Over the last decade, the gig economy boom has allowed professionals worldwide to switch to freelancing and build a network of international clients.&nbsp;
According to Upwork, 1 in 3 US workers engaged in freelance work during 2020. Some of the most successful freelancers earn hundreds of thousands of dollars per year through platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, and Toptal.
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Does your company hire freelancers? How do you <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/should-i-share-data-with-freelancers">share passwords with freelancers</a>? TeamPassword is an affordable password management solution for small businesses, startups, and agencies to share credentials securely with team members and freelancers. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> today.
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<h2>10 Successful Freelancers</h2>
Here are ten successful freelancers and what they do. These freelancers have earned their place as experts in their given field with excellent track records&mdash;many have worked with the biggest companies in the world!
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<h3>1. Scott Luscombe - Graphic Designer / Shopify Expert / Website Developer / Copywriter&nbsp; - Canada</h3>
Scott Luscombe is a freelance graphic designer, Shopify expert, website developer, and copywriter from Uxbridge, Canada. He holds a degree in Illustration from Sheridan College and a degree in Marketing from the University of Toronto.
Scott has been a freelancer for most of his professional career and has earned over $500k on Upwork. He has completed over 311 jobs and worked&nbsp;10,956 hours!&nbsp;
Scott's work includes graphic design and branding, illustration and icons, copywriting, website design and development, UX/UI, and printing and packaging. He also provides freelance coaching and consulting. Scott is a Top Rated Upwork Freelancer currently charging $99 per hour for various creative gigs.
Some of Scott's most notable work includes designs for Coca-Cola, the Canadian Cancer Society, Nickelodeon, and Wallet Ninja (to name a few).&nbsp;
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<h3>2. Kathy Edens - Marketing Consultant / Freelance Copywriter - United States</h3>
<a href="https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~016177d19f0624c1a7?viewMode=1">Kathy Edens is a Top Rated Upwork Freelancer</a> with over $300k platform earnings! Kathy has been self-employed as a marketing consultant and freelance copywriter for almost ten years from her home in Ohio, United States.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Professional Writing and Psychology from Oregon State University, which she says "...helps me understand how to reach your target audience with words."&nbsp;
Kathy has ghost-written several non-fiction books on various topics, including social entrepreneurship, healthcare, real estate investing, and the cannabis industry, to name a few.
Kathy also writes web content, sales pages, email marketing content, case studies, white papers, brochures, press releases, and more. Kathy's rates start at $86 per hour for her writing and marketing services.
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<h3>3. Koen van Oeveren - UX designer - Netherlands</h3>
Koen van Oeveren is a freelance UI &amp; UX designer from North Brabant, Netherlands, with almost ten years of experience. Koen works with several design agencies in the Netherlands, designing apps, websites, and eCommerce experiences for many international brands.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
Koen holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Communication and Multimedia Design from Avans University in the Netherlands. Koen's <a href="https://www.koenvo.com/index.html">portfolio website Koenvo</a> was nominated for a <a href="https://www.awwwards.com/sites/koenvo-ui-ux-portfolio">2021 awwwards. Award</a>.
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<h3>4. Pascal Strasche - Product / UX designer - Germany</h3>
Pascal Strasche is a product and UX designer with more than ten years of design experience from Germany. He holds a Master of Arts in Interaction Design and a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design, both from HAWK University of Applied Sciences and Arts.
For almost a year over 2020/2021, Pascal worked as the sole product designer to design Con Cubo's SaaS tool that helps complex organizations visualize and manage teams. He's also worked with German steel giant XOM Materials to find product solutions to digitalize&nbsp;Germany's steel industry.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
In 2019, Pascal founded Product Design Resources, a growing archive of 800+ design resources, weekly updated for the design community.
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<h3>5. Paul Hunkin - Developer - New Zealand</h3>
Paul Hunkin is a freelance software consultant and developer from Tauranga, New Zealand, but currently living in Portugal.&nbsp;
Paul has over ten years of experience as a software developer with an impressive work history, including Google, NASA, InfoSys, and the Chinese aerospace industry leader COMAC.
He's worked with several early-stage startups designing everything from high-performance big-data systems to complex web applications to 3D rendering engines. He's also built a lot of the foundational code for independent games on Android.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
Paul is a Top Rated Upwork Freelancer with over $400k in platform earnings. His rates start at $120 per hour for software development. <a href="https://paulh.consulting/">Check out Paul's website</a> for more about his impressive portfolio and work history.
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<h3>6. Jana Galat - Writer / Brand Strategist - Canada</h3>
Jana Galat is a freelance copywriter and brand strategist from Ontario, Canada. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Management and Organizational Studies from King's University College and an Honors in Business Administration from Western University.
Jana has extensive experience writing landing pages, email campaigns, social media ads, and print materials and says, "I am obsessed with creating copy that sells..."
After several years of professional work experience, Jana went freelance in 2019 and has quickly built a reputation as a <a href="https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~01bfa17a48301876dd">Top Rated Upwork Freelancer</a> with over $70k in platform earnings. Jana's rates start at $100 per hour for copywriting and brand consulting.
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<h3>7. Kate H. - Logo Designer / Branding Expert - United States</h3>
Kate is a freelance professional logo designer and branding expert from Maryland, United States. Kate&nbsp;ran her own green wedding brand which she sold to mywedding.com in 2014, allowing her to focus on helping small&nbsp;businesses figure out what they want (and who they are) and translate that into design.
She holds a Master's degree in Environmental Management from Yale School of The Environment, and a J.D. in environmental law from Pace Law School.&nbsp;
Kate's skillset includes redesigning and updating material to make it easier to understand, building a consistent brand from a simple starting point like a logo, and creating unique logos that guarantee results.
Kate is a Top Rated Upwork Freelancer, and her rates start at $225 per hour. You can find out more about Kate on her <a href="https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~013ce73876c1c18126" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Upwork profile</a>.
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<h3>8. Marcos Rezende - UX designer - Canada</h3>
Marcos Rezende is a UX Designer from Ontario, Canada, with more than 13 years of experience. Marcos has worked in over 30 industry sectors for multinational organizations in the United States, Canada, Germany, and Brazil.&nbsp;
Some of Marcos' notable projects include apps for Ontario's COVID-19 dashboard, Urban Master Planning collaboration platform, and Reaction (kid's e-learning app), to name a few.&nbsp;
Marcos loves sharing his industry expertise with aspiring UX designers and regularly writes for the popular UX publication Career Foundry. Total recognizes Marcos as part of its "Top 3%" of global freelancer talent&mdash;a title given to elite freelancers in their given field.
We don't have access to Marcos' rates, but the best UX designers on Upwork earn upwards of $100 per hour. As a Toptal Top 3% freelancer, Marcos likely charges $200-$300 per hour.
<a href="https://www.marcosrezende.com/">Marcos Rezende's website</a> was nominated for the prestigious <a href="https://www.awwwards.com/sites/ux-portfolio-marcos-rezende">awwwards.</a> in 2021.
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<h3>9. Tanya Litvinova - UX/UI Designer - United States</h3>
Tanya Litvinova is a freelance UX/UI designer from New York City, United States. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Advertising Design / Communication Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology.
Tanya specializes in product, mobile, and web design as well as user experience flow, research, and validation.
"I have a passion to make the complex simple, shape behavior, design, plan, and strategize. Aiming for the best user experience, all the while balancing the needs of business and technology to create engaging, habit-forming digital products."
Tanya has worked with Fortune 100 &amp; Fortune 500 companies and successfully delivered business-transforming data-driven analytics, responsive BI dashboards, enterprise web apps, and management systems. Some of Tanya's notable clients include KOCH Industries, BlackRock Financial, BCG Group, and FireEye, to name a few.
<a href="https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~0165035041b26e96df">Tanya is a Top Rated Upwork Freelancer</a> with more than $200k platform earnings. Her current rate starts at $162.50 per hour.
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<h3>10. Guangming Lang - Data Scientist - United States</h3>
Guangming Lang is a freelance data scientist from Michigan, United States. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from New College of Florida and a Master of Science in Biostatistics from the University of Michigan. Guangming has also completed several Coursera courses in data science and machine learning.
Guangming has been a freelancer since 2013 and has worked across several industries, including fintech, trading, medicine, biotech, advertising, and HR.&nbsp;
Guangming is a Top Rated Upwork Freelancer with over $400k in platform earnings. He's completed 216 jobs on Upwork totaling 3,805 hours! Guangming's current rates start at $200 per hour.
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<h2>Secure Freelancer Workflows With TeamPassword</h2>
No matter how talented or reputable the freelancers and contractors you hire, your company must use secure workflows to protect your digital assets.
Freelancers often need access to shared accounts and tools. Using a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager</a> is the first step to securing these accounts and platforms. You can also use a password manager to share credentials with employees, clients, and other stakeholders to ensure you never expose raw passwords via email, spreadsheets, chat apps, and other non-secure methods.
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a> lets you create groups to share access with only those who need it. When they're done, revoke access with a single click. No need to change passwords every time someone leaves the team.
If you do need to change a password, TeamPassword's built-in <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">password generator</a> lets you create secure passwords between 12-32 characters using numbers, letters (uppercase/lowercase), and symbols.
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Ready to onboard clients and freelancers securely with TeamPassword's robust <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password management solution</a>? <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a free trial</a> to secure your company's digital assets today!

Here are ten successful freelancers and what they do. These freelancers have earned their place as experts in their given field.

Here are ten successful freelancers and what they do. These freelancers have earned their place as experts in ...

10 extremely successful freelancers and what they do

Here are ten successful freelancers and what they do. These freelancers have earned their place as experts in their given field with excellent track records—many have worked with the biggest companies in the world!

One of the top tips for password creation is to make a complex password with a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols that would be difficult to guess. However, the most secure password doesn't stand a chance if anyone on your team falls prey to something called <a href="https://www.csoonline.com/article/2124681/what-is-social-engineering.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">social engineering</a>. There are several social engineering tactics that fool employees into giving out sensitive company information, including passwords to your business's most important assets.
<h2>What is Social Engineering, Exactly?</h2>
With this tactic, fraudsters use psychology against their targets to gain access to information or physical spaces. In opposition to hacking, it uses actual interaction rather than technical skill to get access to the desired information. One might simply call it manipulation or trickery. Scammers usually use either a threat or some kind of reward to trick people into giving them what they want.
<h2>Types of Social Engineering</h2>
<h3>Phishing</h3>
<a href="https://www.csoonline.com/article/2117843/what-is-phishing-how-this-cyber-attack-works-and-how-to-prevent-it.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The phishing scheme</a> has been around since the beginning of the internet. Phishers send out e-mails that appear to be from a legitimate institution, like your bank or even your employer. They try to appear trustworthy - using the same branding.&amp; graphics as the business they are trying to copy. They use this trust to try to get you to give them information like passwords or essential data. Sometimes, phishing attempts try to get users to click a link or download a file that will then install a virus. However, many times they just try to get the user to tell them the information.
The word phishing sounds just like fishing, because that's basically what it is. Hackers put out thousands of lines and see who bites.
<h3>Spear Phishing</h3>
<a href="https://www.csoonline.com/article/3334617/what-is-spear-phishing-why-targeted-email-attacks-are-so-difficult-to-stop.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Spear phishing</a> is basically the same as phishing. However, in regular phishing, hackers send out thousands of untargeted e-mails. Even if just a few people bite, they may still get a big payout. With spear phishing, hackers heavily research one targeted victim, usually an executive or someone with a high profile.
<h3>Vishing</h3>
<a href="https://www.csoonline.com/article/3411439/smishing-and-vishing-how-these-cyber-attacks-work-and-how-to-prevent-them.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vishing</a> brings together the words "voice" and "phishing." It is a phishing attempt that happens via a phone call. One common example these days is a call from the "IRS" stating that you're in big trouble in the taxes department. Then they ask for your social security number. However, there are many different types of vishing calls one may receive.
<h3>Smishing</h3>
Put together "SMS" and "phishing" and you've got smishing. It is a phishing attempt performed via text message. Scammers use similar tactics as they do in e-mail and voice attempts. They may send a link to the victim's phone to receive a prize, or track a fake package. When the user clicks on the link, they may be brought to a page that asks them to put in sensitive information or simply a payment method that will then be charged.
<h3>In Person Attempts</h3>
Most of these types of attacks are performed online these days. However, they can also be done in person. It may be as simple as someone holding a heavy package asking you to hold the door for them to gain access to a restricted space. Most people have been taught to be nice and hold doors for people holding heavy objects, and these social engineers exploit that quality. In-person social engineers may also try to impersonate someone trustworthy, going as far as getting the right uniform or badge, and doing a lot of research to sound like they are who they say they are.
<h2>How to Help Employees Avoid Social Engineering</h2>
This all sounds scary, right? Con artists are very skilled at gaining access to information, and there are so many attempts performed daily. Luckily, there are ways to reduce the likelihood of a social engineering attack exposing your passwords and company data.
<h3>In-Person Training</h3>
You can bring a trainer into the office for a day of education. This type of class will teach your teams what to look for to verify that messages, calls, and e-mails are from who they say they are. They will also teach employees what type of information they should never give out. Social engineering training may also give your colleagues an idea of what an in-person attempt might look like.
<h3>Online Classes</h3>
Online training reaches the same goal as in-person, except employees can do it on their own time. It doesn't take away a whole day from the business, and workers can break it up into smaller chunks to absorb the information in a way that best suits their learning style.
<h3>Testing</h3>
After training, an important component of social engineering training is testing. You can hire a specialist to send out e-mails, messages, or phone calls to employees to see if they have absorbed the lessons. Once the testing is complete, the specialist will go over the results with you and your team, and see where the weak points are, to help avoid the same mistakes in the future when a real attempt occurs.
<h2>Why It's Worth It?</h2>
This type of hack has led to some expensive mistakes. In 2016, Hillary Clinton's e-mail account famously got exposed through a <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-phishing-email-that-hacked-the-account-of-john-podesta/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spear phishing scheme performed on John Podesta</a>, the campaign's chairman. More recently, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/twitter-breach-exposes-one-tech-s-biggest-threats-its-own-n1234076" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter had a huge breach</a> in which someone took over several high profile accounts, including those belonging to Elon Musk &amp; Joe Biden, to send messages to get people to send them Bitcoin. It was revealed that this breach happened because access to Twitter's "God mode" was gained through social engineering.
The average cost of a successful phishing attack on a <a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2019/07/phishing-statistics.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">small business is over $50,000</a>. Nearly 1% of all e-mails sent are phishing attempts. As these attempts get more sophisticated, more and more of them break past spam filters, exposing your employees to scammers no matter how secure they make their passwords. Using a secure password manager like Team Password is just one way to reduce risk of a breach. Make sure to also inform your teams about social engineering so your information stays safer.
<h2>Are You Protecting your Passwords and your Team?</h2>
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<a href="https://www.teampassword.com/">TeamPassword</a>&nbsp;is here to protect and defend you from these types of cyber attacks. Our simple, secure password manager, designed from the ground up with security and best in-class encryption in mind can protect your company from data breaches and your passwords from hackers. For training and other cybersecurity needs, check out our partner <a href="https://strontium.io/" rel="follow">Strontium.io</a>.
Get TeamPassword today!&nbsp;<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=bcms#signup/testimonial" rel="follow">Try our free 14-day trial.</a>
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Learn how hackers use social engineering rather than technical skill to get access to critical information.

One of the top tips for password creation is to make a complex password with a combination of ...

Your Passwords Are Only As Secure As Your Teams

One of the top tips for password creation is to make a complex password with a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols that would be difficult to guess. However, the most secure password doesn't stand a chance if anyone on your team falls prey to something called social engineering . ..

The world ground to a halt this spring, but that didn't stop the cybercriminals who capitalized on the pandemic. As businesses closed their doors, and more people worked from home, these criminals exploited the coronavirus &mdash; and passwords were their biggest target. Now, as the world slowly reopens, the World Economic Forum (WEF) is making the case for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/04/covid-19-is-a-reminder-that-its-time-to-get-rid-of-passwords/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">identity and access management tools</a>&nbsp;that improve security, increase usability, and lower costs.
 
The world has changed these last few months, and now businesses have to manage two threats: A new health emergency and an ongoing cybercrime crisis. One in four organizations predicts that more than&nbsp;<a href="https://cio.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/corporate-news/70-firms-see-half-of-their-workforce-to-be-digital-post-covid-19-survey/76504261" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">80 percent</a>&nbsp;of their workforce will be "digital" post-COVID, so companies need to utilize password authentication technologies to implement successful and seamless work-from-home programs.&nbsp;
 
<h2>Cybercrime During a Pandemic</h2>
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Cybercrime has always been a significant threat to business owners. Before COVID, experts predicted that cybercrime would cost&nbsp;<a href="https://cybersecurityventures.com/hackerpocalypse-cybercrime-report-2016" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">$6 trillion worldwide</a>&nbsp;every year by 2021, while the average cost of a data breach totaled an estimated&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ibm.com/2019-07-23-IBM-Study-Shows-Data-Breach-Costs-on-the-Rise-Financial-Impact-Felt-for-Years" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">$3.92 million</a>. Business leaders believed cybersecurity risks were on the rise, with data theft and cyberattacks among the top 10 biggest risks for CEOs in the short- and long-term, according to the WEF's 2020&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wef.ch/risks20" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Global Risks Report</a>.
 
Post-COVID, the problem has got worse. It seems nothing stops cybercriminals. Certainly not even a global health crisis.&nbsp;
 
<ul>
<li>In Germany, fraudsters launched a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tripwire.com/state-of-security/food-delivery-website-in-germany-targeted-by-ddos-attackers" target="_blank" rel="follow noopener">DDoS attack against a German online food delivery app</a>&nbsp;that services 15,000 restaurants. The attack affected thousands of customers who relied on the app after the German government implemented stay-at-home orders.&nbsp;</li>
<li>In the United States, the amount of cybercrime escalated, with many fraudsters targeting&nbsp;<a href="https://www.itproportal.com/news/cybercriminals-double-down-on-covid-19-attacks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stimulus checks and relief payments</a>.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Technologies like Zoom, which have increased in popularity over the last few months,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tomsguide.com/uk/news/zoom-security-privacy-woes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">could have significant security weaknesses</a>.</li>
<li>"Cyberthreats are constantly evolving in order to take advantage of online behavior and trends. The COVID-19 outbreak is no exception,"&nbsp;<a href="https://www.interpol.int/en/Crimes/Cybercrime/COVID-19-cyberthreats" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">says Interpol</a>.</li>
</ul>
 
During this crisis, passwords have been extremely vulnerable to cyberattacks. Research shows that&nbsp;criminally-funded attacks on passwords around the world have increased by a massive&nbsp;<a href="https://www.defenceonline.co.uk/2020/05/07/covid-19-passwords-weak-link-video-conferencing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">667 percent</a>. It's no wonder, then, that the WEF is urging businesses of all sizes to take action now and implement "<a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/04/covid-19-is-a-reminder-that-its-time-to-get-rid-of-passwords/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">critical applications that will streamline productivity and collaboration while enhancing security</a>."
 
Recommended reading:&nbsp;<a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/6-steps-to-using-a-team-password-manager-for-your-small-business" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">6 Steps to Using a Team Password Manager for Your Small Business</a>
 
<h2>Why the Problem Will Get Even Worse</h2>
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/4xuiCliRDCZTiQNuvG6k" width="598" height="399" />
 
 
With government restrictions still in place and millions of people working from home, cybercriminals will continue to exploit the pandemic. The problem is, many workers at home lack the infrastructure and critical programs that protect data, which creates new opportunities for cybercriminals who want to steal passwords and other sensitive information.&nbsp;&nbsp;
 
"The increased numbers of employees working remotely presents an opportunity for cybercriminals,"&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/04/cybercriminals-are-exploiting-the-covid-19-crisis/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">says the WEF</a>. "Companies must be vigilant and maintain proper controls on their data and finances. Leaders, IT departments, and staff must work together to prevent vulnerabilities."
 
The WEF hopes that new password technologies will allow businesses to scale and integrate various business processes as the world recovers from the economic fallout of COVID-19. In particular, the organization recommends password management technologies that support widely-accepted security protocols such as Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML).&nbsp;
 
Recommended reading:&nbsp;<a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/why-all-businesses-should-use-a-team-password-manager" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Why All Businesses Should Use A Team Password Manager</a>
 
<h2>The Benefits of Password Management Post-COVID</h2>
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/nM0kbX8RD60p3UJnSvOs" width="684" height="456" />
Unfortunately, cybercriminals show no signs of slowing down. Incorporating password management technologies into your organization might sound like an unnecessary expense, especially during the current economic climate, but doing this could provide you with a significant return on your investment.&nbsp;
 
Here are some of the benefits of team password management tools:
 
Share logins/passwords
 
If you want to successfully implement work-from-home programs, employees need quick access to data and programs. This is where a good team password manager comes in. Employees can use these tools to share logins and passwords safely without compromising personal and sensitive information. This way, you can encourage collaboration and protect data at the same time.&nbsp;
 
Protect your information
 
With so many password breaches over the last few months, you need to crank up your security credentials. A secure password manager controls access to your valuable assets, so only the people you trust can view, edit, and share information.&nbsp;
 
Save time
 
Research shows that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.digitalinformationworld.com/2019/12/new-password-study-finds-78-of-people-had-to-reset-a-password-they-forgot-in-past-90-days.html#:~:text=Study%3A%2078%20Percent%20People%20Forget%20Their,And%20Then%20Go%20For%20Reset!&amp;text=It%20won't%20be%20wrong,these%20days%20rely%20on%20passwords." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">78 percent</a>&nbsp;of people forget their passwords, and this can slow down business operations significantly. A password manager keeps passwords safe so employees can access information when they need it.&nbsp;
 
Recommended reading:&nbsp;<a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/the-risks-of-storing-your-passwords-in-google-sheets" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Risks of Storing Your Passwords in Google Sheets</a>
 
<h2>How are Cybercriminals Stealing Passwords During COVID-19?</h2>
 
Cybercriminals steal passwords in a variety of ways, but the increase of remote work programs during the pandemic has made it easier for them. When employees work from home, passwords are more vulnerable to cybercriminals because of the following reasons:
 
<ul>
<li>Employees might not change their passwords as frequently as they would in the office. Home devices might not utilize password "time out" technologies or other security features.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Employees might use passwords that aren't strong enough. Passwords might not contain enough characters, upper and lower case letters, numbers, etc.</li>
<li>Employees might use computer systems or mobile devices with security vulnerabilities or without proper protection.</li>
<li>Managers aren't around to encourage employees to strengthen password security.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
 
Recommended reading:&nbsp;<a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/are-your-passwords-hacker-proof-a-checklist-to-help-you-decide" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Are Your Passwords Hacker-Proof? A Checklist to Help You Decide</a>.
 
<h2>Final Word</h2>
 
Despite a global health and economic crisis, cybercriminals are still causing destruction. Passwords, in particular, are vulnerable to fraudsters, who will go to any length to steal your company's valuable data. As you open up (or adapt) your business in response to the coronavirus pandemic, investing in a team password manager will keep your sensitive information safe.&nbsp;
 
TeamPassword helps you safeguard access to apps, services, and tools in your organization during the current crisis and beyond.&nbsp;<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=bcms#signup/testimonial" target="_blank" rel="follow noopener">Click here to sign up for a 14-day free trial</a>.&nbsp;

The world ground to a halt this spring, but that didn't stop the cybercriminals who capitalized on the pandemic.

The world ground to a halt this spring, but that didn't stop the cybercriminals who capitalized on the ...

Best Practices for Managing Passwords During COVID

The world ground to a halt this spring, but that didn't stop the cybercriminals who capitalized on the pandemic. As businesses closed their doors, and more people worked from home, these criminals exploited the coronavirus — and passwords were their biggest target. Now, as the world slowly reopens, the ...

Why Businesses Should Implement Password Management Technologies Post-COVID

<div>
<div>
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<p aria-label="Paragraph block" role="textbox" class="block-editor-block-list__block wp-block rich-text block-editor-rich-text__editable wp-block" aria-multiline="true" id="block-ae08535a-5406-4db1-9108-ac07fa0e45b9" data-block="ae08535a-5406-4db1-9108-ac07fa0e45b9" data-type="core/paragraph" data-title="Paragraph" tabindex="0">Over the last few years you&rsquo;ve probably heard all about the importance of using strong, unique passwords for your online accounts. But have you actually practiced doing so? Perhaps you aren&rsquo;t worried about a data breach or hackers targeting you, because they only go after big companies, right?
<p aria-label="Paragraph block" role="textbox" class="block-editor-block-list__block wp-block rich-text block-editor-rich-text__editable wp-block" aria-multiline="true" id="block-fabcb0f2-7527-4822-8d0e-1508978351be" data-block="fabcb0f2-7527-4822-8d0e-1508978351be" data-type="core/paragraph" data-title="Paragraph" tabindex="0">Wrong. Very wrong. In fact, cybercriminals target thousands of small businesses and individuals on a daily basis. But whether you&rsquo;re running a Fortune 500 company, a small business, or if you&rsquo;re an entrepreneur or a contractor working from a home office, there is one thing all cybersecurity experts recommend and agree on &mdash; using unique passwords for all online accounts.
<p aria-label="Paragraph block" role="textbox" class="block-editor-block-list__block wp-block rich-text block-editor-rich-text__editable wp-block" aria-multiline="true" id="block-0a7d4c38-7a82-4007-a4e6-674df18ea6a9" data-block="0a7d4c38-7a82-4007-a4e6-674df18ea6a9" data-type="core/paragraph" data-title="Paragraph" tabindex="0">A strong, unique password is a strong deterrent to cybercriminals, but unfortunately, many organizations still fail to encourage their use. The main hindrance is that it can be difficult to remember different strings of random letters and numbers for the multitude of accounts we all have. It&rsquo;s so much easier to simply use a few words or a phrase that&rsquo;s easy to remember, for each and every account.
<p aria-label="Paragraph block" role="textbox" class="block-editor-block-list__block wp-block rich-text block-editor-rich-text__editable wp-block" aria-multiline="true" id="block-7e0609ae-b7cb-4007-9428-9f024dfc1445" data-block="7e0609ae-b7cb-4007-9428-9f024dfc1445" data-type="core/paragraph" data-title="Paragraph" tabindex="0">But that is exactly what cybercriminals count on.
<h2 aria-label="Write heading&hellip;" role="textbox" class="block-editor-block-list__block wp-block rich-text block-editor-rich-text__editable wp-block" aria-multiline="true" id="block-13578f3c-3bf0-4eab-921b-979534f32cfe" data-block="13578f3c-3bf0-4eab-921b-979534f32cfe" data-type="core/heading" data-title="Heading" tabindex="0">How Strong, Unique Passwords for Each Account Help Prevent Data Breaches</h2>
<p aria-label="Paragraph block" role="textbox" class="block-editor-block-list__block wp-block rich-text block-editor-rich-text__editable wp-block" aria-multiline="true" id="block-66614481-d9e3-4045-ba73-19ca79a4d5dd" data-block="66614481-d9e3-4045-ba73-19ca79a4d5dd" data-type="core/paragraph" data-title="Paragraph" tabindex="0">While hackers can employ a number of sophisticated methods for acquiring usernames and passwords, such as malware, phishing emails, and keyloggers, the old-fashioned way of simply guessing still works.
<p aria-label="Paragraph block" role="textbox" class="block-editor-block-list__block wp-block rich-text block-editor-rich-text__editable wp-block" aria-multiline="true" id="block-ab1a0a59-a4df-4054-9de6-2d84e163b84d" data-block="ab1a0a59-a4df-4054-9de6-2d84e163b84d" data-type="core/paragraph" data-title="Paragraph" tabindex="0">Hackers will run a program that will try thousands of commonly used passwords per second, and often manage to access a computer network or account in this manner. And if the same password is used for multiple accounts, then a hacker now has access to a significant amount of personal information and sensitive data.
<p aria-label="Paragraph block" role="textbox" class="block-editor-block-list__block wp-block rich-text block-editor-rich-text__editable wp-block" aria-multiline="true" id="block-a89a7de3-4b0f-4b32-b889-4b08b57fc1d7" data-block="a89a7de3-4b0f-4b32-b889-4b08b57fc1d7" data-type="core/paragraph" data-title="Paragraph" tabindex="0">A cybercriminal can cause serious financial trouble or steal the identity of an individual, or steal thousands of data records from companies.
<p aria-label="Paragraph block" role="textbox" class="block-editor-block-list__block wp-block rich-text block-editor-rich-text__editable wp-block" aria-multiline="true" id="block-5c5d8335-da73-4e6b-91be-34519efd7ce6" data-block="5c5d8335-da73-4e6b-91be-34519efd7ce6" data-type="core/paragraph" data-title="Paragraph" tabindex="0">But a single, strong, unique password for each account can prevent cybercrime and protect your data and personal information.
<p aria-label="Paragraph block" role="textbox" class="block-editor-block-list__block wp-block rich-text block-editor-rich-text__editable wp-block" aria-multiline="true" id="block-5cb72ffc-e625-4d4c-897e-47bb64293428" data-block="5cb72ffc-e625-4d4c-897e-47bb64293428" data-type="core/paragraph" data-title="Paragraph" tabindex="0">Many cybercriminals manage to acquire at least one username and password via a phishing email. In fact, phishing accounts for 90% of all data breaches. But if an individual were to use different passwords for each account, the cybercriminal would only have succeeded in infiltrating one account, rather than all of them.
<h2 aria-label="Write heading&hellip;" role="textbox" class="block-editor-block-list__block wp-block rich-text block-editor-rich-text__editable wp-block" aria-multiline="true" id="block-31528a5f-60c0-42d6-9916-249853d3d26b" data-block="31528a5f-60c0-42d6-9916-249853d3d26b" data-type="core/heading" data-title="Heading" tabindex="0">What is a Strong Password?</h2>
<p aria-label="Paragraph block" role="textbox" class="block-editor-block-list__block wp-block rich-text block-editor-rich-text__editable wp-block" aria-multiline="true" id="block-c26f2f75-a604-4a23-b472-de9538766ea8" data-block="c26f2f75-a604-4a23-b472-de9538766ea8" data-type="core/paragraph" data-title="Paragraph" tabindex="0">A strong password is considered to be a string of at least 10 random upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters such as a question mark. Many organizations now require you to create passwords conforming to these guidelines, which is good. However, many still use the same strong password for multiple accounts, which is definitely not recommended.&nbsp;
<h2 aria-label="Write heading&hellip;" role="textbox" class="block-editor-block-list__block wp-block rich-text block-editor-rich-text__editable wp-block" aria-multiline="true" id="block-90ea80cd-7409-4c38-8939-03bb84d860e3" data-block="90ea80cd-7409-4c38-8939-03bb84d860e3" data-type="core/heading" data-title="Heading" tabindex="0">So How Do I Remember All These Passwords?</h2>
<p aria-label="Paragraph block" role="textbox" class="block-editor-block-list__block wp-block rich-text block-editor-rich-text__editable wp-block" aria-multiline="true" id="block-838ab3be-232f-42c6-8e34-7cafe81184a9" data-block="838ab3be-232f-42c6-8e34-7cafe81184a9" data-type="core/paragraph" data-title="Paragraph" tabindex="0">Many computers come equipped with a password manager, or you can download password manager apps that keep track of all your passwords for you. You will, of course, need to at least remember a unique password for the actual password manager.
<p aria-label="Paragraph block" role="textbox" class="block-editor-block-list__block wp-block rich-text block-editor-rich-text__editable wp-block" aria-multiline="true" id="block-f294ca3c-6c89-4fae-9b3d-d25a2e135344" data-block="f294ca3c-6c89-4fae-9b3d-d25a2e135344" data-type="core/paragraph" data-title="Paragraph" tabindex="0">In an organization, keeping track of individual and group-shared passwords can be a more difficult task. Thankfully, password managers exist for teams as well. Many businesses utilize a team password manager aptly named&nbsp;<a rel="follow noopener" href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=bcms#signup/testimonial" target="_blank">TeamPassword</a>, a fast, easy, and secure way for team members to share and access logins and passwords.
<p aria-label="Paragraph block" role="textbox" class="block-editor-block-list__block wp-block rich-text block-editor-rich-text__editable wp-block" aria-multiline="true" id="block-53945973-0835-488f-9ec1-d4ee5df0784a" data-block="53945973-0835-488f-9ec1-d4ee5df0784a" data-type="core/paragraph" data-title="Paragraph" tabindex="0">Ideal for teams of all sizes, TeamPassword helps to ensure a consistent flow of productivity while also ensuring protection of valuable and sensitive data. Visit&nbsp;<a rel="follow noopener" href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=bcms#signup/testimonial" target="_blank">TeamPassword</a>&nbsp;today to learn more about how this intuitive password manager can help you.
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How Strong, Unique Passwords for Each Account Help Prevent Data Breaches

Over the last few years you’ve probably heard all about the importance of using strong, unique passwords for ...

The Importance of a Strong Password For Each Account

Over the last few years you’ve probably heard all about the importance of using strong, unique passwords for your online accounts. But have you actually practiced doing so?

<div>
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<div class="block-editor-block-list__layout is-root-container">
<p aria-label="Paragraph block" role="textbox" class="block-editor-block-list__block wp-block rich-text block-editor-rich-text__editable wp-block" aria-multiline="true" id="block-ceb045e0-02bc-4f66-ba1b-5d3dcea346a6" data-block="ceb045e0-02bc-4f66-ba1b-5d3dcea346a6" data-type="core/paragraph" data-title="Paragraph" tabindex="0">Wannacry, ransomware, and phishing may sound like menacing robots, but they&rsquo;re actually the latest series of cyber threats hounding the online community. Digital security has become a talking point for many organizations, which continue to spend millions on beefing up their cyber defenses. It doesn&rsquo;t help that malicious parties are constantly plotting and leveling-up their tactics. It seems like cyber authorities may throw everything except the kitchen sink and they&rsquo;re still striking with full force!
<p aria-label="Paragraph block" role="textbox" class="block-editor-block-list__block wp-block rich-text block-editor-rich-text__editable wp-block" aria-multiline="true" id="block-04485d3d-d2a0-4fbe-9123-e9fbc6fbc5ab" data-block="04485d3d-d2a0-4fbe-9123-e9fbc6fbc5ab" data-type="core/paragraph" data-title="Paragraph" tabindex="0">Confidential information such as credit card details lies at the heart of this digital security saga. This is expected since these precious strings of data literally provide malicious hackers with the keys to your funds. The paranoia is so real that it has been widely taught in cyber hygiene 101 that privileged information should never be cached.&nbsp;
<p aria-label="Paragraph block" role="textbox" class="block-editor-block-list__block wp-block rich-text block-editor-rich-text__editable wp-block" aria-multiline="true" id="block-18c4c283-4f11-4732-bfd3-b9ca83d8b213" data-block="18c4c283-4f11-4732-bfd3-b9ca83d8b213" data-type="core/paragraph" data-title="Paragraph" tabindex="0">But how much of this is true? Is there a way to bypass the security threats with a trusty system? Are you supposed to key in the details each time? It is truly frustrating and troublesome if you don&rsquo;t have said credit card on hand for reference and you&rsquo;re pressured to make a time-sensitive transaction (these things do happen).&nbsp;
<p aria-label="Paragraph block" role="textbox" class="block-editor-block-list__block wp-block rich-text block-editor-rich-text__editable wp-block" aria-multiline="true" id="block-061b69f9-5bcb-497d-b288-9f8549ca27cc" data-block="061b69f9-5bcb-497d-b288-9f8549ca27cc" data-type="core/paragraph" data-title="Paragraph" tabindex="0">Hold on to your hats, we might have your ideal solution, but first, we should take a closer look at the basics of data storage.&nbsp;
<h2 aria-label="Write heading&hellip;" role="textbox" class="block-editor-block-list__block wp-block rich-text block-editor-rich-text__editable wp-block" aria-multiline="true" id="block-1e508c28-9d45-43f7-8833-60475591db22" data-block="1e508c28-9d45-43f7-8833-60475591db22" data-type="core/heading" data-title="Heading" tabindex="0">Understanding the Basics</h2>
<p aria-label="Paragraph block" role="textbox" class="block-editor-block-list__block wp-block rich-text block-editor-rich-text__editable wp-block" aria-multiline="true" id="block-cc4b0c81-6e9f-4686-895f-9e179361cc15" data-block="cc4b0c81-6e9f-4686-895f-9e179361cc15" data-type="core/paragraph" data-title="Paragraph" tabindex="0">All valuable information such as credit card details, personal passwords, or social security numbers is keyed in what we refer to as plaintext form. This type of data is readable by the average human user and hence, easily duplicated and stolen. So the question remains, is it safe to store the details of your credit card online? We believe some brows may be raised at this juncture.&nbsp;
<p aria-label="Paragraph block" role="textbox" class="block-editor-block-list__block wp-block rich-text block-editor-rich-text__editable wp-block" aria-multiline="true" id="block-7b0962de-621b-4021-beb9-e86adef71fb5" data-block="7b0962de-621b-4021-beb9-e86adef71fb5" data-type="core/paragraph" data-title="Paragraph" tabindex="0">However, think about it, the storage of credit card details is really one of the greatest innovations in modern times, especially if you&rsquo;re a frequent shopper. Simply key the details once and you&rsquo;re free to bask in retail therapy to your heart&rsquo;s content, swiping from one e-commerce site to another. Most websites, if not all, only store the numbers and expiry dates of credit cards. This means that card owners are still required to manually key in their CVV digits (the confidential three or four-digit numbers at the back of a credit card) to finalize a transaction. That makes it safe right?
<p aria-label="Paragraph block" role="textbox" class="block-editor-block-list__block wp-block rich-text block-editor-rich-text__editable wp-block" aria-multiline="true" id="block-23f4b07b-153b-4316-8cbe-98ca8eca40e9" data-block="23f4b07b-153b-4316-8cbe-98ca8eca40e9" data-type="core/paragraph" data-title="Paragraph" tabindex="0">In truth, the dangers are still very real. Under normal circumstances, cached credit card details are still easily acquired and manipulated by unauthorized persons. Garden variety scams such as spear-phishing techniques may trick card owners of their CVV details, and you'd be able to guess the rest of that tale. But we did say normal circumstances...
<h2 aria-label="Write heading&hellip;" role="textbox" class="block-editor-block-list__block wp-block rich-text block-editor-rich-text__editable wp-block" aria-multiline="true" id="block-e2f43b66-bb81-452e-8bec-6aab403e908e" data-block="e2f43b66-bb81-452e-8bec-6aab403e908e" data-type="core/heading" data-title="Heading" tabindex="0">The TeamPassword Solution&nbsp;</h2>
<p aria-label="Paragraph block" role="textbox" class="block-editor-block-list__block wp-block rich-text block-editor-rich-text__editable wp-block" aria-multiline="true" id="block-b90198d4-1b7d-4f2d-8d96-2e1bbbf904e9" data-block="b90198d4-1b7d-4f2d-8d96-2e1bbbf904e9" data-type="core/paragraph" data-title="Paragraph" tabindex="0">Now, under what we term &ldquo;improved circumstances&rdquo; (or the TeamPassword method), your cached passwords will remain under lock and key while still featuring the same level of convenience. How? Glad you asked.&nbsp;
<p aria-label="Paragraph block" role="textbox" class="block-editor-block-list__block wp-block rich-text block-editor-rich-text__editable wp-block" aria-multiline="true" id="block-3204c4d7-a375-49c6-b6f0-49d87e6f86f2" data-block="3204c4d7-a375-49c6-b6f0-49d87e6f86f2" data-type="core/paragraph" data-title="Paragraph" tabindex="0">At TeamPassword, we believe that there is no such thing as being too safe. As such, we&rsquo;re constantly implementing the latest methods of encryption. Basically, what encryption does is convert your standard plaintext credit card info into a gibberish ciphertext before being uploaded to a server. This means that malicious hackers will find nothing but cyberspace dust if they intercept your data en route.&nbsp;
<p aria-label="Paragraph block" role="textbox" class="block-editor-block-list__block wp-block rich-text block-editor-rich-text__editable wp-block" aria-multiline="true" id="block-2c1f5d2e-01fa-4f7d-9300-6eff035ff4d1" data-block="2c1f5d2e-01fa-4f7d-9300-6eff035ff4d1" data-type="core/paragraph" data-title="Paragraph" tabindex="0">But as we&rsquo;ve alluded, we are always optimizing the security process at every given opportunity. To that end, we ensure your data is locally encrypted before being transferred via encrypted connections for double the protection. Team Password's hosting provider currently offers the latest and safest encryption method (which passes the ISO27001 standards at the point of this writing).&nbsp;&nbsp;
<p aria-label="Paragraph block" role="textbox" class="block-editor-block-list__block wp-block rich-text block-editor-rich-text__editable wp-block" aria-multiline="true" id="block-1cfcb583-df77-4681-8d9d-ffed2c865313" data-block="1cfcb583-df77-4681-8d9d-ffed2c865313" data-type="core/paragraph" data-title="Paragraph" tabindex="0">Additionally, we provide additional security features such as vulnerability sweeps (where we assess and eliminate the gaps in your database), and 2-step verification to affirm that your credit card is being accessed by authorized users. Also, we understand that it is nearly impossible to get around without a digital device so our program is readily accessed from your tablet, mobile, and laptops while you're on the move.
<p aria-label="Paragraph block" role="textbox" class="block-editor-block-list__block wp-block rich-text block-editor-rich-text__editable wp-block" aria-multiline="true" id="block-016086d1-4a8a-49ae-b0ea-63a31e35c4a1" data-block="016086d1-4a8a-49ae-b0ea-63a31e35c4a1" data-type="core/paragraph" data-title="Paragraph" tabindex="0">Never worry again about the security of your credit card details with TeamPassword. We&rsquo;re the most secure and encrypted password manager equipped with the latest technology in safeguarding your precious digital assets.<a rel="follow noopener" href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=bcms#signup/testimonial" target="_blank">&nbsp;Join the winning team</a>, TeamPassword, to experience the security standards of tomorrow, today.
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In today's online marketplace, credit cards are often stored in browsers and websites. But is this safe?

Wannacry, ransomware, and phishing may sound like menacing robots, but they’re actually the latest series of cyber threats ...

Is it Safe to Save my Credit Card Online?

Wannacry, ransomware, and phishing may sound like menacing robots, but they’re actually the latest series of cyber threats hounding the online community. Digital security has become a talking point for many organizations, which continue to spend millions on beefing up their cyber defenses. It doesn’t help that malicious parties are ...

In one word,&nbsp;yes.&nbsp;Absolutely. Attackers are often seeking to gain access to payment card details or to make fraudulent purchases. But that is sadly, only the beginning. Many of the records stolen during data breaches are sold and bundled into a nefarious, growing marketplace for personally identifiable information (PII) on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jungledisk.com/blog/2019/04/11/the-dark-world-of-cybercrime/">dark web</a>. Your password and login credentials are simply a means to an end, a key that unlocks the house to your personal data. If this doesn&rsquo;t concern you yet, keep in mind that fully packaged data or &ldquo;<a href="https://www.investopedia.com/fullz-definition-4684000" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">fullz</a>&rdquo; for one person can&nbsp;<a href="https://qz.com/460482/heres-what-your-stolen-identity-goes-for-on-the-internets-black-market/">sell</a>&nbsp;from less than $1 to around $450 based on factors such as your credit score.
The truth is data security has never been more critical in our society than it is today. By 2020, it is estimated that&nbsp;<a href="https://cybersecurityventures.com/300-billion-passwords/">300 billion passwords</a>&nbsp;will be at risk. While accounts at financial and military institutions might be the most coveted information by hackers, any business that requires a log-in to access services will become a target.
Take food-service delivery giant, DoorDash, for example. On September 26, they&nbsp;<a href="https://blog.doordash.com/important-security-notice-about-your-doordash-account-ddd90ddf5996#46h35gr24e">announced</a>&nbsp;that an unauthorized third-party gained access to user data on over 4.9 million consumers this past May. Among the type of data accessed alongside profile info, emails, home addresses and phone numbers were&nbsp;<a href="https://www.techopedia.com/definition/28546/password-salting">salted passwords</a>. What does this mean for DoorDash, the&nbsp;<a href="https://adage.com/article/digital/postmates-and-uber-eats-use-doordash-tipping-fallout-opportunity-build-trust-customers/2186231">market leader</a>&nbsp;in its category with approximately 27.6 percent of market share?
Fortunately, having salted passwords for users, which involves appending an additional password to the original before hashing the entire string of characters, is a good practice to keep. Unfortunately, this data breach runs the risk of demoralizing a significant number of the company&rsquo;s early adopters. Beyond disappointing loyal and trusting users and potentially losing &nbsp;status as the market&rsquo;s top dog, the lack of data security here will have to become their number one priority.
Last year, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.idtheftcenter.org/2018-end-of-year-data-breach-report/">2018 End-of-Year Data Breach Report</a>&nbsp;from the Identity Theft Resource Center, hackers stole 447 million consumer records containing personally identifiable information (PII). This came at a 126% jump from 2017, so we can only expect that the increase in data breaches and exposed consumer records will continue to see annual growth at alarmingly exponential rates.
<h2 id="how-hackers-steal-your-password">How Hackers Steal Your Password</h2>
<h3 id="credential-stuffing-list-cleaning-or-breach-replay"><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/leemathews/2018/07/20/heres-what-hackers-do-with-all-your-stolen-passwords/#609c5bb82d99">Credential Stuffing</a>, List Cleaning or Breach Replay</h3>
Hackers test databases and stolen credentials against multiple accounts in search of a match. Again, your password is the key to your data. So these databases are &ldquo;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/leemathews/2018/07/20/heres-what-hackers-do-with-all-your-stolen-passwords/#609c5bb82d99">a key ring</a>&rdquo; increasing the possibility of breaking into your account. This type of attack accounts for more than&nbsp;<a href="https://qz.com/1329961/hackers-account-for-90-of-login-attempts-at-online-retailers/">90% of global login traffic</a>&nbsp;on e-commerce sites, making it one of the largest threats.
<h3 id="social-engineering"><a href="https://www.jungledisk.com/blog/2016/10/26/human-hacking-and-social-engineering-cyber-talk-radio-episode-5/">Social engineering</a></h3>
Social engineering or human hacking is most commonly thought of as phishing. It refers to personal and direct attempts that trick users into supplying confidential information voluntarily. Whether by phone, SMS or impersonation via&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jungledisk.com/blog/2018/09/19/common-phishing-attacks/">spear-phishing emails</a>, over&nbsp;<a href="https://healthitsecurity.com/news/hackers-exploit-urgency-personalization-in-phishing-attacks">70%</a>&nbsp;of cybercrimes begin with this type of attack.
<h3 id="password-spraying">Password Spraying</h3>
Similar to credential stuffing, minus the database and paired credentials, password spraying involves testing a list of user accounts against the most commonly known passwords. While this sounds manual and might create false hope that hackers are up against an impossible task, remember that hackers can automate most of this work and that overly-used passwords such as 123456 make this tactic quite common.
<h3 id="keylogging">Keylogging</h3>
Keylogging malware records the keystrokes you type on your keyboard and into your machine. While this requires a hacker to have access to your hardware first, hackers don&rsquo;t need to have direct physical access to your computer to infect it with malware.
<h3 id="brute-force-and-password-cracking">Brute Force and Password Cracking</h3>
Hackers run algorithms against encrypted passwords until they crack open. Although this is the most widely known method of hacking seen in media, it is also one of the least common in real life. Due to the nearly infinite number of permutations that exist and best practices like encrypted, hashed and salted passwords, this is one of the least frequented tools in a hacker&rsquo;s toolbox.
<h3 id="local-discovery">Local Discovery</h3>
This final method is the least sophisticated technologically, but still very common, unfortunately. Local discovery happens when you leave your password open in public. That&rsquo;s right, we&rsquo;re talking about that sticky note on your desk.
<h2 id="the-bottom-line">The Bottom Line</h2>
<h3 id="are-you-protecting-your-password">Are you protecting your password?</h3>
We hope by this point that you understand and agree with us. Yes, people really are trying to steal your password everyday. But don&rsquo;t let this knowledge cause you fear; instead let it inspire you to action. For starters, you can&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jungledisk.com/blog/2019/07/11/can-your-passwords-be-hacked/">hacker-proof your passwords</a>&nbsp;and review these&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jungledisk.com/blog/2019/06/10/your-passwords-arent-safe-unless-youre-taking-these-5-steps/">5 steps</a>&nbsp;to further enhance password security. If you&rsquo;re looking for inspiration, here&rsquo;s the quickest&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jungledisk.com/blog/2019/06/06/how-to-make-a-secure-password/">read</a>&nbsp;on how to make a secure password. Be sure to also check out website services that can<a href="https://haveibeenpwned.com/">&nbsp;inform and notify</a>&nbsp;you whether or not your email or password has been breached before.
Ultimately though, if you want to position yourself, your business and your passwords with the greatest line of defense, consider investing in a password manager. Not only would this investment ramp up your cybersecurity efforts, a password management tool can also solve<a href="https://www.jungledisk.com/blog/2019/09/12/7-signs-you-need-a-password-manager/">&nbsp;a variety of pain points</a>&nbsp;like having to remember all your newly crafted 16-character passphrases.
<a href="https://www.teampassword.com/">TeamPassword</a>&nbsp;is here to protect and defend you from these types of cyber attacks. A simple, secure password manager, designed from the ground up with security and best in-class encryption in mind can protect your company from data breaches and your passwords from hackers.
Get TeamPassword today!&nbsp;<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=bcms#signup/testimonial" rel="follow">Try our free 14-day trial.</a>

Learn how hackers steal your password and what you can do to stop them.

TeamPassword's founder Brian Sierakowski walks through the ways hackers steal passwords and what you can do to stay ...

Are Hackers Really Trying to Steal Your Password?

TeamPassword's founder Brian Sierakowski walks through the ways hackers steal passwords and what you can do to stay safe.

Security breaches have become alarmingly common &mdash; both at home and in the workplace. Despite the rise of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jungledisk.com/blog/2019/01/16/hacked-two-factor-authentication/">two-factor authentication</a>&nbsp;and constant horror stories in the media, many people still have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jungledisk.com/blog/2018/09/17/bad-password-habits/">poor password hygiene</a>&nbsp;and remain at risk for these kinds of attacks. The stakes are even higher for small businesses with many employees &mdash; a single&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jungledisk.com/blog/2018/06/27/things-to-consider-from-verizon-2018-data-breach-investigations-report/">data breach</a>&nbsp;could put them out of business.
The Ponemon Institute, a leading provider of independent research on data protection and emerging technologies, recently released its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.yubico.com/authentication-report/">2019 State of Password and Authentication Security Behaviors Report</a>. The survey of 1,761 IT and IT security practitioners around the world provides a lot of insight into privacy and security concerns, including password management, authentication strategies and cybersecurity costs.
Let&rsquo;s take a look at some of the key insights from the report and some best practices to help address them.
<h2 id="phishing-attacks-are-common">Phishing Attacks are Common</h2>
<a href="https://www.jungledisk.com/blog/2019/05/20/is-it-a-phishing-email-or-a-real-email-heres-how-to-tell/">Phishing attacks</a>&nbsp;have become the most popular form of cyberattack against many homes and businesses. According to Ponemon, more than half of respondents (51 percent) said that they have experienced a phishing attack. A separate survey from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/average-cost-of-a-spear-phishing/">Cloudmark</a>&nbsp;found that phishing attacks were responsible for 38 percent of all cyberattacks on respondent companies and the average cost following an attack was upwards of $1.8 million.
Surprisingly, 57 percent of those that experienced a phishing attack didn&rsquo;t change&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jungledisk.com/blog/2019/06/10/your-passwords-arent-safe-unless-youre-taking-these-5-steps/">the way that they manage their passwords</a>. There&rsquo;s a good chance that many of these incidents also go unreported in the workplace. It&rsquo;s important to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jungledisk.com/blog/2019/04/29/how-to-train-employees-on-cybersecurity/">train employees</a>&nbsp;on how to recognize phishing attacks and encourage them to report any attacks to the proper IT personnel. These efforts can help inform training exercises and proactively address risks.
Many network security solutions can also help prevent many phishing attacks. For example, Jungle Disk's Active Network Protection provides cloud firewall protection, safe internet filters,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jungledisk.com/blog/2016/12/02/jungle-disk-blog-highlights-keep-your-business-critical-data-safe/">VPN remote access</a>&nbsp;and secure WiFi for employees and guests. By blocking many common phishing attempts before they reach employees, you can reduce the changes of employees inadvertently becoming a victim to these kinds of attacks.
<h2 id="password-hygiene-is-lacking">Password Hygiene is Lacking</h2>
Poor password hygiene is a leading cause of cybersecurity problems. According to Ponemon, nearly 70 percent of respondents have shared passwords with colleagues in the workplace and more than half reuse an average of five passwords across their business and/or personal accounts. Two-factor authentication can mitigate many of these issues, but nearly 70 percent of respondents don&rsquo;t use two-factor authentication.
<hr />
<a href="https://mailchi.mp/jungledisk.com/checklist-of-small-business-password-best-practices" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Download a sample cybersecurity job posting to use as a template during your hiring efforts.</a>
<hr />
There are several best practices that can help:
<ul>
<li>
Update passwords on a regular basis because stale passwords often show up in data breaches over time.
</li>
<li>
Use passphrases rather than passwords because they&rsquo;re longer and harder for computers to crack.
</li>
<li>
Use different passwords for each website or service, so if one is compromised, it doesn&rsquo;t impact other areas.
</li>
<li>
Enable two-factor authentication or use hardware tokens to add a second layer of security to your sensitive accounts.
</li>
</ul>
Password managers, like&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jungledisk.com/password-manager/">TeamPassword</a>, make it easy to automatically generate strong passwords and securely share them with colleagues. With browser plugins, TeamPassword even makes it easy to auto-fill strong passwords, so employees don&rsquo;t have to remember them or look them up every time. That way, there&rsquo;s no excuse for employees to share passwords with their colleagues or re-use the same password across multiple services.
<h2 id="managing-passwords-is-costly">Managing Passwords is Costly</h2>
Many small businesses know the importance of proper password management, but they may not realize how much it costs to manage passwords. According to Ponemon, the average respondent spends about 12 minutes per week entering and/or resetting passwords. This translates to an average cost of $5.2 million per year in lost productivity for organizations with 15,000 employees &mdash; and significant sums for any smaller businesses.
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/e08yJ9XeSwOgTiA0QPQy" alt="undefined" />
Password managers can help reduce these costs by making it easier to generate and auto-fill passwords.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jungledisk.com/password-manager/">TeamPassword</a>&nbsp;even makes it easy to share common passwords between employees and eliminates the need for password spreadsheets or other bad practices. With the average team having nearly 150 passwords to manage, the ability to generate unique passwords and share them can have a big impact on productivity.
Sign up for a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jungledisk.com/password-manager/">free 14-day trial</a>&nbsp;of TeamPassword today!
<h2 id="hardware-tokens-are-the-future">Hardware Tokens Are the Future</h2>
Managing passwords can be inconvenient and cumbersome, and it&rsquo;s impossible to ensure that every single employee is following these best practices. It only takes a single rogue employee or insecure password to bring down the entire network. According to Ponemon, 56 percent of respondents believe that physical hardware tokens are a great alternative to two-factor authentication by eliminating the need for a smartphone or tablet.
<hr />
<a href="https://mailchi.mp/jungledisk.com/checklist-of-small-business-password-best-practices" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Don&rsquo;t forget to download our free checklist of small business password best practices to ensure that your business is secure from cyber attack.</a>
<hr />
Hardware tokens are physical devices that you carry with you or plug into your computer or smartphone. Some of these devices provide a one-time passcode for signing in with two-factor authentication while others interface directly with common applications, including email and social media accounts. Most of these devices still require a password, but employees don&rsquo;t need to worry about using a smartphone or requiring WiFi.
There are also some attempts to remove passwords altogether. For instance, Apple&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apple.com/iphone-xr/face-id/">Face ID</a>&nbsp;uses biometrics to unlock the smartphone and make purchases. These technologies could not only eliminate the need to remember and manage passwords, but also greatly reduce the odds of an unauthorized login.&nbsp;<a href="https://auth0.com/passwordless">Auth0</a>&nbsp;also launched Passwordless, a product that enables users to login with nothing but their phone and email address.
<h2 id="the-bottom-line">The Bottom Line</h2>
Security breaches have become alarmingly common, but even the victims of cybersecurity incidents haven&rsquo;t stepped up their security measures. The good news is that new technologies are making it easier than ever to protect your own personal data and that of employees from cybersecurity threats. The key is properly implementing these technologies and ensuring that employees receive enough training to actually use them.
<a href="https://www.jungledisk.com/get-started/">Sign up for Jungle Disk</a>&nbsp;to access a comprehensive cybersecurity suite that&rsquo;s specifically designed for small businesses with between two and 250 employees.

Security breaches have become alarmingly common — both at home and in the workplace. Learn about the current state of the Password.

Security breaches have become alarmingly common — both at home and in the workplace. Despite the rise of ...

Ponemon’s State of Password Security Recap

Security breaches have become alarmingly common — both at home and in the workplace. Despite the rise of two-factor authentication and constant horror stories in the media, many people still have poor password hygiene and remain at risk for these kinds of attacks.

See the best way to come up with a new username. We break down types of usernames and give you the best username ideas out there.

See the best way to come up with a new username. We break down types of usernames, why ...

How to Make a Good Username | Create a Unique and Secure Username

See the best way to come up with a new username. We break down types of usernames, why secure usernames are important, and how to create them effectively!

So you think hackers have stolen your password? You're not the only one. 
Perhaps you've noticed strange activity on your email account or frequent pop-ups on your computer. Perhaps it's just a hunch. 
But how can you know&nbsp;for sure?
There are many warning signs that you've been the victim of a data hack:
<ul>
<li>Your device is slower than normal.</li>
<li>You use more data than normal.</li>
<li>Videos take longer to load.</li>
<li>You received an email notification about a password change you didn't make.</li>
<li>An online account no longer accepts your password.</li>
</ul>
However, hackers can steal your passwords and identity&nbsp;without you ever knowing. That's why it's so difficult to tell if you're the victim of a hack.
This guide will help you work out if hackers have stolen your information and tell you how to stop it from happening again.&nbsp;
Prevent hackers from stealing your data by incorporating TeamPassword into your tech stack. This password manager for teams comes with a range of security features like two-step verification and password encryption.&nbsp;<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sign up for a free trial</a>&nbsp;today.&nbsp;

<h2>Have I Been Hacked? How Do I Know?</h2>
There are various ways to tell whether hackers have access to your information:
<ul>
<li>Look for unusual activity on your account. This activity includes logins to your social media accounts from unfamiliar locations or mass messages sent from your email account.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Look for security emails from account providers that warn about failed login attempts or password changes you didn't make.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>Look for changes in performance on the devices, apps, and websites you use. For example, see if videos take longer to buffer than normal.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Look at your browser's password manager (if you use one) and check that nobody has changed these credentials.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
All the above can be a guessing game. You might have a feeling that you're the victim of a hack but don't know for sure. 
Checking a stolen password list like "Have I Been Pwned" clears up some of the confusion. This tool searches across multiple data breaches &mdash; when hackers take stolen passwords and usernames and post them online &mdash; to see if cybercriminals have compromised your personal information. 
Here's how to use this stolen password list:
<ol>
<li>Enter your email address on the main page.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Click "pwned."</li>
<li>The website will search thousands of databases to see if hackers have stolen your personal information.</li>
<li>If you receive the "Oh no &ndash; Pwned!" message, it means hackers have posted sensitive information associated with your email address (passwords, addresses, phone numbers, etc.) somewhere online.</li>
<li>If you receive the "Good news &ndash; no pwnage found!" message, it means the website could not find your information on the internet.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
Note: Just because the website can't find your data on the internet, it doesn't mean hackers haven't compromised your personal information.
Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/password-manager-for-small-businesses" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Password Manager for Small Businesses</a>

<h2>Which Passwords Did Hackers Steal?</h2>
Establish which passwords hackers stole in a data breach so you can take quick action. Websites like "Have I Been Pwned"&nbsp;won't&nbsp;tell you which passwords are at risk. You'll only learn whether hackers have compromised the data associated with a particular email address. 
Note: Sometimes, hackers might have access to your email address and other personal information but not your password. It's hard to know for sure.&nbsp;
If hackers have access to your data, it's a good idea to change&nbsp;all passwords&nbsp;associated with the compromised email address. If you use your email address for several online accounts, change the passwords for these services. Updating these passwords might take you a while, and remembering the new passwords leads to additional problems. (Keep reading to find a solution.)
Here are some other tips:
<ul>
<li>When choosing new passwords, use combinations of lowercase letters, uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Passwords that use all these elements are stronger than those that don't.</li>
<li>Don't write your passwords down because this increases the risk of identity theft.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>Don't tell anyone your new passwords.</li>
</ul>
Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/the-most-secure-way-to-share-passwords" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Most Secure Way to Share Passwords</a>.

<h2>How Common Is a Data Hack?</h2>
More common than you think. Hackers were responsible for more than 4,000 attacks every day in 2020, and the total number of compromised records exceeded 37 billion. That's a 141% increase from 2019. Much of this compromised data appears on the dark web, where cybercriminals use it to facilitate illegal activities such as identity theft and money laundering.&nbsp;
If you have been the subject of a data hack, you are not alone. However, it's important to act quickly to prevent hackers from accessing your personal or financial accounts.&nbsp;
There are other types of cybercrime to consider. Cybercriminals use techniques like phishing, where they impersonate people online and trick victims into handing over their personal information. Phishing now accounts for more than 80% of all cybersecurity incidents, and criminals steal $17,700 every minute in these attacks.&nbsp;

<h2>What Kind of Information Do Hackers Steal?</h2>
Hackers steal all kinds of personal and financial information:
<ul>
<li>Names</li>
<li>Email addresses</li>
<li>Usernames</li>
<li>Passwords</li>
<li>Addresses</li>
<li>Phone numbers</li>
<li>Bank account details</li>
<li>Credit card numbers</li>
<li>Social Security numbers</li>
<li>Insurance information&nbsp;</li>
<li>IRS information</li>
<li>Photos</li>
<li>Private message</li>
<li>SMS messages</li>
</ul>
Nothing is off-limits for hackers, and these criminals go to great lengths to steal your data. Once they have access to the information above, hackers can transfer money from your bank accounts, use your identity to apply for financing, and damage your credit file.&nbsp;
Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/the-scariest-data-breaches-of-all-time" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Scariest Data Breaches of All Time</a>.
TeamPassword is the best password manager for teams. Features include two-step verification, password encryption, easy password sharing, and more.&nbsp;<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Get a free trial now</a>&nbsp;and learn how TeamPassword keeps you safe online.&nbsp;

<h2>Have I Been Hacked? How to Stay Safe.</h2>
There are several ways to improve online security and prevent hackers from accessing your personal information:
<ul>
<li>Use the latest security software and apps when using devices and browsing the internet.</li>
<li>Carry out regular risk assessments where you evaluate your security software.</li>
<li>Back up personal data to a reputable cloud service instead of keeping it on your device.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Don't share personal information with other people.</li>
<li>Create a security management strategy for your organization and share it with all team members.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Using a password manager is another way to stay safe online. The best ones encrypt your online passwords so hackers can't access these credentials, and you can keep passwords in a secure cloud-based vault and not have to remember them. There are various password managers online, including free ones available through most internet browsers, but not all tools are the same.&nbsp;
If you work alongside a team, consider TeamPassword. It's the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teampassword.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">password manager for teams</a>&nbsp;that require world-class security and performance. This all-in-one password solution helps teams like yours store, manage, and share passwords in the safest way possible.&nbsp;

<h2>How Can TeamPassword Help?</h2>
TeamPassword prevents hackers from stealing your organization's most sensitive data with an incredible range of password management features. Enterprises of all sizes use TeamPassword to manage passwords, including tech startups, digital marketing agencies, creative agencies, and software and development teams.
Here are some&nbsp;<a href="https://teampassword.com/features" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TeamPassword features</a>&nbsp;that prevent situations involving a stolen password:
<ul>
<li>Random password generation that creates unique passwords for websites.</li>
<li>Two-step password verification.</li>
<li>Activity and logging tools so you can discover who has access to password management features.</li>
<li>Secure encryption technology.</li>
<li>Email notifications about password management actions.</li>
<li>Passwords stored securely in one place. </li>
</ul>
<h2>Final Word</h2>
If you're looking for the answer to the question, "Have I been hacked?" it's difficult to know for sure. Preventing hackers from compromising your data in the first place provides a better resolution. TeamPassword lets you store and manage passwords in a secure environment and minimize the effects of a stolen password so you can avoid hackers stealing your data and continue to collaborate on team projects.&nbsp;
With features like password encryption, two-step authentication, and random password generation, TeamPassword is the best password management solution for teams that want to improve online security.&nbsp;<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sign up for a free trial</a>&nbsp;now.

Have I been hacked? Here's how to check if you have and learn how to stop hackers from stealing your data. | TeamPassword Blog

Have I been hacked? Here's how to check if you have and learn how to stop hackers from ...

Have I Been Hacked? How to Know for Sure.

Password encryption is essential to store user credentials stored in a database securely. Without password encryption, anyone accessing a user database on a company's servers (including hackers) could easily view any stored passwords.
Even a strong 32-character password created using a <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">secure password generator</a> is useless without password-encryption! If someone can read your password on a server, they can use it simply by copy/pasting it&mdash;no matter how long or complicated the password might be!
Encryption scrambles your password before saving it on the server. So, if someone hacks the server, instead of finding password123, they find a random series of letters and numbers.
In this article, we're going to explore the world of password encryption, why <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/tips-and-tricks-to-create-a-strong-password">strong passwords matter</a>, and how you can practice better password management!
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a> is the password management solution for small businesses! Create, store, and share login credentials safely with employees, contractors, and clients. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> today!
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;[Table of Contents]
<ul>
<li><a href="#understandingpasswordencryption" rel="follow">Understanding Password Encryption</a></li>
<li><a href="#howdoespasswordencryptionwork" rel="follow">How Does Password Encryption Work?</a></li>
<li><a href="#5commonpasswordencryptionmethods" rel="follow">5 Common Password Encryption Methods</a></li>
<li><a href="#whystrongpasswordsmatter" rel="follow">Why Strong Passwords Matter</a></li>
</ul>
<h2 id="understandingpasswordencryption">Understanding Password Encryption</h2>
To explain password encryption effectively, we must first grasp the language. Several terms might be unfamiliar, so here is a quick intro to password encryption terminology.
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Key: Used to lock and unlock passwords using a random string of bits. You get private and public keys that crypt and decrypt data differently, but we won't get too deep in the weeds with keys!</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Bits: A logical state with one of two possible values, including 1/0, true/false, yes/no, or on/off as typical examples.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Block (block cipher): A deterministic algorithm operating on fixed-length groups of bits, called blocks.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Hash function: The algorithm that uses the key to create password encryption and decryption. A hash function is essentially a piece of code that runs every time someone saves a password or logs into an application.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Hash: A random series of numbers and letters representing your password. The hash function uses your hash instead of the raw password for authentication.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Salt: Additional letters and numbers appended to the hash</li>
</ul>
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2 id="howdoespasswordencryptionwork">How Does Password Encryption Work?</h2>
When you save a new password, a hash function creates a hash version and saves that on the server.&nbsp;
Every time you log in using your password, the hash function recreates the hash to see if it matches what's stored. If the hashes match, the algorithm passes the authentication and logs you in.&nbsp;
For example:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Original password: Pa$$w0rd123</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Hashed password: 6AF1CE202340​FE71BDB914AD5357​E33A6982A63B</li>
</ul>
While this might seem secure, simple hashed passwords aren't hack-proof.
The hash function only creates a unique hash for each password, not each user. So, if multiple users have the password, Pa$$w0rd123, the hash will be exactly the same.
To overcome this encryption vulnerability, engineers salt passwords so each hash is unique, even if the passwords are identical.
<h3>How Salt Works</h3>
A salt appends a unique value of 8 bytes (16 characters) to the password before the hash function creates a hash. This way, even identical passwords are unique before the hash function.
For example:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Two identical passwords: Pa$$w0rd123</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Salt value one: E1F53135E559C253</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Salt value two: 84B03D034B409D4E</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Password one before hash: Pa$$w0rd123E1F53135E559C253</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Password two before hash: Pa$$w0rd12384B03D034B409D4E</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Password one hashed value (SHA256): 72AE25495A7981​C40622D49F9A52E4F15​65C90F048F59027BD9​C8C8900D5C3D8</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Password two hashed value (SHA256): B4B6603ABC670​967E99C7E7F1389E40​CD16E78AD38EB1468E​C2AA1E62B8BED3A</li>
</ul>
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2 id="5commonpasswordencryptionmethods">5 Common Password Encryption Methods</h2>
<h3>1. Data Encryption Standard (DES)</h3>
While applications no longer use Data Encryption Standard (DES), it's important to mention this password encryption method because of its history and influence on more secure modern standards.
IBM developed DES as a 56-bit encryption technology in the early 1970s. The NSA adopted and improved DES before it was approved worldwide as the encryption standard.
However, since the late 70s, hackers have been able to break DES encrypted passwords. In 1999, ethical hackers managed to break a DES key in under 24 hours.&nbsp;
To make DES more secure, engineers created Triple DES and later Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), which we still use today.
<h3>2. Triple DES</h3>
Triple DES uses three 56-bit keys (blocks) to create 168-bit encryption (some security experts argue that Triple DES is only 112 bits strong). Although Triple-DES is slowly being phased out, many financial institutions still use it to encrypt ATM PINs.
<h3>3. Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)</h3>
AES is the new encryption standard&mdash;trusted by the United States Government and many other prominent organizations globally. At 128 bits, AES is sufficiently secure, but most organizations prefer heavy-duty 256-bit encryption.
At <a href="https://teampassword.com/security">TeamPassword</a>, we use 256-bit encryption to store passwords, ensuring the highest levels of security for our clients. We're also a <a href="https://teampassword.com/security">secure hosting provider</a> holding multiple security accreditations.
Hackers can only break an AES encrypted password through a brute-force attack&mdash;trying password combinations to find the right one.
To counter brute-force attacks, applications will lock an account after a certain number of attempts or use tools like Google's reCAPTURE.
<h3>4. Blowfish</h3>
American cryptographer, Bruce Schneier, designed Blowfish in 1993 as an antidote to the weak DES encryption. Blowfish uses a 64-bit block and variable key length of 32 to 448 bits.
Although Blowfish is more robust than its DES predecessor, the 64-bit block is still vulnerable to attacks, most commonly birthday attacks&mdash;a cryptographic attack that exploits the mathematics behind the algorithm.
To solve Blowfish vulnerabilities, engineers created Twofish in 1998 (128-bit blocks with 256-bit keys) and Threefish in 2008 (256, 516, 1024-bit blocks with 256, 516, 1024-bit keys).
<h3>5. Rivest-Shamir-Adleman (RSA)</h3>
RSA is one of the oldest and widely used to transfer data securely. The encryption works with two keys, two large prime numbers, and an additional auxiliary value.
Due to the complicated encrypting and decrypting process, there is no known method for breaking RSA encryption.&nbsp;
Although widely used for transferring data, RSA is slow and not suitable for password encryption.
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<h2 id="whystrongpasswordsmatter">Why Strong Passwords Matter</h2>
Password encryption can only prevent criminals from viewing saved credentials stored on a server&mdash;but cannot prevent hackers from guessing weak/commonly used passwords. If you <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/colonial-pipeline-ransomware-attack-dont-reuse-passwords">reuse the same password for multiple accounts</a>, this also puts you at risk!
Encryption is most effective when users create robust, unique passwords for every account. For example, a random 32-character password with letters, numbers, and special characters hashed and salted is near impossible to guess or decode, even using a computer!
In another scenario, let's assume you have a strong 32-character password, but you use it for every account. If hackers manage to steal that password, they have access to every account using the same credentials! Your strong password is effectively useless.
<h3>Improving Your Password Management</h3>
Now that you understand password encryption and the associated vulnerabilities, you can see why strong passwords are essential.
Effective password management is crucial to protect yourself against cyberattacks or in the highly likely event of a data breach where hackers steal your credentials.
Criminals are after the low-hanging fruit&mdash;people who use weak passwords!
5 tips for creating stronger passwords:
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Create strong passwords for every account. The easiest way to do this is using a password generator. <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">TeamPassword has a free password generator</a> anyone can use to create passwords from 12-32 characters using uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and special characters. We recommend creating passwords as long as the application will allow.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Never create passwords shorter than eight characters, with 12 being our recommended minimum.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Never reuse the same password for multiple accounts.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Never create passwords with your name, family member's names, or pet's names. With social media, this information is freely available. Criminals can add those names to algorithms for brute-force attacks.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Don't store passwords in digital notepads or spreadsheets. We recommend using a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager like TeamPassword</a> to create and store your credentials.</li>
</ol>
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<h2>Why You Need a Password Manager like TeamPassword</h2>
We have so many accounts these days; it's almost impossible to create unique, memorable, secure passwords for each one. A password manager solves this problem.
Instead of remembering the credentials for every account, you only need to memorize the one to log into your password manager.&nbsp;
TeamPassword keeps all of your credentials safely stored and encrypted, so you never have to memorize a password again. Instead of entering your credentials, you use one of TeamPassword's browser extensions (Chrome, Firefox, and Safari) to log into accounts.
<h3>Built for Teams</h3>
TeamPassword's best feature is its ability to share credentials with team members securely. Instead of sharing passwords, you provide access through TeamPassword.&nbsp;
Employees <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">use TeamPassword</a> to log in, meaning you never share raw passwords&mdash;no more worrying about unauthorized access or sharing.
You can create groups in TeamPassword to share access with employees, clients, contractors, and freelancers. When someone no longer needs access, remove them from the group with a single click. No need to change passwords every time someone leaves a project!
<h3>Built-In Password Generator</h3>
TeamPassword features a built-in secure password manager so you can create robust passwords for every account. TeamPassword also ensures you never reuse the same credentials so that you won't fall victim to credential stuffing attacks!
With a built-in password generator, you can change passwords regularly, and TeamPassword will update the new credentials for all users!
<h3>Monitor Login Activity</h3>
TeamPassword's activity log keeps track of every action across all of your accounts&mdash;logins, password changes, new team members, sharing access, and more.
You can also set up email notifications for all TeamPassword actions so that you can react fast to any suspicious activity.
<h3>Get Your Free TeamPassword Trial</h3>
Password encryption is not enough to protect your business from password vulnerabilities! You need a robust password manager like TeamPassword to create, store, and share credentials securely.
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<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> and let TeamPassword secure your company's digital assets.

Password encryption is the number one component of password security. TeamPassword encrypts passwords with state-of-the-art technology to keep passwords safe.

Password encryption is the number one component of password security. TeamPassword encrypts passwords with state-of-the-art technology to keep ...

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