Usernames are essential for security and anonymity online. But some people come up with username ideas to stand out or align with a brand. Usernames can also help gain followers or build a social media following.
With so many possibilities, coming up with username ideas can be challenging! Luckily, there are plenty of tools and methods to create unique usernames.
Whether you're aiming for fame or privacy, we have username ideas to help you create unique usernames easily!
Using unique credentials (including passwords and usernames) can mitigate many cybersecurity vulnerabilities. When paired with a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager like TeamPassword</a>, strong usernames and passwords can protect you against attacks. Sign up for a 14-day free TeamPassword trial today!
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<h2>Why You Need to Use Unique Usernames</h2>
There are several reasons people want unique usernames ideas:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Security</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Anonymity</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Popularity</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Humor</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Business name ideas</li>
</ul>
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<h3>Unique Usernames for Security</h3>
Many people don't know about the importance of using unique or secure usernames for online security. Reusing usernames can be just as troublesome as <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/colonial-pipeline-ransomware-attack-dont-reuse-passwords">reusing passwords</a>.
If criminals steal your credentials from a <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/category/data-breaches">data breach</a>, they can use your username to figure out where else you have accounts and deploy spear-phishing attacks using fake correspondence to steal your credentials.
For example, hackers will send you a "password reset" from Instagram because they "suspect suspicious activity!" If you use unique usernames for every account, the attackers won't find your Instagram profile!
Don't think that you won't fall for these ploys! Many individuals with regular cybersecurity training fall victim to phishing attacks. Cybercriminals know that if they keep trying, they'll catch you when you're distracted or in a hurry.&nbsp;
In effect, unique usernames act as a second password, preventing anyone from finding your accounts with a single username.
What are some username mistakes that could put you at risk?
Don't use easy-to-guess information that could be found elsewhere on the web or sensitive info such as your social security or phone number.&nbsp;
<h4>What should not be included in a username so that it's secure?</h4>
<ol>
<li>
Personal Information: Avoid using any personal information such as your real name, date of birth, or address as part of your username.
</li>
<li>
Passwords or PINs: Do not use your passwords, PINs or other sensitive information as your username.
</li>
<li>
TMI: Do not include too much information that could potentially give away your identity, such as your phone number or email address.
</li>
<li>
Phishing Traps: Do not include any words or phrases that could be used in phishing attempts, such as "password", "admin", "login", etc.
</li>
</ol>
<h3></h3>
<h3>Unique Usernames for Anonymity</h3>
Aligned with security is anonymity. Maintaining anonymity online can protect you from cyberattacks and prevent work colleagues, clients, and other companies or individuals from finding you online.
Many people want to separate their professional profiles from their personal ones while maintaining an online presence. Using unique usernames can hide the profiles you prefer to keep private.
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<h3>Unique Usernames for Fame, Popularity, Attention</h3>
A good Instagram username can help you stand out and boost your online presence. If your username is unique or obscure, it could lead to more profile clicks and followers.
A good example is French Connection UK or @FCUK. At first glance, the username looks like an expletive, drawing people's attention to the brand.
People often use made-up words, obscure combinations, and other naming conventions to grab attention online.
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<h3>Unique Usernames for Humor</h3>
Humor is another reason people often want unique username ideas. For example, @PickledElephantTusk is sure to get people's attention and perhaps a chuckle at the ridiculousness.
Funny usernames are great for social media profiles, but you might want to avoid these if you're trying to aim for security or anonymity!
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<h3>Business Name Ideas</h3>
Most startups want a unique brand name, including URL and social media usernames. Startups can ensure that every digital touchpoint is unique to their brand by choosing an available unique username first.
While using the same username is necessary for branding on social media channels, companies should always choose different, unidentifiable usernames for non-public accounts&mdash;email marketing apps, keyword research tools, productivity tools, accounting apps, etc.
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<h2>How Can You Get Unique Usernames Ideas?</h2>
There are many places you go for unique username ideas. Here are a few of our best sources for inspiration:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Pinterest</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Username generators</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Google Search - type a word and look through the autocompletes. This is also an excellent way to find trending usernames</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Instagram hashtags</li>
</ul>
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<h2>Here are a Couple of Methods for Thinking of Great Usernames Ideas</h2>
If you're looking for inspiration, here are three methods for coming up with great username ideas. We've included processes for creativity, speed, and security.
<h3>Creating Your Own Unique Usernames</h3>
The best way to create unique username ideas is by combining two or three mismatched words with a number. First, come up with two or three categories, and then pick a word from each.
For example, let&rsquo;s choose the two categories fish, and US State:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">US State: Idaho</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Fish: Pufferfish</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Number: 13</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">@IdahoPufferfish13</li>
</ul>
You can come up with funny and cute usernames using this method. It's also a fantastic creative exercise some people might find entertaining.
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<h3>Use a Username Generator</h3>
If you don't want to waste time coming up with usernames yourself, a username generator is a fantastic option to create unique usernames fast!
Some username generator tools will let you add a prefix, suffix, or number and randomize the rest. This method works well if you're trying to find unique username ideas for a specific industry, like fitness, health, tech, etc.
Some username generators even provide a social media search function to see if your unique username is available on the relevant platforms&mdash;providing you speed and efficiency!
Random username generators are also excellent for security because you avoid familiarity, making it less likely for attackers to find you.
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<h3>Use a Password Generator</h3>
Password generators are great for creating unique username ideas. Password generators produce random strings with letters and numbers, significantly reducing the possibility of someone identifying you.
Try creating a username with TeamPassword's password generator:
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Visit our <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">free password generator</a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Deselect symbols (most platforms don't allow symbols in the username. Keep this selected if your platform does allow it!)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Our password generator only allows a minimum of 12 characters. If you need a shorter user name, drop the characters you don't need</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Copy/paste your random username to use when signing up for a new account</li>
</ol>
Remember to use our password generator with uppercase, lowercase, symbols, and numbers to create a secure unique password.&nbsp;
TeamPassword's password manager features a built-in password generator that suggests and pastes a strong password into forms during signup or resets. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a free 14-day free trial</a> to start managing your usernames and passwords securely.
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<h2>How You Can Secure Your Accounts Using a Password Manager</h2>
Usernames and passwords are the keys to your individual and company accounts. These credentials prevent attackers from breaching your devices, networks, social media, apps, financial services, and more.
Most companies have hundreds of accounts requiring authentication daily. Often team members need to share access, especially for social media, research tools, productivity apps, store accounts, and marketing tools, to name a few.
<a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/secure-password-sharing">Sharing credentials</a> over email, chat, or via spreadsheets exposes your company, clients, employees, and users to many cybersecurity risks. In some states and countries, sharing passwords this way is illegal!
Using a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager</a> is a secure and efficient way to store and share your company's credentials.
Here are five reasons to choose TeamPassword for your company:
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Affordable - Enterprise-grade password managers are often expensive. TeamPassword provides small businesses, agencies, and startups with an affordable password management solution.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Secure - TeamPassword is an <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/what-is-password-encryption-and-how-much-is-enough">accredited secure hosting provider</a> using state-of-the-art encryption technology. We store your passwords using AES-256, trusted by US government agencies and many other organizations globally.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Efficient - Share and revoke access in TeamPassword with a single click. Quickly create passwords using our built-in <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">secure password generator</a>.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Scalable - TeamPassword's plans scale with your business. Start with as few as five members and upgrade your plan as your workforce expands.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Flexible - Employees can sign into accounts using TeamPassword's Chrome, Firefox, or Safari browser extensions&mdash;catering to both Apple and Windows users.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
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<h2>Password Management With TeamPassword</h2>
TeamPassword makes it easy and secure to share credentials with employees, clients, freelancers, and contractors. Everyone gets a separate TeamPassword login to manage access and monitor activity.
TeamPassword encrypts your passwords, making it impossible for employees (or even TeamPassword staff) to preview raw credentials.
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<h3>Sharing Access With Groups</h3>
Add your team to TeamPassword and create groups to share access to your various accounts. If an employee, contractor, or freelancer leaves the team, simply remove them from the group&mdash;no need to worry about changing passwords!
If you're an agency working with multiple clients and accounts, one TeamPassword account is all you need! Just increase your plan accordingly.
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<h3>Activity Logging</h3>
Keep track of TeamPassword activity, just like an enterprise password manager does. Monitor logins, password changes, credential sharing, and more to spot suspicious activity.
TeamPassword also lets you set up email notifications&mdash;helpful in monitoring sensitive accounts or specific actions, like sharing or adding new users.
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<h3>Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)</h3>
Enabling 2FA on your TeamPassword account prevents attackers from gaining access, even if they steal your employee's username and password.
TeamPassword uses the Google Authenticator app (iOS &amp; Android), requiring a six-digital randomly generated code as the second authentication step. Without the employee's device, hackers can't complete TeamPassword authentication.
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<h2>Start With a Free Trial</h2>
Coming up with unique username ideas isn't enough to protect your company's digital assets from attack. Protect your company's usernames and passwords with <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">TeamPassword</a>.
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> to test our robust and efficient sharing features with your team today!

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.

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Password vaulting is the practice of storing passwords in a password manager (or vault) and using that vault to sign in to other accounts, applications, and websites. It&rsquo;s an essential <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/10-easy-cybersecurity-strategies-for-small-businesses">cybersecurity strategy</a> every business must consider.&nbsp;
Password vaults provide small businesses with a secure way to manage company and employee credentials without the cost of enterprise SSO (Single Sign-On) solutions.
The idea behind password vaulting is that you only sign into one application (the vault) and use that app to provide authentication to all your other accounts.
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a> is essentially a password vault. A company and its team members store all their credentials in TeamPassword and use browser extensions or a mobile app to log in to other accounts.
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TeamPassword is designed to make sharing credentials with team members safe and easy! <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for TeamPassword's 14-day free trial</a> to explore our security features with your team today!
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<h2>Why is Password Vaulting Necessary?</h2>
Password vaulting solves many cybersecurity vulnerabilities that arise from storing and sharing credentials.
For example, it's not uncommon for companies to share passwords via email, chat, or spreadsheets. The problem with these methods is that they're not secure methods for storing and sharing passwords. In some states or countries, this practice may even be illegal!
With a password vault, team members use an encrypted app to share credentials. All company credentials stay inside the vault, mitigating unauthorized sharing and access.
Password vaulting also mitigates the need for employees to remember multiple credentials&mdash;often leading to team members reusing passwords or creating weak passwords in an attempt to remember them all!
With a password vault, you only need to remember one set of credentials&mdash;your <a href="https://www.teampassword.com/blog/master-password-what-is-it-and-do-i-need-one">master password</a>. The password vault then authenticates you for every other account. So, businesses and employees can <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/tips-and-tricks-to-create-a-strong-password">create strong passwords</a> and never reuse credentials.
<h2>Advantages of using a password vault:</h2>
<ul>
<li>Remember a single password</li>
<li>Sync your passwords across all browsers, devices, and operating systems</li>
<li>Enables good password hygiene - use strong, unique passwords for every account</li>
<li>Share passwords securely and effortlessly with others. Create shared folders for teammates using the same password manager.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<h2>Drawbacks to using a password vault:</h2>
The benefits of a password vault outweigh the limitations for most users. It's still worth knowing the dangers, however. 
<ul>
<li>Does not protect you from malware, such as keyloggers that could steal your master password</li>
<li>If your vault is hacked, all your accounts are exposed</li>
<li>If you forget your master password, you could lose access to your entire vault</li>
</ul>
<h2>Can password vaults get hacked?</h2>
Yes, password vaults can get hacked. The most common ways a password vault gets hacked are:
<ul>
<li>Weak master password</li>
<li>Not using 2FA or using it but giving away the code</li>
<li>Malware that reads your keyboard inputs and steals your master password</li>
</ul>
The development environment can get breached, allowing threat actors to try and brute force your master password or carry out sophisticated phishing attacks using data they've gathered on you.&nbsp;
Password vaults are popular because they&rsquo;re the most secure solution for most users. One random, long, unique password guarding your vault will serve you better than 100 reused, easy-to-remember passwords. The only 100% secure solution is one that does not allow anyone any access, ever - and that's not very useful!
<h2>What is SSO?</h2>
SSO (Single Sign-On) is an authentication management solution where team members use one set of credentials to sign into an organization's identity and access management (IAM) system. The system works in the background, providing access to all of the organization's apps, tools, networks, and other platforms.
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IAM solutions usually require <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/one-time-passwords-vs-two-factor-authentication">multifactor authentication</a>, which may include one or more of the following:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">OTP - one-time password (via text or email)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">App-based authentication - Google Authenticator or custom solution</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Biometrics - fingerprint, facial recognition</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">USB password key</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Location/IP-based sign in - can only sign in from a particular location or IP address </li>
</ul>
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<h3>SSO vs. Password Vaulting</h3>
The main difference between SSO and password vaulting is that users must still sign into accounts using a vault, whereas they only sign in once with SSO.
Password vaulting is about protecting passwords, but SSO manages many authentication aspects to ensure the correct user is accessing the system.
SSO is significantly more expensive than password vaulting because many apps and platforms require custom integrations for authentication or only work with enterprise subscription plans&mdash;which can cost thousands, hundreds of thousands, or even millions of dollars per month!
For small businesses and agencies, password vaulting or a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager</a> is a sufficient credential management solution.
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<h2>When to Upgrade From Password Vaulting to SSO?</h2>
In most instances, upgrading from password vaulting to SSO will align with growth. Password managers work well for small businesses, but take strain as a company and its team grows.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
Here are four reasons why companies upgrade from password vaulting to SSO.
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<h3>Your Organization Requires More Security</h3>
One of the main reasons companies upgrade from password vaulting to SSO is to improve security. If a company manages large amounts of user data, then an enterprise authentication solution like SSO is essential to protect the company and its users from breaches.
Companies only have to protect one entry point with SSO, as team members cannot log in to individual applications or accounts, making it easier to manage security and thwart attacks.
SSO also comes with advanced session monitoring capability allowing IT and security teams to identify suspicious activity.
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<h3>Improve Efficiency</h3>
As a company scales, the number of apps, tools, accounts, and plugins increases. According to the global software giant Pegasystems, its clients' employees switch "job-critical" applications around 1,100 times per day!
If employees have to use a password manager to sign into every account, authentication could take up a lot of time, decreasing daily productivity.
Companies must assess how much time they're losing to authentication using password vaulting vs. the cost of an SSO to determine when to upgrade for productivity reasons.
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<h3>Growth Exceeds Password Vaulting Efficiency</h3>
All password vaults must make server requests to provide authentication to team members. As teams grow, server requests increase exponentially. Multiple requests decrease server speed, which could delay authentication by several seconds. If you have too many people trying to log into the same application, authentication might fail for some users.
It's essential to keep track of these delays and failures, as this is a good indication that you have outgrown password vaulting and must upgrade to SSO.
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<h3>Using Multiple Environments</h3>
If your team only works on a single environment, like Windows or Linux, password vaulting will provide sufficient security. But, if your team switches between multiple environments and systems, SSO is crucial for reducing sign-ins and increasing security.
Admins might also need to set up different access and account privileges for each user or user group, which is easier to achieve with SSO than password vaulting.
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<h2>Secure Password Vaulting From TeamPassword</h2>
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword's password manager</a> is a secure password vaulting solution for small businesses and agencies managing multiple company and client accounts.
The average TeamPassword client shares around 150 passwords, including content management systems, social media accounts, websites, marketing tools, and email marketing software, to name a few&mdash;this excludes employee credentials for individual logins like Slack, email, Asana, etc.
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<h3>Group and Individual Password Management</h3>
Team members can use TeamPassword for shared and individual accounts, so all your credentials are in one place!&nbsp;
When a team member creates a new password, they check Share with to Only Me (Private) to set up private credentials. From the dashboard, team members can also see the groups where they have shared access.
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<h3>Sharing Credentials in TeamPassword</h3>
Once you sign up for TeamPassword, you can create groups for the accounts you need to share&mdash;by department, project, client, team, etc.
You then invite your team members and share passwords through these groups. Instead of using raw credentials, employees use TeamPassword's browser extensions (Firefox, Chrome, Safari) to log into shared applications. TeamPassword also has an app for teams that need to log in to mobile-only applications.
When someone no longer needs access, simply remove them from a TeamPassword group with a single click&mdash;no more changing credentials when employees leave the company or a team.
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<h3>Stronger Passwords</h3>
TeamPassword's built-in <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">password generator</a> allows you to create robust, unique credentials for every account. You can create passwords from 12-32 characters using symbols, uppercase, lowercase, and numbers.
Once you save a new password, TeamPassword updates the credentials for all team members. So you don't lose time notifying and sharing new password updates&mdash;work continues as usual!
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<h3>Activity Logging and Email Notifications</h3>
A good password management solution allows you to not only protect company passwords, but monitor activity. TeamPassword's activity tracker lets you monitor all TeamPassword actions, including new passwords, sharing, logins, new groups, deleting credentials, and more.
You can also set up email notifications for each group to monitor sensitive data or critical TeamPassword actions.
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<h3>Two-Factor Authentication</h3>
Each team member can set up two-factor authentication (2FA) for their TeamPassword account using Google Authenticator (iOS and Android).
Many platforms, including Facebook, crypto wallets, and banks, trust Google Authenticator for 2FA. With 2FA, attackers must steal an employee's password and the device with Google Authenticator to hack their TeamPassword account.
You can also create backup codes, so you're never locked out of your TeamPassword account!
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<h3>How Safe is TeamPassword?</h3>
TeamPassword is a secure hosting provider with multiple international accreditations. We encrypt your data using state-of-the-art AES 256-bit encryption technology&mdash;trusted by US government agencies and multinational corporations worldwide!
TeamPassword hashes, salts, and encrypts passwords locally on your computer before uploading them to our servers, thus preventing attackers from intercepting your data. With 256-bit encryption, your passwords stay hidden, even from TeamPassword staff!
We follow strict security protocols when deploying code and updates while carrying out frequent vulnerability sweeps to scan our systems for viruses and ensure no backdoors lead to your sensitive data.
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<h2>Get Started With TeamPassword for Free</h2>
Ready to get the affordable password vaulting solution for your business? 
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Try TeamPassword for free for 14-days</a> to test our security features with your team&mdash;no obligation, no credit card details required!
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a free trial today!</a>

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Password attacks are usually the primary cause of most <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/category/data-breaches">data breaches</a>. Criminals are constantly searching for password vulnerabilities to access organizations' devices, systems, and networks.&nbsp;
Once attackers breach your company's network, it's extremely difficult to remove them. In some instances, it can take months to remove hackers from a network completely.&nbsp;
With a password manager, businesses can prevent most password attacks. Password managers allow companies to store their credentials in an encrypted platform, preventing hackers from accessing or stealing passwords in the event of a breach.
We designed TeamPassword specifically for small businesses and startups to store and <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-safely-share-passwords-with-coworkers">share passwords safely with coworkers</a>. TeamPassword is the most affordable password manager using state-of-the-art encryption technology to secure your data.
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<h2>How TeamPassword Prevents Password Attacks</h2>
Most password attacks happen as a result of poor credential management and a lack of employee training. TeamPassword improves your company's password security, mitigating the five common password attacks listed below.
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<h3>Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)</h3>
2FA adds an extra step to each employee's TeamPassword account. If cybercriminals steal an employee's credentials through a successful password attack, 2FA prevents a full breach.
TeamPassword uses Google Authenticator, which is available for iOS and Android devices. Employees need to enter their password and the six-digit TeamPassword code to log into their account.
Team members can also create backup codes, so they're never locked out of their TeamPassword account&mdash;even if they lose their Google Authenticator device.
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<h3>Create Secure Passwords for Every Account</h3>
Weak and reused passwords expose a company to many password vulnerabilities. TeamPassword's built-in <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">password generator</a> ensures you create robust credentials for every account and never reuse the same password.
The password generator lets you create passwords 12-32 characters long using letters (uppercase/lowercase), symbols, and numbers. You can also use our password generator to <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/username-generator-why-you-need-one">create unique usernames</a>, increasing the strength of your company's credentials.
With all your credentials stored inside TeamPassword, you never have to remember usernames and passwords!
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<h3>Activity Logging and Email Notifications</h3>
TeamPassword's activity log records every action team members perform inside the password manager. You can also set up email notifications for sensitive actions or accounts so that you can get ahead of any suspicious activity.
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<h3>Share Passwords Safely</h3>
Password attacks often happen as a result of human error and careless credential management.&nbsp;
TeamPassword allows teams to share passwords securely through the password manager, so you never have to worry about exposing raw credentials through emails, chat apps, spreadsheets, and other unsecure methods.
Instead of entering a username and password, teams use TeamPassword's browser extensions (Firefox, Chrome, Safari) to log into your company's tools, applications, and other accounts.
TeamPassword also has a mobile app for logging in to mobile-only applications. Employees simply copy/paste the credentials they need and log in!
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Get started with a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">14-day free trial</a> and protect your company's digital assets with <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword's robust password manager</a>.
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<h2>5 Most Common Password Attacks</h2>
These are the five most common password attacks criminals use to steal your employee's credentials. Using a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager</a> can minimize or eliminate these types of attacks.
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<h3>1 - Social Engineering (Phishing)</h3>
Social engineering is an umbrella term for many psychological manipulation attacks. Essentially, social engineering attacks con team members into sharing sensitive information or installing malicious software.
Social engineering is often complicated for employees to identify, and many well-educated professionals from government agencies and multinational corporations fall for these scams.
Criminals often use email to launch phishing attacks but can use text (smishing), social media, phone calls (vishing), and other communication methods. Attackers might also impersonate someone to trick employees into revealing sensitive data&mdash;which is how a 17-year-old managed to <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/what-happened-during-the-twitter-spear-phishing-attack">breach Twitter's networks in 2020</a>.
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Aside from phishing, social engineering attacks also include:
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Spear-phishing - a targeted attack on a specific group or individual where criminals reveal enough data that victims believe they are communicating with a legitimate source.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Watering hole attack - criminals target a website or platform frequented by a specific group of professionals&mdash;like a chat room for accountants. Attackers look for vulnerabilities in the website to install malicious code. When victims visit the infected website, they simultaneously download malware and trojans, giving attackers remote access to their device and eventually the company's network.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Baiting - hackers leave an infected storage device (USB drive, CD, external hard drive) lying near a target's location. In a bid to find out what's on the drive, victims insert it into their PC, which immediately installs a malicious package, giving hackers remote access.</li>
</ol>
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To prevent social engineering, companies must educate employees and use an effective password management strategy.
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<h3>2 - Man-in-the-Middle-Attack</h3>
A Man-in-the-middle (MitM) attack is where hackers intercept data (passwords included) as it's passed from one system to another. The hackers might relay this information uninterrupted and steal data or manipulate it, so the receiver gets false information.
MitM attacks can happen wherever data passes through a network or from one system to another. For example, if an employee uses an unencrypted public WiFi network, hackers can intercept the data they send and receive&mdash;stealing passwords and other sensitive information.
MitM attacks often happen when websites or servers don't use secure HTTPS encryption. Attackers install malicious code on these websites, allowing them to intercept any data passed through forms&mdash;including usernames and passwords!
In 2017, Equifax had to pull its mobile apps from the Apple App Store and Google Play because it had security flaws vulnerable to MitM attacks with traffic passing through HTTP instead of HTTPS servers.
TeamPassword prevents MitM by hashing, salting, and encrypting your passwords locally on your computer before uploading them to our servers. If attackers manage to intercept data, they're unable to read or decode it!
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<h3>3 - Brute Force Attack</h3>
Hackers use automated tools to crawl websites, trying username and password combinations until they find a match. With tools like Google reCaptcha and two-step authentication, these brute force attacks are less successful than they were ten years ago, but hackers continue to try!
If your company uses the WordFence WordPress plugin, you'll notice bots bombard your website with these sorts of brute force attacks all day, every day.
Brute force attacks are highly effective for hacking accounts where victims use a weak username and password combination. For example, using the company's name or an employee gives attackers half of your credentials.
Creating unique, <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/best-types-of-usernames-username-ideas-to-make-your-logins-more-secure">random usernames</a> paired with a strong password minimizes the chance of falling victim to brute force attacks.
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<h3>4 - Credential Stuffing Attack</h3>
Credential stuffing attacks are similar to brute force attacks and common fallouts from data breaches. Hackers use credentials stolen during a data breach to access other websites and applications where victims might use the same username and password combination.
Criminals auction these stolen credentials on the dark web, often selling the same database to multiple buyers, resulting in attacks from numerous unscrupulous individuals.
Credential stuffing is a fully automated attack system where criminals use bots to visit websites and platforms to find a match.
Credential stuffing attacks are relatively common, and criminals have breached big corporations like Superdrug (UK retailer) and Uber.&nbsp;
In 2016, criminals used stolen credentials from a previous data breach to access one of Uber's private GitHub repositories for the UK and Europe. The 12 Uber employees hadn't activated two-factor authentication, so hackers were able to easily login. The attackers also gained access to Uber's AWS datastore, making off with more than 32 million Uber driver records!
There is an easy solution to eliminate the risk of credential stuffing&mdash;never use the same password more than once! Users should also use two-factor authentication, which will prevent both brute force and credential stuffing attacks.
TeamPassword's <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/password-manager-with-2fa">password manager uses two-factor authentication</a> to prevent attackers from accessing your account, even if they steal an employee's credentials. You can also create backup codes so employees are never locked out of their TeamPassword account.
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<h3>5 - Dictionary Attack</h3>
A dictionary attack is similar to a brute force attack, except criminals narrow down a list of possible passwords. These words or phrases might include an individual's pets, kids, address information, company details, date of births, the platform's name, and other commonly used passwords.
Criminals create an algorithm that cycles through these "dictionary words" until they find a match. How do hackers get this information?
It's freely available on company/personal websites and social media. With less than an hour's research, hackers can learn your pet's and family members' names, when you celebrate birthdays, where you live, work, and go to the gym. They can enter all of these keywords into their algorithm and let bots do the rest.
With TeamPassword's password generator, you never create familiar or recognizable passwords&mdash;eliminating any risk of your company falling victim to dictionary attacks.
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<h2>Try TeamPassword to Protect Your Passwords</h2>
The biggest takeaway from this article is:
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Never reuse passwords</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Don't create weak passwords or use familiar phrases</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Always use two-factor authentication when it's available</li>
</ol>
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
Protect your company from password attacks with TeamPassword's secure password management solution. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Try TeamPassword for 14 days</a> to test sharing passwords safely with your team.

Learn the five most common password attacks criminals use, and how using a password manager can minimize your vulnerability.

Learn the five most common password attacks criminals use, and how using a password manager can minimize your ...

5 most common password attacks

Five most common password attacks

With security threats around every corner, no business, large or small, is safe from cyberattacks. Some cybercriminals want millions of dollars, while others go for easy targets, picking off a few hundred dollars here and there.
These might seem like small sums, but in parts of Eastern Europe and Asia, where the average monthly wage is less than $500, cybercriminals can earn a decent living working just a few hours a week.
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Mitigating security threats starts with effective password management. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day trial</a> of TeamPassword's robust credential management solution for small businesses.
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<h2>What are Cybersecurity Threats?</h2>
Cybersecurity or security threats are the risks and vulnerabilities an organization has which are open for attacks. Companies can identify these risks through a comprehensive <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/what-is-a-security-audit-and-does-my-business-need-one">security audit</a> and determine how to mitigate cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
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<h3>Why do Cybercriminals Attack Small Businesses?</h3>
Cybercriminals attack small businesses for many of the same reasons they breach large corporations, including:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Financial gain</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Sensitive data or intellectual property</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Supply chain attack strategies - infiltrating a weaker network as a conduit to a bigger target</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Ransomware</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Installing malware</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Corporate sabotage or espionage</li>
</ul>
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Small businesses are significantly easier to breach than larger organizations with sophisticated security systems.
Most of the time, it's low-level criminals trying to hack small businesses&mdash;hijacking digital assets, stealing data, or holding systems ransom. Still, occasionally, <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/category/hacking-groups">cyberespionage groups</a> infiltrate small companies to gather intel or as a means to a much larger target.
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<h2>Top 5 Security Threats for Small Businesses</h2>
Small businesses face many security threats every day&mdash;and most of the time, they never realize it!&nbsp;
For example, hackers use automated tools (bots) to crawl platforms and networks, trying username and password combinations in an attempt to breach the system&mdash;sometimes hundreds or thousands of times a day. Firewalls and anti-virus software works in the background, shielding businesses from these constant attacks.
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Here are the top five security threats for small businesses in 2021.&nbsp;
<h3>1 - Reusing and Weak Passwords</h3>
Two of the most common password errors small businesses make are:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Reusing passwords for multiple accounts</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Using weak, easy to guess passwords</li>
</ul>
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Reusing passwords is a dangerous practice. Hackers only need to steal one set of credentials, and they have access to multiple company accounts using the same password.&nbsp;
Hackers use stolen credentials from a data breach and attempt to use the same username and password for other platforms until they find a match&mdash;also known as a credential stuffing attack.
Weak passwords are also common among small businesses. Team members create weak passwords to manage multiple accounts logins using words anyone can guess.
Using a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager like TeamPassword</a> can eliminate reusing credentials and weak passwords.&nbsp;
TeamPassword features a <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">password generator</a> so that team members can create and store secure passwords with just a few clicks. You can create passwords from 12-32 characters using uppercase, lowercase, symbols, and numbers.
You can also use TeamPassword's password generator to <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/username-generator-why-you-need-one">create secure usernames</a>, increasing your credential security and mitigating credential and brute force attacks.
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<h3>2 - Poor Password Storage and Sharing</h3>
Small businesses with limited resources often use spreadsheets, emails, or messaging apps to store and <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-safely-share-passwords-with-coworkers">share passwords with team members</a>. Employees <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-save-passwords-in-chrome-and-alternatives">save passwords in browsers like Chrome</a>, exposing the company to further vulnerabilities.
These unsecure password storage and sharing methods make it easy for attackers to steal many or all of a company's credentials in a matter of minutes! In some cases, these storage methods could violate GDPR or CCPA regulations.
Secure password storage and sharing must be every company's priority. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a> makes it easy for small businesses to store company and client credentials safely.
TeamPassword is an accredited secure hosting provider using state-of-the-art encryption to store your company's credentials. We use AES 256-bit encryption&mdash;trusted by many multinational organizations and government institutions (including the United States).
TeamPassword also makes it easy to share credentials with team members. You can create groups to share access with only those that need it. When someone no longer needs access, remove them with a single click.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
Explore more of TeamPassword's security features to protect your business with a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">free 14-day trial</a>.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>3 - Social Engineering (Phishing Attacks)</h3>
Social engineering is an umbrella term for multiple types of cyberattacks based on psychological manipulation.&nbsp;
The most common example of social engineering is a phishing attack&mdash;where criminals send "spoof" communications to employees with links that download trojans and malware.
Most phishing attempts arrive via email, but criminals also use text, social media, chat, phone calls, and other communication means.
Spear phishing is a focused phishing attack where criminals use personal information or familiar communications to target a specific individual or group.
Spear phishing attacks can be challenging to identify, often fooling well-trained, security-conscious professionals and government employees.
The only way to combat social engineering attacks is through constant training and even mock drills, so employees learn how to spot inconsistencies and suspicious communications.
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<h3>3 - Malware, Spyware &amp; Ransomware Attacks</h3>
There are many ways cybercriminals deploy malware, spyware, and ransomware attacks. Most often, criminals use social engineering to install these malicious packages, giving them access to a company device or network.
Another method criminals deploy these packages is over public WiFi networks. Criminals often set up spoof networks to mimic a popular local WiFi network, like Starbucks. Anyone logging onto this network will install malicious code, giving attackers access to their device.
Once hackers access one employee's device, they can move laterally through company networks infecting other employees, devices, and networks&mdash;installing malware, spyware, ransomware, or other malicious software.
Small businesses are particularly susceptible to ransomware because they have little or no defense against this sophisticated technology. And don't think criminals are only after the millions from big corporations!&nbsp;
Many low-level cybercriminals will be happy with tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, money they know small businesses have on hand.
Like with social engineering, combating malicious code comes down to education. Companies must restrict internet browsing and educate employees about the dangers of clicking links or downloads.
Small businesses must also avoid using free software and applications. Criminals often use freeware and free apps to infect devices with malware. Once they have access to your device, it's difficult to remove them, even after deleting the app or with anti-virus software.
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<h3>4 - Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) Attacks</h3>
Cybercriminals use a large number of computers in a coordinated attack on a system&mdash;usually overwhelming the root access authentication in an attempt to shut it down.
Most DDoS attacks aim to create confusion or divert attention from a more subtle breach where hackers can pass through undetected. Like how pickpockets work in a busy public space&mdash;one person creates a distraction while another steals your wallet.
Most small businesses don't have the capacity to deal with DDoS attacks, but tools and systems are available to mitigate the fallout.
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<h3>5 - Insider Threats</h3>
Although more common in large corporations with disgruntled employees, insider threats are still a security threat for small businesses&mdash;which could include contractors, clients, and freelancers.
Insider threats are complicated to identify and defend. One way companies mitigate insider threats is through an effective <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/10-easy-cybersecurity-strategies-for-small-businesses">cybersecurity strategy</a> that limits access to systems, data, and applications.
Small businesses can achieve a similar strategy by using a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager</a>. With TeamPassword, you can create groups for sharing and only provide access to those who need it.
Using TeamPassword for sharing access to freelancers, temps, and contractors will prevent these individuals from stealing passwords or sharing access. TeamPassword's activity log keeps track of every team member, and you can set up email notifications for instant alerts to sensitive data and applications.
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<h2>Mitigating Security Threats With TeamPassword</h2>
We built TeamPassword to solve many of the security threats small businesses face every day. The biggest small business challenge is managing passwords and providing secure access to team members.
TeamPassword reduces those problems with an affordable password manager for small businesses.&nbsp;
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Here are five reasons to choose TeamPassword for your company's password management solution.
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Accessible Everywhere - TeamPassword features browser extensions for Chrome, Safari, and Firefox, so your team can use our password manager on their preferred operating system. Additionally, the TeamPassword app provides access to mobile-only applications.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Secure Unique Password Generator - create unique, robust passwords with a single click for every account using TeamPassword's built-in password generator.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) - Team members can secure their TeamPassword account with 2FA. Even if attackers manage to steal an employee's TeamPassword credentials, 2FA prevents a full breach. We use Google Authenticator, available on iOS and Android devices.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Secure Encryption - TeamPassword uses state-of-the-art encryption technology to hash, salt, and encrypt passwords locally on your computer before uploading them to our servers&mdash;mitigating the chance of attackers intercepting your data. With your passwords encrypted in your TeamPassword account, not even our employees can view your data!</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Access Management - Control your company's assets by sharing credentials only with those who need them. Create groups to share access and remove team members when they no longer need it.</li>
</ol>
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>Get a Free 14-Day Free Trial</h3>
Minimize security threats with an advanced password management solution from TeamPassword. 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> to test our password manager with your team, systems, and assets&mdash;no obligation or credit card required!

These are the top 5 security threats for small businesses, and how to protect against them using a password manager like TeamPassword.

These are the top 5 security threats for small businesses, and how to protect against them using a ...

Top 5 Security Threats for Small Businesses

Team Password Blog | Author donnie-hasseltine | Page 1

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.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
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.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
<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. 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>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.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
<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>.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
<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.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<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.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<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.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<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 Environmental, 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>.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>8. Xhensila Zemblaku - Art Director - Canada</h3>
Xhensila Zemblaku is a freelance art director, UX/UI designer, and illustrator from Markham, Canada. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Ryerson University with almost ten years of experience.
Xhensila has been a freelancer for most of her professional career and earned over <a href="https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~01a08d1fcc6ea8fbcb">$400k on Upwork</a>, completed over 150 jobs, and 4,663 hours!&nbsp;
Xhensila's work includes typography, print design, UX/UI design, web, and mobile design. She's a Top Rated Upwork Freelancer currently charging $200 per hour for various creative gigs.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<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.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<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.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
<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.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
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!

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!
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<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;
<h2>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>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$$w0rd123</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Hashed password: 6AF1CE202340FE71BDB914AD5357E33A6982A63B</li>
</ul>
While this might seem secure, simple hashed passwords aren't hack-proof.
The hash function only creates a unique hash for each password, not each user. So, if multiple users have the password, Pa$$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): 72AE25495A7981C40622D49F9A52E4F1565C90F048F59027BD9C8C8900D5C3D8</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Password two hashed value (SHA256): B4B6603ABC670967E99C7E7F1389E40CD16E78AD38EB1468EC2AA1E62B8BED3A</li>
</ul>
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<h2>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>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 ...

What is password encryption and how much is enough?

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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