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>
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<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>
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<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.
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<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 ...

What is password encryption and how much is enough?

What is password encryption and how does it work?

Companies use a shared password manager like TeamPassword every day for mission-critical logins: those essential tools and apps that keep the business functioning at its highest potential. But they're also sharing logins that make the office run smoother, improve employee morale and make it easier for their teams to collaborate and spend time (and eat) together-- proving that team password management isn't just for the boring stuff anymore! The average client manages 147 logins, but we also have agency teams that share over 1,500 logins using TeamPassword!Here are some fun logins that we see clients sharing. What "unusual" logins does your team share? Food: A hungry team is a cranky team and coordinating in-office lunches can be a real drag for the person having to go around jotting down orders. We often see companies sharing logins to make that lunch hour rush a bit less stressful. 

<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">BlueApron</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Chick-fil-a</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Chipotle</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Drizly</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">AmazonFresh</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Snack Box Subscriptions </li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Office Caterers</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Terra's Kitchen</li>
</ul>
</ul>
 Sports and Fun: Teams that play together stay together. Companies that invest time in extracurricular activities rank higher in employee satisfaction. And a happy employee means a more productive employee. Encourage team building with non-work related logins. 
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Fantasy football league </li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Office pools</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Baby and Wedding gift registries</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">WIFI credentials for connecting to drones and cameras</li>
</ul>
</ul>
 News and Reading: A well-informed employee makes better decisions. Keep employees up to date on world news, literature, and cultural happenings. 
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Economist.com</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">The New Yorker </li>
</ul>
</ul>
 Travel: Traveling for work doesn't have to be a burden. With all of the travel apps and services available today, booking your next work trip can be easy (and dare we say, exciting?!) Add logins that help streamline the travel process--and never miss out on those travel points. 
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">AirBnB</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Kayak</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Expedia</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Flightnetwork.com</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">AAA</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Hostelworld</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">AirAsia</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Lufthansa </li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Corporate apartments</li>
</ul>
</ul>
 Swag Vendors: Planning a company party? Coordinating a conference? These types of logins make it easy to store creative materials, like company logos, for when you need to print t-shirts or signage on the fly. 
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Vistaprint</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Sticker Mule</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Shutterfly</li>
</ul>
</ul>
 Office supplies: Never run out of printer ink before your presentation again! 
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Amazon</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">OfficeDepot</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Staples </li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Adobe</li>
</ul>
</ul>
 At TeamPassword we're currently sharing 378 logins and adding more every day. Here are some of the interesting logins that our team shares: 'cuz all work and no play make techies a very dull group.... 
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">TeamRun</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">ArtBMA</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">AwardWallet</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">B&amp;H</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Boingo</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">MLB.com</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Breckenridge.com</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">CapitalBikeShare</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">CrateAndBarrel</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">EZPass</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">REI</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Scubaearth</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Whitney.org </li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">eBay</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">1800Flowers</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Barkbox</li>
</ul>
</ul>

Companies use a shared password manager like TeamPassword for mission-critical logins that keep the business functioning.

Companies use a shared password manager like TeamPassword every day for mission-critical logins: those essential tools and apps ...

Sharing Passwords for Fun

Companies use a shared password manager like TeamPassword every day for mission-critical logins: those essential tools and apps that keep the business functioning at its highest potential. But they're also sharing logins that make the office run smoother, improve employee morale and make it easier for their teams to collaborate and spend time (and eat) together-- proving that team password management isn't just for the boring stuff anymore!

Product InformationHow many tabs do you currently have open in your browser? We're guessing you also have a couple different windows open too... Are you constantly logging in and out of sites that you manage for several different clients? Always searching through spreadsheets and emails for those logins and passwords? And how often do you veer off track during this transition time? According to our May 2017 client survey, the average marketer is managing 147 logins - and that doesn't even include their personal accounts! That's 147 usernames and 147 passwords to remember. And let's be honest, that is simply impossible. TeamPassword makes managing these 147 accounts easy. The TeamPassword Browser Extension makes it even easier. Secure password management without ever leaving your browser window. 
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/cX0rtpj3RcaDxHMsu3JI" />
 Our browser extensions are available for <a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/teampassword/cikdbigchmgednjbjppflefljobhnhca" style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Chrome</a>, <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/firefox">Firefox</a>, and <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/safari">Safari</a>: click the links to download the version you prefer most. Use all three? Well, by all means, go wild then! Welcome to password storage that's just one click away. Here's how it works: Log in using your TeamPassword credentials. <img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/nrLye8afRmCMKV5QmRHP" /> Simply click the TeamPassword lock in the upper right corner of your browser, select the correct login name and you're ready to roll! <img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/uxN0JwnaRAOTOvzNkRkx" /> Now when you're clicking through those thirty open tabs, you'll have immediate access to all your login info without ever interrupting your workflow. Your very own password vault built right into your favorite web browser. Breakthrough to a new level of ease and productivity. Download the TeamPassword Browser Extension today!

How many tabs do you currently have open in your browser? We're guessing you also have a couple different windows open too... Are you consta

How many tabs do you currently have open in your browser? We're guessing you also have a couple ...

Our Browser Extensions Save You Even More Time

How many tabs do you currently have open in your browser? We're guessing you also have a couple different windows open too... Are you constantly logging in and out of sites that you manage for several different clients? Always searching through spreadsheets and emails for those logins and passwords? And ...

Perhaps you can deduce from our name: At TeamPassword we're all about teamwork. The idea for our company was born out of necessity-- our founders Brian, Kyle, and Charles were colleagues in the early days of OrderUp and often found themselves diverting from tasks to search lengthy spreadsheets for a secret password blocking the gates of productivity. So they custom built a secure network to safely store passwords and easily share them with the team members they collaborated with. Since then, we have been fine-tuning our technology to meet the evolving needs of our company - and yours. We like to think we're on the fast track to becoming the best enterprise password manager out there! Today our easy password management software is helping over 14,000 customers work more efficiently by saving them valuable time searching (or asking colleagues) for login information to the dozens of sites and applications they need to get their job done. *On average our clients are managing 147 unique logins with TeamPassword.* One of the very first features we developed for TeamPassword was the Groups Feature. Most companies are broken into several departments. Let's use Taylor Marketing Services, for example. They have a Web Development team, Marketing team, PR team, Sales team, and Finance department. They desperately needed a shared password manager because each of these departments, or "groups," is made up of several employees who all need access to job-specific sites and apps. But not everyone in the company needs access to the payroll processor. Taylor Marketing is a growing agency with over 35 clients. They have created a separate group for each client to keep their specific account logins in one convenient place. Taylor team members are added to the client accounts they're working on so they always have the up-to-date information they need, and the client feels secure knowing that only the people directly involved in their project have access to their information. Taylor Marketing also hires several interns each summer-- the Groups feature is perfect for companies that need to grant different levels of access.
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/EAZW1YzKSTyjI1AmgJmJ"> Grouping allows an administrator to set up a "group" for staff who work on specific clients or projects. While those in the finance department are the only ones with access to the accounting systems, the sales and marketing teams get access to their clients' logins, and everyone in the company can access the lunch ordering system, travel and expense system and fantasy football league. The Groups feature encourages employee autonomy and streamlined collaboration while providing a secure way for the administrator to know exactly who has access to what. Team password management at it's finest. Grouping makes onboarding new employees simple: invite your new team member to TeamPassword and add them to the groups they will be working with so they can start contributing immediately. If someone leaves the company or gets transferred to a new department, the administrator simply removes that person from their former groups without concern for the safety of the information they had access to. <img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/8QiEjNlTmSf0MNEsJErO"> &nbsp; Ready to help your team produce more results? Click <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup">here </a>to begin your free 14-day trial.

At TeamPassword we're all about teamwork, and that's why one of the very first features we developed was the Groups Feature.

Perhaps you can deduce from our name: At TeamPassword we're all about teamwork. The idea for our company ...

The Groups Feature: How It Works & Why You Need It

Perhaps you can deduce from our name: At TeamPassword we're all about teamwork. The idea for our company was born out of necessity, and  one of the very first features we developed for TeamPassword was the Groups Feature.

With the ever-changing landscape of internet-based accounts, creating and managing passwords has become a tedious task that no one enjoys undertaking. You&rsquo;ll spend minutes thinking of a unique password that no one will guess, yet you&rsquo;ll immediately be able to recall it when needed. Minutes go by and you&rsquo;ve done it. You&rsquo;ve created a password that includes four alpha characters, three numbers in the 0-9 range&nbsp;and&nbsp;a special character. You&rsquo;re free to update your account passwords now, right? Let&rsquo;s play a game&hellip;
Which password is hard to crack? &ldquo;Password&rdquo; or &ldquo;P@55w0rd&rdquo;?
The answer: neither.
Both of these passwords can be cracked in a few seconds (if even that long) using your average computer. It&rsquo;s not just about complexity when it comes to building a secure password. The longevity of your passwords also helps develop its strength, ergo increasing the amount of time it&rsquo;ll take to crack it.
<h2>Password Managers</h2>
Password managers such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teampassword.com/">Team Password</a>, LastPass and 1Password take care of the hard work for you. You supply these managers with your password requirements and they can generate and save a random password for you. You can create longer, more complex passwords without needing to remember them.
The good and the bad with regard to password managers is that you only need to remember one password; the one you use to authenticate in the password manager.
<h2>Creating your password</h2>
When using a password manager, you&rsquo;re asked to create a master password, which is the only password that you will need to commit to memory. Opt for a passphrase versus a password. Passphrases are just as easy to remember, but are typically longer which help strengthen it. An example of a passphrase would be &ldquo;This!sMySupperL0ngP@asswordTh@tN013lseh4s&rdquo; (don&rsquo;t use this; this is just an example). Do not reuse this password for any other account that you have. Also, be sure to enable multifactor&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jungledisk.com/blog/2016/11/08/identity-authentication-beyondcorp-cyber-talk-radio-episode-7/">authentication</a>. This adds a layer of security and makes it even more difficult for someone to obtain unauthorized access to your account.
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
Password complexity isn&rsquo;t the only factor when creating a strong password. Ensure your complex passwords are 12 characters or longer. Using a password manager allows you to take advantage of stretching the password length as well as randomly generating more complex passwords.

Which password is hard to crack? “Password” or “P@55w0rd”? Neither.

With the ever-changing landscape of internet-based accounts, creating and managing passwords has become a tedious task that no ...

Password or P@55w0rd?

With the ever-changing landscape of internet-based accounts, creating and managing passwords has become a tedious task that no one enjoys undertaking. You’ll spend minutes thinking of a unique password that no one will guess, yet you’ll immediately be able to recall it when needed.

As a sales engineer, I speak to several customers and potential customers each month. I love being able to speak to current customers and future customers about our products to see how they can incorporate our services in with their company. Many of these individuals are small- to medium-sized businesses that are not &ldquo;technical.&rdquo; I throw technical in quotes since there is a vast crazy tech world out there and that term can be very vague.
Most of our customers and prospects do not have time to worry about data security and rightfully so. That is not what they excel at. Many of these companies are best at what they do and would rather focus on that. The reality, though, is that data security needs to be a priority as our society steers towards the world of the internet.
We love having conversations on how we can help or even just guide companies toward better practices. With the products and services that we provide, one of our customers brought a concern forth that made me realize how important password management is. They wanted to migrate from their current infrastructure over to one of the two online productivity suites (Microsoft Office 365 or Google G Suite). We discussed the transition process as well as a timeline of events. Whichever of the two our customers choose, I always advise that a best practice would be to enable 2-factor authentication when setting up user access.
With that enabled, you limit the risk of having your account being breached and are notified if something tries to get in. Although both of these products are built to be online suites, they both have the options to connect your drive (OneDrive or Google Drive) to your desktop. Although it is easy to access it online, some are not always connected to the internet and this feature allows users to still access their documents in the event that does happen. Both also offer an offline feature as well, but when the drives are connected to the computer, it seems less of a hassle. Then enters the question, &ldquo;What if my computer is stolen?&rdquo;
First, we always recommend having a backup of your data, whether it be in the cloud or on your desktop. But, the question here was, &ldquo;Does that thief have access to all the files connected to the computer if I have the drive for desktop?&rdquo; The answer is maybe. If they can guess the password to the computer, then all that data along with everything else on the computer is available to them. If a good, strong password is in place, then it will be harder to get into the computer to obtain that same information. There are remote wipe features that you can use with these online suite of services, but what if the computer was missing for hours or even days before you&rsquo;re able to do the wipe? Is your data safe?
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/9yCVCJdfR8eelSBhn2tD" alt="Secure Password" />
This led to me asking myself if my passwords were any good. Several experts suggest that you should have a different password for every site you visit. If you&rsquo;re like me, that can be daunting just to think about. Using a password manager, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teampassword.com/">TeamPassword</a>, is a great start so that you don&rsquo;t have to remember several different ones. You may want to cancel sites or services that you no longer need and change your passwords frequently. Although it is better to change them every 3 months or so, you do not want to do this if it will put you more at risk. An example of this is keeping the same password but having a small variation or having a sticky note stuck on your screen with the list of all your passwords.
If it is too much of a hassle, start by just changing your high-risk account passwords regularly to start getting accustomed to the process, then move to other accounts later on.

Most small businesses don't excel at data security, but it needs to be a priority given modern cyber threats.

Most of our customers and prospects do not have time to worry about data security and rightfully so. ...

Cloud Application Security: Password Security for G Suite & Office 365

Most of our customers and prospects do not have time to worry about data security and rightfully so. That is not what they excel at. Many of these companies are best at what they do and would rather focus on that. The reality, though, is that data security needs to be a priority as our society steers towards the world of the internet.

Here at TeamPassword we help over 14,000 customers worldwide securely manage their passwords and keep their businesses functioning at the highest level. This customer database provides a unique insight into the popular tools, apps, and systems that top marketers, startups, and tech giants rely on to keep their projects moving efficiently. On average, our clients are managing 147 system logins using TeamPassword. (That's a lot of passwords to keep track of!) The more logins you add on TeamPassword, the more time you will save and the easier it becomes to collaborate across teams. We analyzed data from our 14,000 worldwide users to identify the top 30 marketing tools they rely on every day. Which of these tools do you use? If you're not familiar with these tools maybe you should be! At TeamPassword we're dedicated to helping you be more productive; in a busy workday, we understand that every minute counts. In a May 2017 survey, we learned that our Digital Marketing customers are saving an average of 120 minutes when onboarding new employees and clients by using TeamPassword. What could you accomplish with an extra 2 hours in your schedule? Perhaps you'd like to use a few of those extra minutes to exercise your brain? We hid the top 30 marketing tools in a word search to give you a break from the daily grind. *Studies have found that word searches and other puzzles help improve cognition, memory, focus and expand vocabulary. When we complete a task - like finding all the words in our marketing tools puzzle - we get a satisfying surge of dopamine from the brain. Maintaining a healthy dopamine flow helps keep us motivated in other areas of our lives. So refresh yourself with a little playtime - you've earned it after saving all those valuable minutes by using TeamPassword! <a href="https://blog.teampassword.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/TeamPassword-Word-Search.pdf">TeamPassword Word Search</a> TeamPassword allows you to store, manage and share access to the apps, services, and tools your team needs to save time and keep projects moving smoothly. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup">Click here to start your free 14-day trial</a>, and decide for yourself how to spend all your extra time!

Here at TeamPassword we help over 14,000 customers worldwide securely manage their passwords and keep their businesses functioning at the hi

Here at TeamPassword we help over 14,000 customers worldwide securely manage their passwords and keep their businesses functioning ...

Take a Break with Our Top Marketing Tools Word Search

Here at TeamPassword we help over 14,000 customers worldwide securely manage their passwords and keep their businesses functioning at the highest level. This customer database provides a unique insight into the popular tools, apps, and systems that top marketers, startups, and tech giants rely on to keep their projects moving ...

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

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In an increasingly digital world, we&rsquo;re switching more and more of our daily lives over to the Internet. While this brave new world is exciting and convenient, it&rsquo;s not without its problems.&nbsp;
The issue of unsafe passwords has been around for a while. But have you ever thought about where and how to store them?
Most of us have several passwords, and we&rsquo;re encouraged to never duplicate them. Some people simply write them all down on a piece of paper &mdash; which is fraught with danger. But others store their passwords electronically.
As you&rsquo;re about to find out, not all electronic systems of password storage are <a href="https://www.teampassword.com/blog/10-things-you-need-to-do-to-keep-passwords-safe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">safe</a>. Here are five of the most dangerous ways to store your passwords.&nbsp;
But before we begin:
Avoid bad idea passwords and dangerous storage methods with TeamPassword. This advanced <a href="https://www.teampassword.com/blog/why-you-need-a-password-manager" target="_blank" rel="noopener">password manager</a> features a selection of security features, including password encryption and two-step verification. Sign up for a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" rel="follow">free trial</a> today.&nbsp;

<h2>1. Email</h2>
Have you ever emailed yourself a password to ensure you&rsquo;re never without it? Great idea, right? Actually, emailing yourself your passwords is a really bad idea, and here&rsquo;s why:
<ul>
<li>Emails are usually sent in plain text. Without encryption, your passwords are susceptible if your email account is ever compromised.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Unsafe passwords sent via email often pass through several systems and servers. There&rsquo;ll also be a copy in your sent folder. If someone else can access your email account, your passwords become vulnerable.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Some email platforms store data locally on a drive. If someone steals your computer, phone, or tablet, your passwords become vulnerable.</li>
</ul>
A really bad idea for passwords is to send them via email &mdash; either to yourself or someone else. <a href="https://www.teampassword.com/blog/have-i-been-hacked-how-to-know-for-sure" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hackers </a>and scammers are more resourceful than ever, and they can often steal your information before you realize you&rsquo;ve been compromised.&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s tempting to send a quick email to yourself containing unsafe passwords when you sign up for new online services. For the sake of an extra minute or two, don&rsquo;t give fraudsters easy access to your accounts. Use an encrypted email vault to safeguard all your passwords.&nbsp;
<h2>2. Online Documents</h2>
A lot of people like the convenience of saving crucial information using online document systems such as Google Docs. But this is a bad idea for passwords, as these systems are designed for text &mdash; not sensitive data.
Yes, a password might protect your online document manager from unauthorized access. But what happens if that password is compromised? Many document software platforms don&rsquo;t offer encryption, two-step verification, or even the most basic security measures.&nbsp;
If you use online documents regularly, you&rsquo;re probably accessing your account on a regular basis &mdash; across several devices. What happens if you step away for a moment to buy a coffee, speak to a friend, or use the bathroom?
A criminal can access an unattended online document platform in seconds. And if this happens, it doesn't take a lot of effort to steal your unsafe passwords.&nbsp;
<h2>3. Instant Messaging Service</h2>
Instant messaging services provide us with a convenient way of staying in touch with friends and family. WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Snapchat were designed for private online conversations &mdash; not for storing passwords.
People who store their passwords on these apps do so because they believe they&rsquo;re fully encrypted. While that&rsquo;s often the case, it&rsquo;s important to remember that instant messaging services are often left open and operating in the background.
Imagine someone picks up your phone while you&rsquo;re not paying attention. If you left your device unlocked, that person would be able to access your password in seconds.
It&rsquo;s always a bad idea when passwords are stored on instant messaging services. By nature, these apps are designed to operate in the background &mdash; alerting you when someone sends a message. And because they&rsquo;re open, anyone with the device in their hand might be able to steal your unprotected passwords.&nbsp;
Don&rsquo;t fall into the trap of utilizing bad ideas for password storage. Sign up for a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">free trial</a> with TeamPassword, and give your unsafe passwords the protection they require.
<h2>4. Online Note-taker</h2>
Developers design online note-takers for everyday lists and reminders. While they&rsquo;re great for creating to-do and shopping lists, they&rsquo;re not so good for storing unsafe passwords.&nbsp;
An app such as Apple Notes is easy to use, accessible, and convenient. But it doesn&rsquo;t offer two-step authentication, encryption, or any sophisticated form of security.&nbsp;
If your computer or mobile device is unlocked, your saved passwords are vulnerable. In many cases, a criminal would simply need to open the app to gain access to your sensitive information.&nbsp;
OK, you might be extra vigilant when it comes to keeping your phone or computer locked. But hackers are resourceful, and they&rsquo;re very good at discovering unsafe passwords. Once they access your phone, any passwords stored in your note-taking app become vulnerable.&nbsp;
<h2>5. On a Non-Password-Protected Device</h2>
Of all the bad ideas for passwords, storing them on non-password-protected devices is about the worst. You might think that your tablet or laptop never leaves your side. But if your device is ever stolen, you&rsquo;ve given the criminals the easiest possible opportunity to access your saved passwords.&nbsp;
If you&rsquo;re determined to store passwords on a physical device &mdash; which is never a good idea &mdash; make sure the device password is a complex combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. And it should contain at least 12 characters.&nbsp;
<h2>Use TeamPassword for Extra Protection</h2>
Remembering and safely storing a dozen or more passwords isn&rsquo;t a simple task. By locking away all your passwords in a digital vault, you get maximum protection and easy access.&nbsp;
TeamPassword offers a range of <a href="https://www.teampassword.com/security" target="_blank" rel="noopener">security features</a> &mdash; designed to keep your passwords safe. Offering two-step authentication and encryption, this powerful protection system solves the problem of unsafe passwords with ease. Sign up for a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">free trial</a> to see these exciting features for yourself.&nbsp;

Storing passwords inappropriately can leave you open to fraud and theft. Avoid these storage methods at all costs. | TeamPassword Blog

Storing passwords inappropriately can leave you open to fraud and theft. Avoid these storage methods at all costs. ...

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