system and is good for bulk management tasks.

You probably won't use the web page as much after you implement the browser plugins and mobile apps, but it's very good for performing organizational tasks.

==== Browser Plugins ====

If you sit in front of a computer, this is what you will probably use most.

You can also use the browser plugin on mobile devices.

Once you have your Bitwarden account filled out, you will probably want to **disable the native browser (Firefox, Chrome) password management functions and just use Bitwarden**.

==== Mobile Apps ====

Install the free Bitwarden app from your mobile app store and always have your secure bits of info on you.

This even works if you are temporarily disconnected.