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://teampassword.com/blog/the-best-ways-to-store-passwords-2023" target="_blank" rel="follow 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://teampassword.com/blog/best-password-managers-for-teams" target="_blank" rel="follow noopener">password manager for teams</a> features a selection of security features, including password encryption and two-step verification. Sign up for a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/signup" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">free trial</a> today.&nbsp;
[Table of Contents]
<ul>
<li><a href="#email" rel="follow">Email</a></li>
<li><a href="#Documents" rel="follow">Online Documents</a></li>
<li><a href="#instantmessaging" rel="follow">Instant Messaging Service</a></li>
<li><a href="#onlinenotetaker" rel="follow">Online Note-taker</a></li>
<li><a href="#nonpasswordprotecteddevice" rel="follow">On a Non-Password-Protected Device</a></li>
</ul>

<h2 id="email">1. Email</h2>
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/efPCc2QZQ7C0OT1KeoKe" alt="" width="655" height="88">
We've all been there: struggling to remember a new password and considering emailing it to ourselves for safekeeping. While it might seem convenient, emailing passwords is a terrible security practice with far-reaching consequences. Here's why:
<ul>
<li data-sourcepos="7:3-7:245">Unencrypted Transmission: Emails often travel in plain text, like postcards. Anyone with access to the data stream &ndash; hackers, scammers, or even compromised servers &ndash; could easily intercept the email and steal your password in its entirety.</li>
<li data-sourcepos="9:3-9:33">Multiple Vulnerable Points: Even if the email itself is encrypted, your password is exposed at several stages. It's stored on your device before sending, sits unencrypted on email servers during transit, and resides in your sent folder &ndash; all potential points of entry for attackers.</li>
<li data-sourcepos="11:3-11:248">Local Storage Risks: Many email platforms store data locally on your devices. If your computer, phone, or tablet is stolen or infected with malware, even deleted emails containing passwords might be recoverable, putting your accounts at risk.</li>
</ul>
The ease with which cybercriminals can exploit these vulnerabilities makes emailing passwords a high-stakes gamble. A stolen password could grant them access to your bank accounts, social media profiles, email itself, and more. The <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/cybersecurity-complete-guide" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">damage can be immense</a>, so why risk it for a temporary convenience?

<h2 id="Documents">2. Online Documents</h2>
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/Hh6oH8AzTMSnQFUaPHR9" alt="" width="216" height="235">
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 id="instantmessaging">3. Instant Messaging Service</h2>
Instant messaging (IM) services like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Snapchat offer a convenient way to communicate, but they are not designed for securely storing passwords. While some IM platforms offer end-to-end encryption for message content, they lack crucial security features necessary for password management.
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.
Here's why storing passwords on IM apps is a security risk:
<ul data-sourcepos="9:1-9:155">
<li data-sourcepos="9:1-9:155">Accessibility on Unlocked Devices: IM apps are designed to run in the background on unlocked devices. This means anyone with physical access to your unlocked phone or computer could potentially view your unencrypted passwords.</li>
<li data-sourcepos="10:1-10:164">Accidental Sharing: A single inadvertent tap or screenshot could send your password to someone unintended, compromising the security of your online accounts.</li>
<li data-sourcepos="11:1-12:0">Limited Security Features: Unlike dedicated password managers, IM applications typically lack features like secure password generation, two-factor authentication, and strong encryption specifically designed to protect passwords.</li>
</ul>
Dedicated password management applications offer robust security features like encryption, secure storage, and auto-fill functionality for logins.
<h2 id="onlinenotetaker">4. Online Note-taker</h2>
While online note-taking applications like Apple Notes offer a convenient platform for managing everyday tasks and reminders, they are demonstrably unsuitable for storing sensitive information, particularly passwords. These platforms, designed for general purpose note-taking, lack the robust security features essential for safeguarding confidential credentials.
Here's why online note-taking apps pose a significant security risk for passwords:
<ul>
<li data-sourcepos="9:3-9:314">Absence of Multi-Factor Authentication: Unlike dedicated password managers, these applications typically do not offer multi-factor authentication (MFA). MFA adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second verification step beyond a simple password, significantly hindering unauthorized access attempts.</li>
<li data-sourcepos="11:3-11:322">Limited Encryption Capabilities: While some note-taking applications may offer basic encryption features, they often fall short of the robust encryption protocols employed by dedicated password management solutions. This weaker encryption leaves sensitive data vulnerable to potential decryption by malicious actors.</li>
<li data-sourcepos="13:3-13:97">Accessibility on Unlocked Devices: Online note-taking apps are designed for ease of use and accessibility. This ease of access translates to a vulnerability. If a user's device remains unlocked and unattended, a perpetrator would only need to access the specific application to view unencrypted passwords.</li>
</ul>
In a world of increasingly sophisticated cyber threats, it is critical to prioritize robust security practices. Online note-taking applications simply do not provide the necessary safeguards for password management. Users are strongly advised to consider secure alternatives, such as dedicated password managers or offline password vaults, to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of their login credentials.
<h2 id="nonpasswordprotecteddevice">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 data-sourcepos="7:1-7:6">Control Your Security and Choose Convenience with TeamPassword</h2>
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/0gCOt5oQBCE1vxckmRZC" alt="The TeamPassword Extension for Chrome lets you sign into any account in seconds" width="828" height="466">
Our digital vault safeguards your passwords with industry-leading AES 256-bit encryption and ironclad two-step authentication. Stop wasting time remembering &ndash; TeamPassword empowers you with secure, one-click logins across all your devices.
<ul>
<li data-sourcepos="9:1-9:157">Divide passwords into groups to share with appropriate team members</li>
<li data-sourcepos="9:1-9:157">Enforce 2FA for all users</li>
<li data-sourcepos="9:1-9:157">View activity logs for all of your records</li>
<li data-sourcepos="9:1-9:157">Use the TeamPassword browser extensions and mobile apps for lightning-fast access everywhere</li>
<li data-sourcepos="9:1-9:157">Save money with affordable plans configured for YOU</li>
</ul>
Don't settle for password purgatory. Take control with TeamPassword. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/signup" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Sign up for your FREE trial today</a> and experience the power of effortless security!

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. ...

Top 5 Dangerous Ways to Store Your Passwords

Passkeys are a new way of signing in to your online accounts with a biometric sensor or PIN, eliminating the need for passwords. They are predicted to dethrone passwords as the most popular form of identity verification in the coming years.&nbsp;
Here's a top-level analogy for how passkeys work: imagine a super secure keycard for each website or app, stored on your phone. That's kind of like a passkey. It uses your fingerprint or PIN to verify it's you, then proves it to the website without ever revealing the actual key. Websites can't steal it like a password, and you don't need to remember anything!
Passkeys can be hard to wrap your head around. There's a good bit of magic happening behind the scenes that goes beyond the scope of this article. In the Technical Overview section, I've linked to several resources that will help you understand passkeys from an implementation perspective.&nbsp;

[Table of Contents]
<ul>
<li data-gc-list-style="bullet" data-gc-list-depth="1"><a href="#whatispasskey" rel="follow">What Is Passkey Technology?</a></li>
<li data-gc-list-style="bullet" data-gc-list-depth="1"><a href="#howpasskeyswork" rel="follow">How Passkeys Work: A Technical Overview</a></li>
<li data-gc-list-style="bullet" data-gc-list-depth="1"><a href="#passkeyloginexamples" rel="follow">Passkey Login Examples</a></li>
<li data-gc-list-style="bullet" data-gc-list-depth="1"><a href="#passkeyvspasswordauthentication" rel="follow">Passkeys vs. Passwords: The Authentication Process</a></li>
<li data-gc-list-style="bullet" data-gc-list-depth="1"><a href="#howtoimplement" rel="follow">How to Implement Passkey Technology</a></li>
</ul>
<h2 id="whatispasskey">What Is Passkey Technology?</h2>
Multi-device FIDO credentials, commonly known and advertised as passkeys, had their earliest iterations decades ago as hardware security keys like smart cards. These hardware solutions required specialized readers and were expensive to deploy and maintain, and never achieved ubiquity in consumer security.&nbsp;
In 2015, the <a href="https://fidoalliance.org/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">FIDO Alliance</a>, a group of industry leaders whose goal is to "help reduce the world&rsquo;s over-reliance on passwords," developed and published a set of specifications for phishing-resistant authentication mechanisms. By 2020, most browsers had implemented the WebAuthn specification, which eliminated the need for special hardware and paved the way for relying parties (websites/applications) and platform vendors like Apple and Google to bring passkey technology to the average consumer.&nbsp;
With Apple syncing your passkeys through its iCloud Keychain and Google doing the same with its password manager, and with passkey storage/syncing just around the corner for third-party password managers, the last roadblock for passkeys is being eliminated.&nbsp;
You can now use the biometric or PIN that unlocks your phone to sign in to any compatible website. Your passkeys cannot be phished, guessed, or brute-forced - a threat actor would need both your physical device and the PIN or biometrics to unlock it.&nbsp;
<h2 id="howpasskeyswork">How Passkeys Work: A Technical Overview</h2>
Passkeys leverage the power of public key cryptography and secure key storage on devices to provide a more robust and user-friendly authentication experience compared to traditional passwords.
<h3>Underlying Standards</h3>
Passkeys rely on two key specifications:
<ul>
<li>WebAuthn (Web Authentication): This defines how browsers and websites interact for secure authentication. It allows websites to request credentials (passkeys in this case) from the user's device and validate them.</li>
<li>FIDO2 (Fast Identity Online 2): This is a broader set of standards developed by the FIDO Alliance for strong authentication. It includes CTAP (Client to Authenticator Protocol), which defines how devices (like phones) communicate with authentication hardware (security keys) or software (built-in authenticators).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Passkey Creation</h3>
When you create a passkey, here's what happens behind the scenes:
<ul>
<li>Public-Key Pair Generation: Your device generates a public-key cryptography pair. The public key is sent to the service and stored on their server. The private key remains securely stored on your device, often in a trusted platform module (TPM) or secure enclave.</li>
<li>Attestation Ceremony: To ensure the private key is generated securely by your device and not malware, an attestation ceremony takes place. This involves the device proving to the service (often with the help of the platform like Android or iOS) that it can securely generate and manage cryptographic keys.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Passkey Login</h3>
Logging in with a passkey involves:
<ul>
<li>Challenge: The service sends a random challenge to your device.</li>
<li>Signed Response: Your device uses the private key to decrypt the challenge and create a digital signature. This signature proves you possess the private key without revealing the key itself.</li>
<li>Public Key Verification: The service retrieves the public key it has stored for you and uses it to verify the signature in the response. If valid, it grants you access.</li>
</ul>
Additional Security Features:
<ul>
<li>FIDO2 extensions can be used for features like resident credentials (passkeys stored only on your device) and multi-device support (using your phone to unlock passkeys on your computer).</li>
<li>Biometric Authentication: You can use your fingerprint, PIN, or facial recognition to unlock the private key on your device, adding an extra layer of security.</li>
</ul>
Unless I were to turn this blog into a treatise on&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public-key_cryptography" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">public key cryptography</a>, device security (such as&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trusted_execution_environment" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Trusted Execution Environments</a>), and the history of Authentication in general, I can't give a complete technical explanation of passkeys. If you wish to understand passkeys at that depth, you may be better served by perusing the FIDO Alliance library of whitepapers <a href="https://fidoalliance.org/content/white-paper/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp;
In <a href="https://auth0.com/blog/our-take-on-passkeys/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">this excellent review of passkeys by Vittoria Bertocci</a>, we learn how the FIDO2 specification allows passkey implementation: "...by using the Javascript API defined in the WebAuthn specification, developers can leverage either hardware keys (e.g., YubiKeys) or secure hardware on the device (e.g., secure elements on your phone, TPMs on your laptop) gated by biometric sensors to authenticate users without using passwords."&nbsp;
Additionally, Apple's <a href="https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2020/10670/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">15-minute video introducing passkeys for developers</a> explains important concepts - you can watch the full video or read the transcript.&nbsp;


<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/xSMibgN5QsSyT3DVRZQq" alt="undefined" width="409" height="448">
Credit: <a href="https://fidoalliance.org/content/white-paper/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">FIDO Alliance whitepaper</a> on multi-device FIDO credentials
<h2 id="passkeyloginexamples">Passkey Login Examples</h2>
Note:&nbsp;Below is just one example of creating and logging in with passkeys. The process looks different depending on the website/application you're signing in to, the device you're signing in from, and whether or not you use one platform vendor's ecosystem or several (Google, Microsoft, Apple etc).&nbsp;&nbsp;
For this example, I'm using the demo at <a href="https://www.passkeys.io/">https://www.passkeys.io/</a>.
First, I'm signing up on a Pixel 4A running Android 13.&nbsp;
Since it's my first time logging in, I'm asked to create an account using my email address.&nbsp;
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/Wspirk2tQqGOy2bjXA3R" alt="undefined" width="294" height="374">

Next, I'm asked to save a passkey.&nbsp;
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/JesHzofhRvO9omSKqzpq" alt="undefined" width="282" height="186">
By tapping "Save a passkey," I prompt my device to display its own popup confirming that I really want to save a passkey. This popup looks different depending on your platform vendor (Macbook, Android smartphone, etc.).&nbsp;
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/LqjPYDzURQWg6M6J3yjC" alt="undefined" width="262" height="406">

Tapping continue displays a prompt to confirm passkey creation by unlocking my device with my fingerprint or PIN. Doing so authorizes the creation of a public/private cryptographic key pair. The private key is stored on your device, and the public key is stored by the relying party - in this case, passkeys.io.&nbsp;
I touch my fingerprint sensor and am instantly logged into passkeys.io. Account setup is complete.
The device on which I created the private key will now take care of roaming - more on that in a moment.&nbsp;
That's it!
Well - not quite.
It's pretty sweet that I didn't have to create, remember, or save a password. The trade-off is that I've only authorized this specific device to sign in to this account - or, if syncing is enabled, other Android devices synced to the same Google account.&nbsp;
Now, I need to log in on my Macbook.&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>On the passkeys.io homepage, I select "Sign in with a passkey."&nbsp;</li>
<li>Selecting "Use a different phone or tablet" displays a QR code (if Bluetooth isn't on, your devices will ask permission to turn it on).</li>
<li>I scan the QR code with my phone.</li>
</ul>
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/73UpITpNSTSO9jQOVPpw" alt="Screenshot 2023-08-28 at 4.27.36 PM.webp" width="283" height="284" style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/KjyQiIAQSQmjgmT9Sk0G" alt="undefined" width="281" height="512">
<ul>
<li>This initiates a Bluetooth handshake.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Note: The passkey authentication ceremony is not done over Bluetooth. Bluetooth is used to confirm that the devices are geographically near each other. This thwarts remote phishing attempts and a host of other remote attacks.&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Once this virtual handshake has taken place and the devices agree that they're close to one another, they go to an authorized verification server to authorize the new device.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Note: The private key on device 1 (Android smartphone, in my case) is not transferred to device 2 (Macbook). Device 1 has simply confirmed that device 2 is in close proximity and performs a passkey authentication ceremony to allow device 2 to log in.&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Optimally, the website would automatically ask if I want to create a passkey for this new device - but it's up to the website (relying party). On passkeys.io, I need to click + Add a passkey to create a passkey on the Macbook so I can log in without my phone.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/0aKqd6k8QoKmrdjXZCtC" alt="undefined" width="337" height="267">
When I sign in to passkeys.io on my Macbook, I can now do so with my fingerprint or device password.&nbsp;&nbsp;
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/3GtshXT0aFlnwhgYArrQ" alt="Screenshot 2023-08-28 at 4.34.19 PM.webp" width="285" height="336">
This screenshot drives home the point that passkey security = device security
If your device does not have a passkey and cannot set it up (or you choose not too), an alternative authentication method is provided such as a one-time code to your email. Security is then dependent on your email's security.&nbsp;
Lastly, I'd like to point out a side-effect of public-private cryptography. While you can delete your account on the website or application, this only deletes your public key. Your device doesn't know that its public key pair has been deleted, so when you sign in, you will be prompted to "Use saved passkey." However, selecting this option and verifying with your fingerprint causes the sign-in form to say, "This passkey cannot be used anymore." You need to delete your private keys separately.
<h3>Device-bound passkeys vs. synced passkeys</h3>
Apple and Google support syncing passkeys within their ecosystem. As you can read on Apple's memo <a href="https://developer.apple.com/passkeys/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">here</a>, this greatly increases convenience while placing the security of your private cryptographic key in Apple's hands.&nbsp;
If you don't want this, you can disable passkey syncing and use the alternative method of turning on Bluetooth to confirm proximity and authorizing a new device to create its own passkey, thus adding a new device to the list of those that can log into the given account.&nbsp;
<h2 id="passkeyvspasswordauthentication">Passkeys vs. Passwords: The Authentication Process</h2>
With passwords, anyone with your password can log into your account.*
With passkeys, anyone with your physical device and the ability to unlock that device (through PIN, pattern, or biometrics) can log in to your account.&nbsp;
Because the private key is device-based and invisible, phishing is impossible.&nbsp;

*Additional safeguards in the form of various Multi-factor Authentication technologies have been created to bolster the inherent weaknesses of passwords, but <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/2022-uber-breach#:~:text=How%20did%20the%20Uber%20breach%20happen%3F" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">these also have their pitfalls</a>.&nbsp;
<h2 id="howtoimplement">How to Implement Passkey Technology</h2>
As a consumer, you are at the mercy of the website or application. Old devices may not support passkey technology. The app/website will recognize this and won't offer to create a passkey.&nbsp;
As Android 14 rolls out in September 2023, third-party password managers will be able to store and sync your passkeys.
Currently, Google Password Manager syncs passkeys between your Android devices that are signed into the same Google account.&nbsp;
For Apple, the iCloud Keychain takes care of syncing your passkeys.&nbsp;
With both ecosystems, syncing can be turned on and off.&nbsp;
<h3>Implementing passkey technology as a developer</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://fidoalliance.org/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">FIDO Alliance</a>: The Fast Identity Online (FIDO) Alliance provides open standards for strong authentication. Their resources include specifications and guides for implementing passwordless and passkey-based authentication.</li>
<li>Online Development Communities: Platforms like Stack Overflow, Reddit's r/programming, and GitHub discussions offer spaces for developers to ask questions, share experiences, and seek guidance on implementing passkey technology.</li>
<li><a href="https://fidoalliance.org/specifications/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">FIDO 2 Specifications (including WebAuthn)</a>: A great page to get started learning the necessary specifications. Has a link to download the full specifications.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Implementing passkey technology requires a blend of understanding user needs, cryptography principles, and security best practices.
<h3>Boost Password Security With TeamPassword</h3>
Passkeys are not yet universally supported, so password security deserves your attention. If you share passwords with colleagues and need an easy, secure, and cost-effective way to do so, <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/signup" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">try TeamPassword</a>. If you have questions, <a href="https://teampassword.com/support" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">reach out to our support team</a> - we're happy to hear from you.&nbsp;
TeamPassword focuses on frictionless implementation, <a href="https://teampassword.com/features" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">ease of use</a>, <a href="https://teampassword.com/security" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">security</a>, and exceptional customer support.
Need proof? Read what <a href="https://www.g2.com/products/teampassword/features" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">our customers are saying about us on G2</a>.&nbsp;

Passkey technology will eventually replace the passwords we use today. But how does the technology work? Learn about passkeys and the tech behind them here.

Passkey technology will eventually replace the passwords we use today. But how does the technology work? Learn about ...

Passkey Technology: How Do Passkeys Work?

This guide was updated in July 2024 with new screenshots and instructions to reflect Google's significant update to their password manager.
Remembering passwords is hard. Chances are, you&rsquo;ve taken Chrome up on its offer to remember them for you. However, you may not know how many passwords Chrome has saved or how to delete them if you&rsquo;re switching to a dedicated password manager.
In this guide, you&rsquo;ll learn where to find your saved passwords in Chrome and how to view, delete, edit, and export them.&nbsp;
Table of Contents:
<ul>
<li data-gc-list-depth="1" data-gc-list-style="bullet"><a href="#howtoviewsavedpasswordsonchrome" rel="follow">How to View Saved Passwords on Chrome</a></li>
<ol>
<li data-gc-list-depth="2" data-gc-list-style="ordered"><a href="#navigateto" rel="follow">Navigate to Google Chrome Settings</a></li>
<li data-gc-list-depth="2" data-gc-list-style="ordered"><a href="#openthe" rel="follow">View and Edit Saved Passwords</a></li>
<li data-gc-list-depth="2" data-gc-list-style="ordered"><a href="#viewsaved" rel="follow">View Settings for Google Password Manager</a></li>
</ol>
<li data-gc-list-depth="1" data-gc-list-style="bullet"><a href="#howtochangeasavedpasswordinchrome" rel="follow">How to Change a Saved Password in Chrome</a></li>
<ul>
<li data-gc-list-depth="2" data-gc-list-style="bullet"><a href="#tipsforselecting" rel="follow">Tips for Selecting a Secure Password</a></li>
</ul>
<li data-gc-list-depth="1" data-gc-list-style="bullet"><a href="#shouldyouusechromespasswordmanager" rel="follow">Should You Use Chrome's Password Manager?</a></li>
<li data-gc-list-depth="1" data-gc-list-style="bullet"><a href="#chromesavedpasswordsFAQs" rel="follow">Chrome Saved Passwords FAQs</a></li>
</ul>
<h2 id="howtoviewsavedpasswordsonchrome">How to View Saved Passwords on Chrome</h2>
<h3 id="navigateto">#1. Navigate to Google Password Manager</h3>
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/aN3JV1WPQQSRxkI98e8O" alt="undefined" width="473" height="572">
<ol>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Open Chrome and click the&nbsp;three-dot symbol in the top right</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Hover on Passwords and Autofill</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Click&nbsp;Google Password Manager</li>
</ol>
<h3 id="openthe">#2. View and Edit Saved Passwords</h3>
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/GbcJMAxGSauAeSDNAOxp" alt="undefined" width="818" height="150">
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/VwerTEjZSce8z3zAbINx" alt="undefined" width="568" height="295">
In the Passwords tab, you'll see a list of all your passwords.&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Click a password to view it</li>
<li>You may be required to unlock your device to view the password</li>
<li>Click Edit to modify the password</li>
</ul>

<h3 id="viewsaved">#3. View Settings for Google Password Manager</h3>
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/kok0MHaUQu6ThxpfFXwV" alt="undefined" width="564" height="362">
On this screen, you&rsquo;re presented with several important options including:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Choose whether Chrome offers to save your passwords</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Export/Import passwords</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="howtochangeasavedpasswordinchrome">How to Change a Saved Password in Chrome</h2>
<ol>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Open Chrome and click the&nbsp;three-dot symbol in the top right</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Hover on Passwords and Autofill</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Click&nbsp;Google Password Manager</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">In the Passwords tab, click the password you wish to edit and click the&nbsp;Edit button</li>
</ol>
<ol></ol>
Make sure any changes you make to the password match the actual password for the account. For example, changing your Netflix password here does not automatically update your actual Netflix password.&nbsp;
<h3 id="tipsforselecting">Tips for Selecting a Secure Password</h3>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Use a <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">password generator</a> to create a 14+ character password that includes a mix of lowercase and uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols.&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">If you create a password or passphrase for the purpose of remembering it, don&rsquo;t use personal identifying information.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="shouldyouusechromespasswordmanager">Should You Use Chrome's Password Manager?</h2>
If Chrome is the only browser you use across all your devices, and you never need to share your passwords with family or colleagues, then Chrome&rsquo;s native password saver is a solid option.&nbsp;
Chrome has made strides to improve its security, such as with the option to enable <a href="https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/11350823" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">on-device encryption</a>.&nbsp;
However, if you use another browser such as Safari, need to share passwords, or require more control over your passwords, you&rsquo;ll want a dedicated password manager.
<h3>A Better Alternative: TeamPassword</h3>
TeamPassword provides a quick, secure, and effortless solution to store and organize your passwords, eliminating any potential vulnerabilities associated with Chrome's password security.&nbsp;
You can generate and tailor robust passwords that are compatible with any browser or device and access them anytime, anywhere. TeamPassword <a href="https://teampassword.com/features" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">ensures the safety of your passwords</a>, even in the event of device theft, by requiring a separate "master" password to access them. Additionally, it automatically locks your passwords after a specific duration, providing an extra layer of security.&nbsp;
While password managers are marginally less convenient than Chrome's built-in features, they offer significantly more security.&nbsp;
TeamPassword's Chrome extension autofills most websites and displays your record information from a dropdown without the need to navigate to a separate page.
<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/j6RfmBVgO1N1HmV2T5LicU-GRsWpYMogxjDNGVJBn9JTWI7jXw4ydYGqrQFoa9ugeRqACbOH_JO3LiAXPgxs0ldT1BrkUe_bmgU413k3gVJ9txg52ZCLiIjWdkXT8xruV5zahVXXmVq-pc1LAFyBfAc" width="479" height="334">
<h2>Try TeamPassword's Password Manager Today</h2>
You&rsquo;ve learned how to use your Chrome password manager, and now know if it&rsquo;s still right for you.&nbsp;
Need to share passwords with a team? Try our <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/signup" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">no-risk 14 day trial</a>, and get a secure, convenient password manager that puts control of your passwords in your hands.
<h2 id="chromesavedpasswordsFAQs">Chrome Saved Passwords FAQs</h2>
<h3>Why Can't I See My Saved Passwords in Chrome?</h3>
If you can&rsquo;t see any saved passwords following the above steps, check if you&rsquo;re signed into the correct Google account.&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Click on the circular icon at the top right of your browser. This might be your profile picture or a generic picture.&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">If the email it shows is not the one you want to be signed into, you can Add another account or Sign out of all accounts.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
You might not be signed in at all!&nbsp;
Also, check if &ldquo;Offer to save passwords&rdquo; is toggled on. If not, it might be the case that Chrome simply hasn&rsquo;t been saving your passwords.
<h3>How Do I Add a Saved Password in Chrome?</h3>
<h3><img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/0mZYZ4FRiOLu2ynQSwgx" alt="undefined" width="627" height="115">&nbsp;</h3>
<ol>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Open Chrome</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Click the three-dot symbol &gt; Passwords and Autofill &gt; Google Password Manager</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Above where your passwords are listed, click Add, and enter the URL, username, and password.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>

Learn how to view saved passwords in Google Password Manager on Chrome with this simple guide. See step-by-step instructions for the Google Chrome web browser.

Learn how to view saved passwords in the Google Password Manager on Chrome with this simple guide. See ...

How to View Saved Passwords on Chrome

Learn how to view saved passwords in the Google Password Manager on Chrome with this simple guide. See step-by-step instructions for the Google Chrome web browser.

Have you ever gotten a text message with a code you didn't request? Maybe it was for logging into your bank account or social media profile. If so, you might be a target for a SIM swapping scam.
In this blog post, we'll break down what SIM swapping is, how it works, and how you can protect yourself from this increasingly common threat.
Here are the key things you need to know about SIM swapping:
<ul data-sourcepos="13:1-18:0">
<li data-sourcepos="13:1-13:115">SIM swapping is a scam where a thief takes control of your phone number by transferring it to a new SIM card.</li>
<li data-sourcepos="14:1-14:98">Social engineering and phishing are often used to trick your carrier into making the switch.</li>
<li data-sourcepos="15:1-15:124">Once they have control of your number, attackers can intercept your calls, texts, and two-factor authentication codes.</li>
<li data-sourcepos="16:1-16:221">There are steps you can take to protect yourself from SIM swapping, such as using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication on all your accounts, and being careful about what information you share online.</li>
<li data-sourcepos="17:1-18:0">If you think you've been a victim of SIM swapping, contact your carrier immediately.</li>
</ul>
<h3 data-sourcepos="19:1-19:19">[Table of Contents]</h3>
<ul data-sourcepos="21:1-28:0">
<li data-sourcepos="21:1-21:23"><a href="#whatissimswapping" rel="follow">What Is SIM Swapping?</a></li>
<li data-sourcepos="22:1-22:29"><a href="#howdoessimswappingwork" rel="follow">How Does SIM Swapping Work?</a></li>
<li data-sourcepos="22:1-22:29"><a href="#howdoireportasimswapattack" rel="follow">How do I report a SIM swap attack?</a></li>
<li data-sourcepos="25:1-25:32"><a href="#howtoprotectyourself" rel="follow">How to Protect Yourself from SIM Swapping</a></li>
</ul>
<h2 id="whatissimswapping">What Is SIM Swapping?</h2>
SIM swapping, also known as SIM jacking or port-out fraud, is a scam where a cybercriminal gains control of your phone number by transferring it to a new SIM card. This allows them to intercept your calls, texts, and two-factor authentication codes, which they can then use to access your online accounts, such as your bank account, email, or social media profiles.
SIM cards are tiny chips that store your phone number and other subscriber information. They allow your phone to connect to your carrier's network and make calls, send texts, and access data.
<div>
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SIM swapping can be a very effective scam because it relies on <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/10-cyberattacks-recently-used-by-hackers-2023#socialengineering:~:text=you%20can%20restore.-,Social%20Engineering,-Social%20engineering%20is" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">social engineering</a>, which is the art of tricking people into giving up personal information. Scammers will often use a variety of techniques to gather information about their victims, such as <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/spear-phishing" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">phishing emails</a>, social media stalking, or even buying personal information on the black market.
Once they have enough information, the attacker will contact your carrier and pretend to be you. They will try to convince the carrier representative to transfer your phone number to a new SIM card that they have in their possession. In some cases, they may be successful, especially if they have been able to gather personal information about you, such as your birthday or the last four digits of your Social Security number.
<h2 id="howdoessimswappingwork">How Does SIM Swapping Work?</h2>
SIM swapping scams typically involve a two-step process:
<ol data-sourcepos="45:1-51:0">
<li data-sourcepos="45:1-49:0">
Information Gathering: The attacker will first try to gather as much personal information about you as possible. This information could include your name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, phone number, and the answers to your security questions. They may use a variety of techniques to gather this information, such as:
<ul data-sourcepos="46:5-49:0">
<li data-sourcepos="46:5-46:264">Phishing scams: Phishing emails or text messages that appear to be from a legitimate source, such as your bank or phone company. These messages will often try to trick you into clicking on a link or entering your personal information into a fake website.</li>
<li data-sourcepos="47:5-47:205">Social media stalking: Attackers can glean a surprising amount of personal information from your social media profiles, such as your birthday, hometown, and the names of your friends and family.</li>
<li data-sourcepos="48:5-49:0">Buying information on the black market: Personal information is unfortunately readily available for purchase on the dark web.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li data-sourcepos="50:1-51:0">
Porting the Number: Once the attacker has enough information about you, they will contact your carrier and pretend to be you. They will try to convince the carrier representative to transfer your phone number to a new SIM card that they have in their possession. They may use the information they have gathered to answer your security questions or verify your identity.
</li>
</ol>
If the attacker is successful, your phone number will be transferred to the new SIM card. This means that all of your calls, texts, and two-factor authentication codes will now be sent to the attacker's phone instead of yours. The attacker can then use this information to access your online accounts and steal your money or identity.
<h2 id="howdoireportasimswapattack">How Do I Report a SIM Swap Attack?</h2>
If you think you've been a victim of SIM swapping, the most important thing to do is to contact your carrier immediately. The sooner you report the scam, the sooner they can take steps to prevent further damage.
Here's how to report a SIM swap, but keep in mind the specific instructions may vary depending on your carrier:
<ul data-sourcepos="7:1-7:73">
<li data-sourcepos="7:1-7:73">Call your carrier's customer service number. You can usually find this number on your carrier's website or on your monthly bill.</li>
<li data-sourcepos="8:1-8:62">Explain to the customer service representative that you believe you've been a victim of SIM swapping.</li>
<li data-sourcepos="9:1-9:150">Provide the representative with as much information as possible, such as your name, account number, and the phone number that was swapped.</li>
<li data-sourcepos="10:1-11:0">The carrier will likely freeze your account and issue you a new SIM card.</li>
<li data-sourcepos="11:1-12:0">Once your account is secure, you should also change the passwords for all of your online accounts.</li>
</ul>
Here are some additional resources that you may find helpful:
<ul data-sourcepos="15:1-19:0">
<li data-sourcepos="15:1-15:138">Verizon: <a href="https://www.verizon.com/about/account-security/sim-swapping" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.verizon.com/about/account-security/sim-swapping</a></li>
<li data-sourcepos="16:1-16:131">AT&amp;T: <a href="https://about.att.com/pages/cyberaware/ni/blog/sim_swap" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://about.att.com/pages/cyberaware/ni/blog/sim_swap</a></li>
<li data-sourcepos="17:1-17:135">T-Mobile: <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/support/business/change-sim-card" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.t-mobile.com/support/business/change-sim-card</a></li>
</ul>

<h2 id="howtoprotectyourself">How to Protect Yourself from a SIM Swap</h2>
There are a number of steps you can take to protect yourself from SIM swapping:
<h3 data-sourcepos="22:1-22:79">Always use Strong, Unique Passwords for Every Account</h3>
SIM swapping can be used for several nefarious schemes, but one of the most damaging is to capture your 2FA code. Unfortunately, many banks and other sensitive accounts allow or even require SMS-based multi-factor authentication. If your password is weak, the only thing that stands between a cyberthief and devastation is your phone carrier's (underpaid) customer support representative.&nbsp;
With a strong, unique password on every account, you at least mitigate the chance of a threat actor getting past step 1.
Protecting your email is especially important since most password reset flows work on the assumption that your email is secure!
If you need to share login credentials or have employees whose habits could endanger your company, you may want to invest in an affordable, collaboration-first password manager like <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/signup" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">TeamPassword</a>.&nbsp;

<h3 data-sourcepos="24:1-24:31">Avoid SMS 2FA When Possible</h3>
<a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/2fa-vs-mfa" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Two-factor authentication</a> (2FA) is an extra layer of security that helps to protect your online accounts. When you enable 2FA, you're required to enter a code in addition to your password in order to log in. This code can be sent to your phone via text message (SMS) or generated by an authentication app or hardware token.
While SMS 2FA is better than no 2FA at all, it's not the most secure option. This is because SIM swapping can give attackers access to your phone number, which means they could also intercept your 2FA codes.
For this reason, it's generally recommended to avoid using SMS 2FA whenever possible. Instead, you should use an authentication app like Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, or Authy. These apps generate unique codes that are not tied to your phone number. Hardware tokens like YubiKey are another secure option for 2FA.
<h3 data-sourcepos="32:1-32:33"></h3>
<h3 data-sourcepos="32:1-32:33">The Problem with Social Media and SIM Swapping Scams</h3>
Many carriers still rely on security questions to verify your identity when you contact them. Unfortunately, the answers to these questions are often readily available on social media profiles. Hackers can easily find out your birthday, your pet's name, or the city you grew up in with a little social media stalking.
Here are some tips for protecting yourself:
<ul data-sourcepos="38:1-41:0">
<li data-sourcepos="38:1-38:170">Be careful about what information you share on social media. Don't share your birthday, address, phone number, or the names of your pets or family members publicly.</li>
<li data-sourcepos="39:1-39:123">Use <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/tips-and-tricks-to-create-a-strong-password#:~:text=Strong%20Passwords%20Secure-,What%20Makes%20a%20Password%20Strong%3F,-A%20strong%20password" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">strong and unique passwords</a> for all of your online accounts. Don't reuse the same password for multiple accounts.</li>
<li data-sourcepos="40:1-41:0">Enable privacy settings on your social media accounts. This will help to limit who can see your information.</li>
</ul>
By following these tips, you can make it more difficult for attackers to gather the information they need to carry out a SIM swap scam.
In addition to the above, here are some other things you can do to protect yourself from SIM swapping:
<ul data-sourcepos="46:1-50:0">
<li data-sourcepos="46:1-46:134">Be wary of phishing scams. Don't click on links or enter your personal information into websites or emails from unknown senders.</li>
<li data-sourcepos="47:1-47:138">Review your carrier account regularly. Look for any suspicious activity, such as changes to your account information or new charges.</li>
<li data-sourcepos="48:1-48:117">Consider adding a PIN to your SIM card. This will require you to enter a PIN in order to activate the SIM card.</li>
<li data-sourcepos="49:1-50:0">Keep your software up to date. This includes your operating system, web browser, and security software.</li>
</ul>
<h2 data-sourcepos="51:1-51:98">How to manage all those unique credentials securely</h2>
Credential management and storage is tough: that's why people use passwords, security questions, and PINs that can be easily guessed, phished, or scraped from the internet.&nbsp;
One of the best solutions is a reliable password manager. Our goal with <a href="https://teampassword.com/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">TeamPassword</a> is to make business password management affordable, easy to understand, and secure. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/signup" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Try TeamPassword for free for 14 days</a> with no obligations.&nbsp;

Discover how SIM swapping works and how to prevent it. This guide explains SIM swapping scams, how they steal your phone number, and offers solutions to keep your accounts safe.

Discover how SIM swapping works and how to prevent it. This guide explains SIM swapping scams, how they ...

What Is SIM Swapping and How to Prevent SIM Swap Attacks

Trade companies like electricians, plumbers, and HVAC wizards, have a unique password problem. You juggle a dozen different software programs &ndash; scheduling, accounting, customer portals, industry-specific tools &ndash; each with its own login.
Your field techs need a secure way to access necessary websites and apps while out and about. Your secretary needs certain login credentials and your accountants others. But neither should be able to see everything.&nbsp;
<h2 data-sourcepos="7:1-7:66">Why the trades need a password manager</h2>
Let's be honest, with so many logins flying around, sharing them across teams can seem tempting. The secretary needs access to the scheduling software, the field tech needs both scheduling and maybe inventory management. But here's the thing: shared logins are security kryptonite. If one account gets hacked, everything connected to it is exposed. Not cool.
You may have a few tech ninjas on your team, but for others, training them on secure password practices and the importance of unique logins can feel like teaching a T-Rex to code.
There's a solution that solves all these problems and keeps your data safe:&nbsp;password managers.
<h3 data-sourcepos="15:1-15:46">Password Managers: Your Digital Bodyguards</h3>
Think of a password manager as a high-tech vault for all your logins. It encrypts them with layers upon layers of security, making them unreadable to anyone but you (and whoever has your master password, but we'll get to that in a sec). Plus, it remembers all those logins for you, so no more scribbling passwords on sticky notes or trying to remember what your dog's birthday was in 2007 (because you definitely used that for a login once).
Benefits of Password Managers for Trade Businesses:
<ul data-sourcepos="21:1-26:0">
<li data-sourcepos="21:1-21:108">Slay the Login Monster: Stop juggling a million passwords. Your manager remembers them all, securely.</li>
<li data-sourcepos="22:1-22:102">Unique Logins for Every Account: Each employee access the password manager with their own unique login, and their activity can be tracked by the admin so you know exactly who is accessing what password and when.</li>
<li data-sourcepos="23:1-23:102">Tech-Savvy Made Easy: Even your least tech-savvy employee can use a password manager with ease.</li>
<li data-sourcepos="24:1-24:121">Mobile Workforce Ready: Access logins securely from any device, anywhere. Perfect for those on-the-go field techs.</li>
<li data-sourcepos="25:1-26:0">Peace of Mind: Sleep soundly knowing your data is safe from hackers and breaches.</li>
</ul>
<h3 data-sourcepos="27:1-27:40">Choosing the Right Password Manager</h3>
There are a bunch of password managers out there, all vying for your business. Here's what to look for:
<ul data-sourcepos="31:1-36:0">
<li data-sourcepos="31:1-31:94">Ease of Use: It shouldn't feel like you need a Ph.D. in cryptography to figure it out.</li>
<li data-sourcepos="32:1-32:94">Security Features: Military-grade AES 256-bit encryption is the standard. Don't settle for anything less.</li>
<li data-sourcepos="33:1-33:94">Team Features: Look for a plan that allows you to add and manage multiple users easily, and share different groups of passwords to different people.&nbsp;</li>
<li data-sourcepos="34:1-34:110">Mobile Compatibility: Your field techs need access on the go. Make sure it works on phones and tablets.</li>
<li data-sourcepos="35:1-36:0">Customer Support: Just in case you get stuck, having reliable customer support is a lifesaver.</li>
</ul>
<h3 data-sourcepos="37:1-37:52">Master Password: The Key to Your Digital Kingdom</h3>
Now, let's talk about the master password. This is the key that unlocks your password vault. Make it long, complex, and something you won't forget (but not something obvious like your birthday or your dog's name). You can let your <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">password generator</a> generate one for you, or create a <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/what-is-a-passphrase#:~:text=them%20for%20you.-,8%20steps%20to%20creating%20and%20remembering%20a%20strong%20passphrase,-Building%20a%20passphrase" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">strong passphrase</a> for something more memorable.
Don't reuse this password anywhere else! It's the crown jewel of your digital security.
Bonus Security Tips:
<ul data-sourcepos="43:1-47:0">
<li data-sourcepos="43:1-43:167">Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second verification code (usually from your phone) when logging in.</li>
<li data-sourcepos="44:1-44:165">Beware of Phishing Scams: Don't click on suspicious links or enter passwords on unverified websites. Hackers love to trick people into giving up their logins.</li>
<li data-sourcepos="46:1-47:0">Use a Secure Browser: Keep your browser up-to-date and consider security-focused options with built-in phishing protection.</li>
</ul>
<h2 data-sourcepos="1:1-1:87"></h2>
<h2 data-sourcepos="1:1-1:87">Top 6 Password Managers for Trade Businesses</h2>
<h3>1. Dashlane: User-Friendly Security&nbsp;</h3>
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/hpQroUUeT9ipTMZEsQGq" alt="Dashlane Homepage.webp" width="751" height="318">
Dashlane stands out as a strong contender for trade businesses thanks to its user-friendly approach and robust security features. &nbsp;Let's break down its pros and cons in more detail to see if it's the right fit for your crew:
Pros:
<ul>
<li>Security: With dark-web monitoring and the standard military-grade AES 256-bit encryption, Dashlane provides the security you need in a password manager. Additionally, Dashlane employs a strict zero-knowledge architecture, meaning they don't store your master password or any unencrypted data on their servers. This adds an extra layer of security, as even if hackers were to breach Dashlane, they wouldn't be able to access your passwords.</li>
<li>Mobile Marvels: Dashlane's mobile apps offer secure and convenient access to logins on the go, perfect for your field technicians who are constantly on the move. The autofill feature makes logging into apps and websites a breeze, saving your techs valuable time and frustration.</li>
<li>Optional VPN: While not essential, Dashlane offers an optional VPN add-on. This is a great option for businesses that have employees working on public Wi-Fi networks, which can be vulnerable to eavesdropping. A VPN encrypts your internet traffic, making it difficult for someone to steal your data on a public network, like in a&nbsp;<a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/man-in-the-middle-attack" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">man-in-the-middle attack</a>.</li>
</ul>
Cons:
<ul>
<li>Price Point: <a href="https://www.dashlane.com/pricing" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Dashlane can be a bit pricier</a> than some of its competitors. While it offers a free plan with very limited features, businesses with multiple employees will need to upgrade to a paid plan.</li>
<li>Interface: Some users have found Dashlane too complicated in its presentation.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
The Verdict:
Dashlane is an excellent choice for trade businesses that prioritize user-friendliness and top-notch security. &nbsp;While the pricing might be slightly higher than some competitors, the robust features and mobile functionality make it a worthwhile investment. &nbsp;If you have a team that's comfortable with technology and needs a more budget-friendly option, you might consider exploring other options on this list. But for businesses that value ease of use and bulletproof security, Dashlane is a strong contender.
<h3>2. 1Password: Security Fortress with Family Ties</h3>
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/sysUqVPQqK2FVFjIEmLg" alt="1Password Homepage.webp" width="749" height="344">
1Password is a powerhouse when it comes to security, offering features that will put your mind at ease. Let's see if it's the right fit for your crew:
Pros:
<ul>
<li>Impregnable Security: 1Password boasts top-of-the-line security features, including military-grade encryption and a zero-knowledge architecture. They also offer a unique "Watchtower" feature that scans the dark web for breaches containing your email address, helping you stay ahead of potential security threats. Each account also has a unique security key that an attacker would need in addition to the master password.</li>
<li>Travel Mode for Peace of Mind: This innovative feature allows you to temporarily remove sensitive login information from your devices before traveling. This can be especially useful for field techs who might be visiting client locations and want an extra layer of security for their data.</li>
<li>Family Plans for Blended Needs: 1Password offers family plans, which can be a good fit for businesses where some employees might use the same password manager for personal and work accounts. This allows for easy separation and management of work and personal passwords within the same app.</li>
</ul>
Cons:
<ul>
<li>Feature Overload?: 1Password offers a vast array of features, which can be overwhelming for some users. For businesses with less tech-savvy employees, a simpler interface might be preferable.</li>
<li>Price Point: Similar to Dashlane, 1Password can be a bit pricier than some competitors. However, they do offer a free trial, allowing you to test-drive the features before committing.</li>
</ul>
The Verdict:
1Password is ideal for businesses that prioritize bulletproof security and innovative features like travel mode. &nbsp;The family plan option can also be a plus for businesses with employees who manage both personal and work logins. However, if you have a team that's new to password managers or you're on a tighter budget, you might consider a simpler and more affordable option.
<h3>3. LastPass: Flexible, large</h3>
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/aikCpCNfScy1bkv5FPGf" alt="LastPass Homepage.webp" width="748" height="337">
LastPass is the biggest password manager on the market. But after a series of security breaches which culminated in <a href="https://krebsonsecurity.com/2023/09/experts-fear-crooks-are-cracking-keys-stolen-in-lastpass-breach/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">user vaults being stolen</a>, most businesses are looking elsewhere.&nbsp;
Pros:
<ul>
<li>Features and customizability: LastPass offers highly customizable policies, allowing fine-grained control of who can do what, and how.</li>
<li>Family Sharing Option: Similar to 1Password, LastPass offers family plans, catering to businesses where employees might use the same password manager for both work and personal accounts.</li>
</ul>
Cons:
<ul>
<li>Advanced features hidden behind "add-on" paywall: If you're in the market for Advanced SSO and MFA, you might find yourself paying one of the highest per-user costs among competitors.</li>
<li>Past Security Concerns: While LastPass has made strides in security, some users might still be wary due to past incidents.</li>
</ul>
The Verdict:
LastPass is a solid option for budget-conscious businesses, especially those who are new to password management. The free plan allows you to try it out before committing, and the family plan option caters to mixed-use scenarios. However, given the price, app reliability, and past security concerns, you might be better suited with another password manager on this list.
<h3>4. Bitwarden: Open-Source Security for Tech-Savvy Teams</h3>
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/3xJkMQFRScNT374cvODA" alt="Bitwarden homepage.webp" width="746" height="309">
Bitwarden takes a unique approach to security by being open-source, which means that anyone can examine the validity of its code and security implementation. Let's see if its transparent approach is a good fit for your crew:
Pros:
<ul>
<li>Open-Source Transparency: Bitwarden's open-source nature means its code is publicly available for security experts to scrutinize. This can be a major selling point for businesses that prioritize transparency and want the comfort of knowing their password manager is built on secure foundations.</li>
<li>Budget-Friendly Options: Bitwarden offers a free plan with unlimited password storage for one user. They also have very affordable paid plans for businesses, making them a cost-effective choice.</li>
</ul>
Cons:
<ul>
<li>Less User-Friendly Interface: While functional, Bitwarden's interface might be less intuitive for non-technical users compared to some competitors. This could lead to a steeper learning curve for some employees.</li>
<li>Limited Customer Support: Bitwarden offers limited customer support compared to some other password managers on this list, asking you to rely on the forums, documentation, and email. This might be a concern for businesses that require more hand-holding during setup and troubleshooting.</li>
</ul>
The Verdict:
Bitwarden is a great choice for security-conscious businesses with tech-savvy employees. The open-source model offers a high degree of transparency, and the affordable pricing makes it a budget-friendly option. &nbsp;However, if your team is new to password managers or requires more comprehensive customer support, you might be better suited with a more user-friendly option with robust customer service.
<h3>5. Keeper: Business-Oriented Features with Premium Support</h3>
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/ls52tjawRy6EDJWjukBx" alt="Keeper Homepage.webp" width="796" height="266">
Keeper goes beyond basic password management, offering features specifically designed for businesses. &nbsp;Let's see if their business-centric approach aligns with your needs:
Pros:
<ul>
<li>Top-Tier Customer Support: Keeper boasts exceptional customer support, offering dedicated phone, chat, and email support. This can be invaluable for businesses that need help setting up the password manager or troubleshooting any issues their employees might encounter.</li>
<li>Business-Oriented Features: Keeper offers features like secure messaging and breach monitoring, which can be beneficial for businesses that handle sensitive data. Strong Security: Keeper utilizes military-grade encryption and a zero-knowledge architecture, ensuring your data remains secure. </li>
</ul>
Cons:
<ul>
<li>Costlier Than Some Competitors: Keeper can be more expensive than some other password manager options on this list. While the features are valuable, the pricing might not be ideal for all budgets.</li>
<li>Feature Overload for Smaller Businesses: The abundance of features might be overkill for smaller trade businesses that only need basic password management functionality.</li>
</ul>
The Verdict:
Keeper is a strong contender for larger trade businesses that require robust features, top-notch customer support, and secure communication capabilities. &nbsp;However, the higher price point might not be ideal for smaller businesses or those just starting out with password management.
<h3>6. TeamPassword: Affordable Password Sharing for Collaborative Teams</h3>
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/a6vavwsQ8qjAmiskFVtA" alt="TeamPassword homepage new.webp" width="757" height="369">
If you need an <a href="https://teampassword.com/pricing" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">affordable</a> way to organize and share passwords, TeamPasswords is your best bet.&nbsp;
TeamPassword offers mobile apps for iOS and Android (yes, it'll work on the iPad), and extensions for your browsers to make auto-filling easy.&nbsp;
For example, you can have a Field Tech group shared with the appropriate people. Some of the passwords in that group will also be shared with Accounting, but not all of them. Minimum necessary access, see?&nbsp;
TeamPassword has live US-based customer support with every plan. Reachable by chat, phone, and email, and sub-five-minute response times on average.&nbsp;
TeamPassword&nbsp;<a href="https://teampassword.com/security" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">doesn't skimp on security</a>; after all, security is still the #1 reason you're getting a password manager.
<ul>
<li>AES 256-bit encryption</li>
<li>Zero-knowledge infrastructure</li>
<li>Activity logs</li>
<li>Role-based access</li>
<li>Group management</li>
<li>Enforceable 2FA</li>
</ul>
Pros:
<ul>
<li>Easy-on-the-wallet: TeamPassword is a very affordable password manager for the functionality you get</li>
<li>Best-in-class customer support: Some of the highest-rated, US-based customer support of competitors</li>
<li>Intuitive and easy-to-use: Straight-forward interface anyone can use</li>
</ul>
Cons:
<ul>
<li>Less customizable than other password managers on this list</li>
<li>Fewer available enterprise features than competition</li>
</ul>
The Verdict:
For trade businesses that need to share and segment credentials securely, TeamPassword is a fantastic solution. Their quick, personal support ensures that your employees won't be left hanging when they need help. TeamPassword offers a no-commitment&nbsp;<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/signup" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">14-day FREE trial</a>.&nbsp;

<h3 data-sourcepos="47:1-47:64">Choosing the Right Password Manager for Your Trade Business</h3>
There's no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to password managers. Consider these factors when making your decision:
<ul data-sourcepos="51:1-55:0">
<li data-sourcepos="51:1-51:77">Number of Employees: Do you need a plan that allows for multiple users?</li>
<li data-sourcepos="52:1-52:48">Budget: How much are you willing to spend?</li>
<li data-sourcepos="53:1-53:79">Technical Expertise: How comfortable are your employees with technology?</li>
<li data-sourcepos="54:1-55:0">Features: What features are most important to you (e.g., mobile access, family plans, etc.)?</li>
</ul>
By implementing a password manager, you can transform your trade business from a password nightmare into a security fortress. No more shared logins, no more forgotten passwords, no more security vulnerabilities.

Wondering how to organize your passwords as an electrical, HVAC, plumbing, or any other contracting or trade business? We'll explain how to use a password manager, and go over the best tools for your business.

Wondering how to organize your passwords as an electrical, HVAC, plumbing, or any other contracting or trade business? ...

Best Password Managers for trade businesses and how to use them

6 Best Password Managers for the Trades (Electricians, Plumbers, HVAC, Contracters)

You have probably seen many popular communication technologies declaring that they use end-to-end encryption to protect your data. End-to-end encryption is often thought of as the most private and secure way to communicate online and it is now more accessible than ever.

Sounds great &ndash; but what exactly does end-to-end encryption mean? How does it work? Does end-to-end encryption offer better and more secure communication?&nbsp;

In this blog post, we will answer these questions and more as we discover how end-to-end encryption ensures secure communication.

<h2>What Is End-to-End Encryption and How Does It Work?</h2>
Encryption describes the practice of making data or information indecipherable to unauthorized third parties. It works by transforming data into a code that can only be decoded through an authorized decryption process. These complex transformations make it virtually impossible to decode the data without proper permissions.&nbsp;

End-to-end encryption focuses on protecting data as it is sent from one device to another. The data is encrypted on the sender&rsquo;s device and decrypted on the recipient&rsquo;s device. If someone <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/man-in-the-middle-attack" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">attempts to intercept the data</a> during transfer, it is unreadable.&nbsp;
<h2>How does end-to-end encryption differ from other encryption practices?</h2>
Unlike traditional encryption practices, end-to-end encryption is a complete solution from sender to receiver. Not only is the data encrypted in transit, but it is also never decrypted on the server. In contrast, at-rest and in-transit methods only encrypt in certain contexts.&nbsp;
<h3>Encryption in transit&nbsp;</h3>
As the name suggests, this type of encryption safeguards data as it travels between two systems. Data encrypted in transit is protected from malicious activity as it travels from sender to receiver. For example, data is in transit when using messaging services, uploading information to an app or even using <a href="https://www.dialpad.com/blog/call-center-ivr/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">contact center IVR</a> systems.&nbsp;
<h3>Encryption at rest</h3>
Encryption at rest is a method of protecting data that is not in use. Often used alongside other data protection measures such as authentication and access control, encryption at rest makes stored data less vulnerable to data breaches.&nbsp;

<img height="401" width="602" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/MQ2so6iO7I8Sg7BYqQqscgRLKjlcG7lyRma3e_ajjcDxTd6N624ONcXGmsiSzuNCd3cIMQ-Hcyk2dbJ5rd39hRsAerkfqeqV991hPA2yxhv39gM15iPKKQW9IiaHMUWkpw7Dw3iSHjlB6OXHrMpxYbs">
Free to use image sourced from Unsplash

End-to-end encryption is unique in that only the sender and receiver can decrypt the data. The data is encrypted at the point of transmission and an obfuscated message is delivered which only the end-user can decrypt. The encryption and decryption are limited to the end-to-end users and not the server itself.&nbsp;

End-to-end encryption is therefore a much more private method of secure communication when compared with other encryption practices.&nbsp;
<h2>Benefits of End-to-End Encryption&nbsp;</h2>
End-to-end encryption is a powerful tool for data protection and secure communication. There are many advantages to using end-to-end encryption which we will discover in this section.&nbsp;
<h3>Data security</h3>
When you use end-to-end encryption, it is much more difficult for hackers to access your data. Even if hackers are able to compromise the servers where encrypted data is stored, they would not be able to decrypt and read the data.&nbsp;

With end-to-end encryption, even system administrators accounts are not given access to encrypted data. Only the senders and receivers have the necessary credentials to decrypt the data. Hacks against admin accounts therefore don&rsquo;t necessarily result in a data breach and this significantly <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/third-party-data-breaches-risks" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">mitigates the risk of third party data breaches</a>.
<h3>Data integrity</h3>
Since data is encrypted at the point of transmission and only decrypted when received by the intended recipient, data is protected against tampering attempts. End-to-end encryption ensures data integrity across the whole journey of a message.&nbsp;

Using cryptographic techniques, end-to-end encryption protects against data modification. Senders can rest assured that the data remains unchanged throughout the transmission process.&nbsp;
<h3>Privacy&nbsp;</h3>
End-to-end encryption provides higher levels of privacy when compared to other methods of encryption. It prevents anyone from accessing your data other than the intended recipient &ndash; even the service provider. This helps to <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-prevent-insider-threats" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">protect data from insider threats</a> as well as external attacks.&nbsp;

<img height="377" width="602" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/2OjrLgjjppRwvoO5h6vMbfEFsHaTKrLRC453zisv6OINA6vj4xm6TKE315VL96X3ezt3k_me5-L9zi0Azx-Jiewg6ZiDIXEgGXlfgqgO6ZZi59fzgda79-BAaUMAUwwHe8BoYKVuoJvpB31D9OIFWF8">
Free to use image sourced from Pixabay

For example, if you use an email service provider who does not use end-to-end encryption, it can technically access the data stored within your emails at any time. On the other hand, using an end-to-end encrypted email service gives you reassurance that no one without authorization is reading your emails.&nbsp;
<h3>Compliance&nbsp;</h3>
Compliance with regulations such as ITAR and CMMC, or fraud-preventing frameworks such as COSO (read here if you&rsquo;re wondering: &ldquo;<a href="https://www.auditboard.com/blog/coso-framework-fundamentals/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">what is COSO framework</a>?&rdquo;) is essential for any organization handling sensitive data. Many compliance frameworks require total encryption protection for data at all points of storage and transmission.&nbsp;

Implementing end-to-end encryption not only ensures secure communication but also plays a significant role in meeting compliance standards.&nbsp;
<h2>How End-to-End Encryption is used&nbsp;</h2>
Due to the benefits explained above, end-to-end encryption is becoming more popular across industries that rely on secure communication. Let&rsquo;s take a look at some real examples of how end-to-end encryption is being used in today&rsquo;s world.&nbsp;
<h3>Messaging Apps</h3>
Popular messaging app WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption to ensure secure communication among its users. When a user sends a message, WhatsApp encrypts the data using a unique private encryption key on the sender&rsquo;s device. The encrypted message is then transmitted to the intended recipient and can only be decrypted by that user. The receiving device possesses the corresponding private decryption key. Even if the message was somehow intercepted, it would be unreadable.&nbsp;

Signal is another open-source messaging app providing secure communication for its users. Prioritizing <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/customer-data-security-best-practices">customer data security</a> and privacy, it uses end-to-end encryption to ensure only the sender and receiver of a message can read it. This applies to all forms of communication within the Signal app, including text messages, group chats, voice calls, and video calls. It's no wonder Signal has been praised and endorsed by privacy and cybersecurity experts in the industry.&nbsp;
<h3>Email services&nbsp;</h3>
You may be surprised to learn that many email service providers do not use end-to-end encryption. However, email services that use end-to-end encryption uphold high standards of data security and privacy.&nbsp;

<img height="401" width="602" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/5tDkCKK5lTbBSZGoreI4rFDNO_-X9CAn4Lvl09F9RcQGZUznBPzjQdpp3h2CLZbRi_cSdX2xiAN4cqG-Bq2NViFkL2tV43gB0zBCuQgRA9Grap_NcM-aWl-zRT0xiXOsnAr_skkCJYcSwccKXq2ICU8">
Free to use image sourced from Unsplash

One such provider is ProtonMail, who use sophisticated end-to-end encryption practices to block all unauthorized users from accessing the data exchanged between its users - including ProtonMail itself.&nbsp;

As well as the benefits that come with end-to-end encryption such as protection from surveillance, hacking, and other security threats, ProtonMail includes additional security features. Two-factor authentication and zero-knowledge password storage further protect user data and make ProtonMail a leading provider of secure communication via email.&nbsp;
<h2>How to Implement End-to-End Encryption&nbsp;</h2>
Whether they are financial institutions, <a href="https://www.dialpad.com/guides/ccaas/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">CCaaS providers</a>, or insurance companies, today&rsquo;s businesses have more data than ever that needs protecting. If you&rsquo;re looking to up your data protection game with end-to-end encryption, we are here to guide you through three simple tips on implementing it effectively.&nbsp;
<ol>
<li>
<h3 role="presentation">Use strong encryption keys</h3>
</li>
</ol>
If you were going to protect your most prized possessions with a physical lock and key, would you choose a flimsy lock or something more robust? Of course, you would opt for something that was strong and difficult to tamper with. The same should be the case for your digital data.&nbsp;

Data encryption essentially transforms your stored data into a code that can only be deciphered using a special &ldquo;key&rdquo;. This key unlocks the data and makes it readable. Without it, the data makes no sense, so even if someone was able to access it, they wouldn&rsquo;t understand it.&nbsp;

<img height="401" width="602" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/1QPaw3ejzfAJnbgjcWXPxjcrL5p6hh06tAx0EHxUjhBVYL3l9eUj00AhNo5W4D5IDY5bAeucafXOCBuOtX0j4o3LQW0bkYkUcFD-ecALmQN-c2K1j-3WrNSAv7HYVsARx0npxnyMJWwGdggB28rhDto">
Free to use image sourced from Unsplash

Strong encryption keys are essential when it comes to data protection and secure communication with end-to-end encryption. So, how do you create a strong encryption key?

<ul>
<li>
Make it long. It goes without saying that a longer encryption key is harder to crack.&nbsp;
</li>
<li>
Avoid the obvious. As tempting as it is, avoid using personal information such as names or birthdays. These are often easy to find out and therefore easy to guess.&nbsp;
</li>
<li>
Mix it up. Use a mixture of letters, numbers, and special characters to make your encryption key unique.&nbsp;
</li>
<li>
Change it often. It is good practice to regularly update your encryption keys as an extra layer of security.&nbsp;
</li>
</ul>

Remember that your encryption key is protecting your data. Don&rsquo;t underestimate the power of a strong encryption key because the stronger it is, the safer your data is too.&nbsp;

<ol start="2">
<li>
<h3 role="presentation">Use two-factor authentication&nbsp;</h3>
</li>
</ol>
Two-factor authentication (2FA) acts as an additional layer of protection when using end-to-end encryption. 2FA is a security measure that requires an additional form of verification before allowing access to the data in question. Remember that strong lock you&rsquo;ve installed on the front door? This is like needing an extra key to unlock it.&nbsp;

For example, you may enter your password, but then be asked to verify your identity using a specific authentication app or by entering a code sent to your mobile device. If a hacker happens to guess your password, but doesn&rsquo;t have access to your authentication method &ndash; access denied.&nbsp;

When combined with end-to-end encryption, 2FA acts as a deterrent to hackers and gives you peace of mind that your data is highly protected and secure.&nbsp;
<ol start="3">
<li>
<h3 role="presentation">Keep software up to date&nbsp;</h3>
</li>
</ol>
If you&rsquo;ve ever hit &ldquo;snooze&rdquo; on a software update notification, you wouldn&rsquo;t be the only one. However, these updates can often include important security improvements which are essential for data protection and secure communication.&nbsp;

<img height="429" width="602" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/aUAZzF2XnbnvjtvjjjMzNMO-GW-oZB6Vl5wbG51M7O2h_e1OXbrGc1zDFzN5LaWadjkrkaGAcLwYnCAfUD7LTQRGtwnUm7HpZCm91QOhuX59wKvMXpYDwhzrT6yQJoOhFiny6qekb1ier7G0XzkGugo">
Free to use image sourced from Pixabay

The digital realm is fast-paced and ever-evolving, so it makes sense that there is a constant stream of new threats. To ensure you are protected against the latest security threats, you need to keep your software up to date.&nbsp;

In doing so, you maximize the protection you are getting with end-to-end encryption.&nbsp;
<h2>Securing login credentials with end-to-end encryption</h2>
So, are you ready to take your data protection and secure communication to the next level? If so, you need end-to-end encryption services. Using secure encryption keys to protect data while at rest and in transit, end-to-end encryption is designed to prioritize privacy and security.&nbsp;
<a href="https://teampassword.com/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">TeamPassword</a> keeps your login credentials and other records safe in an AES 256-bit encrypted vault. Each teammate is given their own login to the vault, so that the data is encrypted locally and no one else, not even TeamPassword, can see it.&nbsp;
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/signup" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Try Teampassword FREE for 14 days</a> to get secure sharing, simplified.&nbsp;

Does end-to-end encryption offer better and more secure communication? Find out exactly what end-to-end encryption means, the benefits and how it works.

Does end-to-end encryption offer better and more secure communication? Find out exactly what end-to-end encryption means, the benefits ...

How End-to-End Encryption Ensures Secure Communication

Sharing passwords with coworkers requires a higher level of security to avoid data breaches and unauthorized access to sensitive information.
Teams need a safe way to share their passwords without disrupting their workflow. In a world online, not having the password to an account can mean being unable to work!
[Table of Contents]
<ul>
<li><a href="#howtosecurely" rel="follow">How to Securely Share Passwords With Your Team</a></li>
<li><a href="#challenges" rel="follow">The Challenges of Sharing Passwords</a></li>
<li><a href="#avoid" rel="follow">11 Password Sharing Methods to Avoid</a></li>
</ul>
<h2 id="howtosecurely">How to Securely Share Passwords With Your Team</h2>
<h3>1. Use a Reputable Password Manager</h3>
Using a reputable password manager designed for team collaboration is one of the most secure ways to share passwords.
Why?
Password managers offer robust encryption and access controls, and allow teammates to access the passwords&nbsp;while remaining in&nbsp;the secured environment.
With a password manager, you can create a centralized vault for all your team's passwords, making it easy to share and manage access on a need-to-know basis.
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/Ssg37yGhQyCmXKMf72x7" alt="undefined" width="738" height="440">
Why It's Secure:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Password managers use strong encryption algorithms to protect your data, making it virtually impossible for unauthorized parties to decipher passwords.</li>
<li>Access controls in password managers allow you to specify who can view, edit, or share specific passwords, ensuring that sensitive credentials are only available to the right team members.</li>
<li>Password managers often offer features like two-factor authentication (2FA) and secure sharing mechanisms, adding an extra layer of protection to your team's password vault.</li>
</ul>
<h3>2. Implement Role-Based Access Control</h3>
Adopting a role-based access control (RBAC) system within your password manager provides an additional security layer. By assigning different roles and access privileges to team members based on their job responsibilities, you can limit the exposure of sensitive credentials. Only those who require access to specific passwords will have the permission to view and use them.
Why It's Secure:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>RBAC ensures that team members only have access to the passwords they need to perform their duties, reducing the attack surface and potential insider threats.</li>
<li>By compartmentalizing access, the impact of a compromised account is limited, as attackers cannot access the entire password vault.</li>
</ul>
<h3>3. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)</h3>
Enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security to your password manager. With 2FA, team members must provide a second authentication factor (like a one-time code sent to their phone) in addition to their master password, making it significantly more challenging for unauthorized individuals to gain access.
Why It's Secure:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>2FA prevents unauthorized access, even if someone discovers or steals a team member's master password.</li>
<li>It reduces the risk of successful brute-force attacks on the password manager.</li>
</ul>
<h3>4. Long, unique passwords for every account</h3>
What's the point of Role-based Access (only give someone what they need) if a password is reused?&nbsp;
Use your password manager's built-in <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">password generator</a> to generate long and unique passwords for every account.&nbsp;
If you need to memorize the password, we recommend&nbsp;<a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-build-a-passphrase#:~:text=How%20to%20Create%20a%20Strong%20Passphrase" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">using a passphrase</a>.&nbsp;
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/tj8gEkSCTwiowMUAocHy" alt="Built-in password generator.gif" width="369" height="281">
Why It's Secure:
<ul>
<li>If a service you use gets breached, your password could be stolen. Using unique passwords for each account contains the damage.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Teammates won't inadvertently have the password to an account they shouldn't</li>
</ul>
<h3>5. Educate Team Members about Password Security</h3>
Provide ongoing education and training to your team about password security best practices. Emphasize the importance of using strong, unique passwords, avoiding password reuse, and never sharing passwords through insecure channels.
Why It's Secure:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Well-informed team members are more likely to follow security protocols and maintain good password hygiene.</li>
<li>Increased awareness helps prevent accidental security breaches and reduces the likelihood of falling victim to phishing attempts.</li>
</ul>
Approach cybersecurity training in a way that de-escalates feelings of overwhelm or incompetence. This video of an artist explaining basic cybersecurity is a great place to start.&nbsp;
<iframe width="560" height="314" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wBgWJFVt2RI" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
In conclusion, securely sharing passwords with your team is crucial to maintaining the confidentiality of sensitive information. By using a reputable password manager with RBAC and 2FA features, implementing password rotation policies, and educating team members, you can significantly enhance the security of your team's password management practices. These measures will help safeguard your valuable data and protect your organization from potential cybersecurity threats.
<h2 id="challenges">The Challenges of Sharing Passwords&nbsp;</h2>
Individuals working with teams know there are challenges involved with sharing passwords, even though it's essential to get projects completed.
Your team needs a way to provide those passwords to others authorized to gain access to work on jobs and projects and prevent others who aren't from logging in.
Many industries face this security concern and need innovative solutions to solve this problem. Some industries that need to share passwords include the following.
<ul>
<li>Tech companies</li>
<li>Digital marketing agencies</li>
<li>Software design and development companies&nbsp;</li>
<li>Creative agencies</li>
</ul>
For example, a marketing team working remotely on a project together needs access to the information to complete projects; however, the project contains sensitive information and data about a client.
You don't want someone to gain access to this information but still have a user-friendly method for providing the passwords.
In this instance, you need a reliable and secure method for passing along passwords to team members without sacrificing user-friendly methods.
<h3>Security Concerns&nbsp;</h3>
A top security concern should be sharing&nbsp;<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passwords</a>&nbsp;safely. You can have great IT security and still have weak points within your company because of user errors.
For example, some coworkers write passwords or send them via text or apps. This is a dangerous practice that can spell disaster.
Sharing passwords through any physical or verbal means may also leave this information subject to theft.
Without using a secure vehicle for sharing passwords, cybercriminals have the advantage, and they can&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teampassword.com/blog/have-i-been-hacked-how-to-know-for-sure" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hack</a>&nbsp;your team or private account.
Some of the worst&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teampassword.com/blog/the-scariest-data-breaches-of-all-time" target="_blank" rel="noopener">data breaches</a>&nbsp;of all time have happened to seemingly secure companies and work teams. Don't let this happen to your company or workgroup.
<h2 id="avoid">Password Sharing Methods to Avoid</h2>
<h3>1. Email Communication</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Email communication is not secure and can be easily intercepted or accessed by unauthorized individuals, leading to potential password leaks.</li>
<li>Email is transmitted over the internet in plain text, making it vulnerable to interception at various points along the transmission path. Additionally, email accounts can be compromised through phishing attacks or weak passwords, giving attackers access to the password-sharing emails. Once intercepted or accessed by unauthorized parties, the passwords become exposed and can be used to gain unauthorized access to sensitive accounts and data.</li>
</ul>
<h3>2. Messaging Apps</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Messaging apps may lack end-to-end encryption, making passwords vulnerable to interception during transit or storage.</li>
<li>While some messaging apps offer encryption, not all of them provide end-to-end encryption. Without end-to-end encryption, the passwords shared through these apps could be intercepted by hackers, service providers, or other parties with access to the communication channels or servers. Moreover, messages containing passwords might be saved on the devices used for communication, leaving them susceptible to unauthorized access if the device is lost or stolen.</li>
</ul>
<h3>3. Written/Physical Notes</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Sharing passwords through written or physical notes increases the risk of loss, theft, or accidental exposure, compromising security.</li>
<li>Physical notes can easily be misplaced, lost, or stolen, providing a direct route to the sensitive information they contain. Additionally, leaving passwords written on sticky notes or notepads in plain sight can lead to accidental exposure if unauthorized individuals have access to the physical workspace.</li>
</ul>
<h3>4. Shared Spreadsheets or Documents</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Shared spreadsheets or documents can be accessed by multiple individuals, increasing the potential for unauthorized access to passwords.</li>
<li>Storing passwords in shared spreadsheets or documents without proper access controls means that anyone with access to the file can view the passwords. It becomes challenging to track who has accessed or modified the passwords, making it difficult to identify potential security breaches or insider threats.</li>
</ul>
<h3>5. Verbal Communication</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Sharing passwords verbally is prone to human error and can be easily overheard, leading to unauthorized access.</li>
<li>Verbal communication of passwords introduces the risk of mistakes, such as mishearing or forgetting the password. Additionally, sharing passwords verbally in open or public spaces can expose them to eavesdroppers, compromising security.</li>
</ul>
<h3>6. Using Personal Accounts</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Sharing passwords through personal accounts (e.g., personal email) lacks proper access controls and jeopardizes sensitive data.</li>
<li>Using personal accounts for sharing passwords does not offer the same level of security as business or team-oriented platforms. Personal accounts might not have multi-factor authentication or proper audit trails, making it difficult to monitor and control access to shared passwords.</li>
</ul>
<h3>7. Plain Text Messages</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Sending passwords in plain text over any platform exposes them to interception or unauthorized access.</li>
<li>Plain text messages do not provide any encryption, meaning the passwords are transmitted in clear, readable text. This exposes them to potential interception by hackers or malicious software, especially when transmitted over unsecured networks.</li>
</ul>
<h3>8. Generic or Weak Passwords</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Sharing generic or weak passwords among team members increases the risk of unauthorized access and compromises overall security.</li>
<li>Generic or weak passwords are easy targets for brute-force attacks and social engineering attempts. If shared among team members, attackers who gain access to one password could potentially compromise multiple accounts.</li>
</ul>
<h3>9. No Access Revocation Mechanism</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Failing to revoke access to shared passwords when no longer needed leaves credentials exposed and vulnerable to misuse.</li>
<li>As team members change roles or leave the organization, it's essential to revoke their access to shared passwords. Without proper access management, former employees or individuals who no longer require access might retain it, increasing the risk of unauthorized access.</li>
</ul>
<h3>10. No Password Rotation Policy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Neglecting to change shared passwords regularly allows potential intruders more time to exploit any discovered credentials.</li>
<li>Regular password rotation is essential for reducing the window of opportunity for attackers. If passwords are rarely changed, the risk of unauthorized access increases over time, especially if an insider or external threat manages to gain access to the shared passwords.</li>
</ul>
<h3>11. Shared Web Browsers</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Using shared web browsers with saved passwords exposes sensitive information to all users of that browser profile.</li>
<li>When multiple individuals share a web browser with saved passwords, anyone using the browser can access the stored credentials. This lack of access controls can lead to unauthorized use of the passwords and compromise the security of the accounts they protect.</li>
</ul>
To maintain a robust security posture, it is crucial for teams to avoid these risky password-sharing methods. Instead, adopt secure password management tools, enforce strict access controls, and educate team members about the importance of password security.
<h2>How to Get Started&nbsp;</h2>
The best way to get started is to work with a proven leader in the field of password protection. Reach out to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teampassword.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TeamPassword</a>&nbsp;to find out how they can provide you and your team with the tools and security you need to avoid data breaches and leaks, either from sharing passwords or user error.
Get a competitive service that hashes, salts, and encrypts your sensitive passwords and then transmits them securely where no one but the intended party can have access.
<h3>Proven Results&nbsp;</h3>
TeamPassword provides users with a high level of&nbsp;<a href="https://teampassword.com/security" target="_blank" rel="follow noopener">security</a> and encryption to prevent others from gaining access to your work platforms or data files.
They provide a customized solution for teams in all levels of business to allow them to quickly, safely, and securely share passwords to only those individuals who are authorized and absolutely no one else.
To get more information or details about this essential solution for teams and projects, check out the <a href="https://teampassword.com/features" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">product tour</a> on the website. You can also get&nbsp;access to 2-step verification, unique passwords, activity and logging, and email alerts all on one streamlined platform that makes working securely with other team members easier and safe when you sign up for the&nbsp;<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/signup" target="_blank" rel="follow noopener">free trial</a>.

Sharing passwords with coworkers requires a higher level of security. Learn how TeamPassword can help you with keeping your passwords safe.

Sharing passwords with coworkers requires a higher level of security. Learn how TeamPassword can help you with keeping ...

How to Securely Share Passwords With Your Team | TeamPassword

How to Securely Share Passwords With Your Team

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!
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>1. Scott Luscombe - Graphic Designer / Shopify Expert / Website Developer / Copywriter&nbsp; - Canada</h3>
Scott Luscombe is a freelance graphic designer, Shopify expert, website developer, and copywriter from Uxbridge, Canada. He holds a degree in Illustration from Sheridan College and a degree in Marketing from the University of Toronto.
Scott has been a freelancer for most of his professional career and has earned over $500k on Upwork. He has completed over 311 jobs and worked&nbsp;10,956 hours!&nbsp;
Scott's work includes graphic design and branding, illustration and icons, copywriting, website design and development, UX/UI, and printing and packaging. He also provides freelance coaching and consulting. Scott is a Top Rated Upwork Freelancer currently charging $99 per hour for various creative gigs.
Some of Scott's most notable work includes designs for Coca-Cola, the Canadian Cancer Society, Nickelodeon, and Wallet Ninja (to name a few).&nbsp;
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<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 Environment, and a J.D. in environmental law from Pace Law School.&nbsp;
Kate's skillset includes redesigning and updating material to make it easier to understand, building a consistent brand from a simple starting point like a logo, and creating unique logos that guarantee results.
Kate is a Top Rated Upwork Freelancer, and her rates start at $225 per hour. You can find out more about Kate on her <a href="https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~013ce73876c1c18126" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Upwork profile</a>.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>8. Marcos Rezende - UX designer - Canada</h3>
Marcos Rezende is a UX Designer from Ontario, Canada, with more than 13 years of experience. Marcos has worked in over 30 industry sectors for multinational organizations in the United States, Canada, Germany, and Brazil.&nbsp;
Some of Marcos' notable projects include apps for Ontario's COVID-19 dashboard, Urban Master Planning collaboration platform, and Reaction (kid's e-learning app), to name a few.&nbsp;
Marcos loves sharing his industry expertise with aspiring UX designers and regularly writes for the popular UX publication Career Foundry. Total recognizes Marcos as part of its "Top 3%" of global freelancer talent&mdash;a title given to elite freelancers in their given field.
We don't have access to Marcos' rates, but the best UX designers on Upwork earn upwards of $100 per hour. As a Toptal Top 3% freelancer, Marcos likely charges $200-$300 per hour.
<a href="https://www.marcosrezende.com/">Marcos Rezende's website</a> was nominated for the prestigious <a href="https://www.awwwards.com/sites/ux-portfolio-marcos-rezende">awwwards.</a> in 2021.
&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!

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

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

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

Have I Been Hacked? How to Know for Sure.

Password encryption is essential to store user credentials stored in a database securely. Without password encryption, anyone accessing a user database on a company's servers (including hackers) could easily view any stored passwords.
Even a strong 32-character password created using a <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">secure password generator</a> is useless without password-encryption! If someone can read your password on a server, they can use it simply by copy/pasting it&mdash;no matter how long or complicated the password might be!
Encryption scrambles your password before saving it on the server. So, if someone hacks the server, instead of finding password123, they find a random series of letters and numbers.
In this article, we're going to explore the world of password encryption, why <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/tips-and-tricks-to-create-a-strong-password">strong passwords matter</a>, and how you can practice better password management!
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a> is the password management solution for small businesses! Create, store, and share login credentials safely with employees, contractors, and clients. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> today!
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;[Table of Contents]
<ul>
<li><a href="#understandingpasswordencryption" rel="follow">Understanding Password Encryption</a></li>
<li><a href="#howdoespasswordencryptionwork" rel="follow">How Does Password Encryption Work?</a></li>
<li><a href="#5commonpasswordencryptionmethods" rel="follow">5 Common Password Encryption Methods</a></li>
<li><a href="#whystrongpasswordsmatter" rel="follow">Why Strong Passwords Matter</a></li>
</ul>
<h2 id="understandingpasswordencryption">Understanding Password Encryption</h2>
To explain password encryption effectively, we must first grasp the language. Several terms might be unfamiliar, so here is a quick intro to password encryption terminology.
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Key: Used to lock and unlock passwords using a random string of bits. You get private and public keys that crypt and decrypt data differently, but we won't get too deep in the weeds with keys!</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Bits: A logical state with one of two possible values, including 1/0, true/false, yes/no, or on/off as typical examples.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Block (block cipher): A deterministic algorithm operating on fixed-length groups of bits, called blocks.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Hash function: The algorithm that uses the key to create password encryption and decryption. A hash function is essentially a piece of code that runs every time someone saves a password or logs into an application.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Hash: A random series of numbers and letters representing your password. The hash function uses your hash instead of the raw password for authentication.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Salt: Additional letters and numbers appended to the hash</li>
</ul>
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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.
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<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> and let TeamPassword secure your company's digital assets.

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

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

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