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.

Digital security has become among the most important issues since the turn of the century. While a significant number of people may associate hacking with large corporations and government institutions, most cyberattacks target small businesses and individuals. Often, unlike larger corporations and government institutions, small and medium businesses and individuals have less advanced security measures and protocols. Regardless of size, there is still significantly valuable information that hackers may acquire from unwitting individuals. This includes credit card and banking information, access codes to secure locations and access to confidential&nbsp;information.
Smart homes and smart devices are also under threat. Smart home security has become an important component of privacy. Devices that have access to the internet of things (IoT) are able to communicate with each other via a wireless network and have enabled people to use access to their homes in innovative ways.
Just as a secure smart home is vital, IoT security is vital because, unfortunately, the access of IoT&nbsp;to your main network&nbsp;also creates an access point for malicious actors that could break into your house, steal or vandalize property, physically harm or kidnap the occupants or remotely tamper with your home.&nbsp;Just as locks on doors and windows are essential, smart home security is a vital component of securing your space. Below are actionable tips that you should implement if you have a secure smart home.
Start protecting yourself today with a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=bcms#signup/testimonial" rel="follow">14-day free trial</a>.
<h2>1. Wi-Fi Password Security</h2>
The most basic approach to internet security is the use of <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/common-password-problems-faced-small-organizations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">secure passwords</a>. A common way that Wi-Fi networks are breached is through the use of easily hackable passwords. Considering that software and AI are developing at a rapid rate, the use of simple passwords is now a way to make your network vulnerable. Another prudent practice is to not use the <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/the-truth-about-terrible-passwords" target="_blank" rel="noopener">same password</a> for different accounts and to change it regularly. However, these practices are a hurdle for larger families with multiple individuals using the same network. Services like <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=bcms#signup/testimonial" target="_blank" rel="follow noopener">Team Password</a> enable families to share secure log-ins and passwords, even when they are regularly altered. This is done through password synchronization across different accounts. Should one family member experience a hack and a password change is required, there would be no need to go through the hurdles of sharing a new secure password.
<h2>2. Updating IoT Devices</h2>
In certain cases, a weak point in the software or firmware of a device may be discovered&nbsp;and an update is required to patch that weak link. Failing to update devices connected to your network regularly could leave your home vulnerable to hackers. The best approach is to ensure that the settings on the device automatically and regularly check for updates. For certain devices, automatic installation may be acceptable, but for others that are critical to your security, such as a device capable of unlocking a door, it may be better to schedule updates manually at a reasonable time. IoT (Internet of Things) Security can be robust when constantly updated, rather than neglected. When a weakness is discovered in IoT security, the businesses that maintain the devices will patch the gap holes and it is up to you to make sure that the updates&nbsp;are installed onto the device.
<h2>3. Firewall and Antivirus Software</h2>
It is not uncommon that unprotected devices are infiltrated by malicious code. There are all kinds of computer viruses and undesirable programs that could access your system and compromise your security. Defensive software such as antivirus programs and firewalls should always&nbsp;be kept up to date.
<h2>4. Router Security</h2>
While many individuals will change the names of their wi-fi networks and use secure passwords for them, one access point that is neglected is the router itself. Hackers may get access to your network if you leave the default settings, such as administrator usernames and passwords. Not everyone in your household will need access to router settings. Regardless, the same prudent approach to secure access to the Wi-Fi should be used for the router password. A service like <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=bcms#signup/testimonial" target="_blank" rel="follow noopener">Team Password</a>makes this an easy task.
<h2>5. Separate IoT Network</h2>
The network that controls your devices requires a higher level of security than that which, for example, your house guests use. A reasonable approach is to create two networks with your IoT devices on their own network.
<h2>6. Device Access and Permissions</h2>
Some devices are always on and surveilling either visually or audibly. These could be used&nbsp;by hackers to access information or images that could be used in a harmful way. Also, be wary of the permissions granted to certain devices. If a particular device requests permission to access the information it does not need, disable the function.
<h2>7. Multi-Factor Authentication</h2>
<a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/one-time-passwords-vs-two-factor-authentication" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Multi-factor authentication</a> is an important approach to security. Use your phone or a third-party app like an authenticator. In&nbsp;the event that you are hacked on any email, device or account, two-factor and multifactor authentication will ensure that no one else will access any vital information or accounts without your phone or the app that is used for multifactor authentication. Regardless of your approach in this security, <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/the-biggest-password-trends-of-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passphrases,</a> which are&nbsp;complicated versions of passwords, have proven to be effective. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=bcms#signup/testimonial" target="_blank" rel="follow noopener">Password lockers</a> are an effective way to ensure that you will not forget even the most complicated of passphrases and link them to all devices.

Team password is an effective password management service. with other services like password generation. Experience it today with a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=bcms#signup/testimonial" rel="follow">14-day free trail</a>

Even when you secure the perimeter of your home, you should find out how to make sure your home is not vulnerable to cyberattacks.

Even when you secure the perimeter of your home, you should find out how to make sure your ...

7 Tips to Secure Your Smart Home and IoT Devices

When we think about staying secure online, passwords are often the first thing that come to mind. After all, we use them to login to just about every service, from our email inbox to social media platforms. However, new methods of authentication are transforming the way we access digital interfaces.
We all can empathize with the frustration of forgetting a password and having to reset it for the tenth time, and with experts advising unique, complex passwords for every account you hold, achieving both convenience and security can seem hopeless. Fortunately, tools like TeamPassword make striking this balance easy.
Of course, while using&nbsp;<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=bcms#signup/testimonial" target="_blank" rel="follow noopener">TeamPassword</a> can help you consistently use (and remember) more secure passwords, what does the future hold? Are we moving towards passwordless authentication, or will they always play a role in our security?
To get started protecting your self today click <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=bcms#signup/testimonial" rel="follow">here</a> to get your free trial.
<h3>Table of Contents:</h3>
<ol>
<li>What Would Passwordless Mean for Users?</li>
<li>Do Businesses Need Passwordless Authentication?</li>
<li>Simplify Your Password Management</li>
</ol>
<h2>What Would Passwordless Mean for Users?</h2>
How much time would you save if you didn't have to remember and enter a password for every account you access? With the&nbsp;introduction&nbsp;of Touch ID, Face ID, and other authentication systems, everyday users have quickly backed the passwordless movement. Of course, while these methods work for consumers' personal devices, businesses require scaled up solutions that are much more complex.
As a business, the question really comes down to whether or not passwordless is feasible right now. For most, it's something their working towards &mdash; and it has a bigger business impact than some may think.
In the IT world, the pursuit of passwordless authentication means a lot. For starters, it implies increased security while,&nbsp;at the&nbsp;same&nbsp;time,&nbsp;greatly&nbsp;<a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/why-do-i-need-a-password-manager" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reducing the administrative work</a> of IT professionals.
For those not in the IT world, just spend a moment considering how much time these professionals spend helping recover passwords, ensuring secure passwords, and other password management practices and protocols within their organization.
Since 2019, the amount of&nbsp;time professionals spend managing user passwords <a href="https://blog.lastpass.com/2020/10/lastpass-research-finds-92-of-businesses-believe-passwordless-authentication-is-in-their-organizations-future/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">has increased by an astounding 25%</a>. This represents a great deal of work hours being spent on critical but monotonous activity and being able to eliminate those tasks is the dream of many employees in the IT space. A password manager like <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=bcms#signup/testimonial" target="_blank" rel="follow noopener">TeamPassword</a> can help save those countless hours.
<h2>Do Businesses Need Passwordless Authentication?</h2>
Almost <a href="https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2020/10/02/is-passwordless-authentication-actually-the-future/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">9 in 10 professionals</a> in the IT world don't believe that the password as we know it will ever go away entirely. However, the same number of professionals agree that&nbsp;we need a combination of password management strategies and passwordless authentication to maintain security and simplify IT administration.
When implemented, passwordless authentication solutions result in fewer passwords being used or needed. That reduction can do wonders for simplifying the employee or user experience, and improve security at the same time. However, with passwords still engrained in most security practices, the right <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/6-steps-to-using-a-team-password-manager-for-your-small-business" target="_blank" rel="noopener">password management strategy</a> is also essential.
If you ask employees, around 92% feel that their organization is on the road to a passwordless user experience. That alone shows the growing need for simple and secure authentication methods. Other factors, like an increasing number of people working from home, are also contributing to this need for more seamless, user-friendly security.
<h2>Simplify Your Password Management</h2>
Passwords aren't going away soon, so what can your business do in the meantime to help reduce friction, improve user compliance, and make managing secure passwords easier for everyone? As you move down the path towards passwordless authentication, you should&nbsp;be investing in <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/why-should-i-use-a-password-generator" target="_blank" rel="noopener">modern tools.</a> This helps your business both manage passwords as they are and puts you on the road to advanced authentication methods.
TeamPassword is the easiest, fastest, and most secure way to store and manage the passwords of all of your team members. No more spreadsheets or self-managed databases. With TeamPassword, login information is stored in the cloud where it's highly encrypted, ultra safe, and always in-sync.
Instead of allowing your users to figure out their own password management solutions, TeamPassword makes for a collaborative experience. Whereas other password managers are designed for personal use, TeamPassword&nbsp;was created with your business' needs in mind. By using it, you can keep your projects moving smoothly while protecting your assets&nbsp;in the process.

Interested in learning more about TeamPassword and how it can help your teams achieve simplified security? <a href="https://members.scripted.com/organization/bf9b16a3-4d1a-4e8e-8557-42bca5ce70a3/jobs/Start%20a%20free%20trial%20today" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Start a free trial today</a> and see for yourself what modern password management looks like.

Thinking about ditching passwords? The passwordless authentication future isn't here yet, but it may very well be on its way. | Teampassword

Thinking about ditching passwords? The passwordless authentication future isn't here yet, but it may very well be on ...

Is the Future Passwords or Passwordless Authentication?

Is the Future Passwords, or Passwordless Authentication?

Do you think&nbsp;Password1&nbsp;is a seriously stupid password? Or&nbsp;1234? Donald Trump's Twitter account (now&nbsp;<a href="https://blog.twitter.com/en_us/topics/company/2020/suspension.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">permanently suspended</a>), had one of the most easily guessable passwords of all time: MAGA2020!
MAGA, which stands for "Make America Great Again", was Trump's campaign slogan during his 2016 presidential campaign. Police documents reveal that Victor Gevers&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-55337192" target="_blank" rel="noopener">accessed Trump's Twitter</a>&nbsp;after correctly guessing his not-so-secure password.
Gevers proves how easy it is to guess pretty much anyone's Twitter login. And it doesn't matter if you're a plumber, a physical therapist, or the President of the United States.&nbsp;
To protect your account click <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" rel="follow">here</a> to sign up for a free trial of TeamPassword.
<h2>What Happened?</h2>
In December 2020, Dutch prosecutors&nbsp;<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-twitter-password-breach-an-ethical-hack-says-dutch-government-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">concluded</a>&nbsp;that cyber-security researcher Gevers had successfully hacked into Trump's Twitter by guessing his password. (Gevers had the screenshots to prove it.)&nbsp;
Gevers had been carrying out a "sweep" of U.S. politicians when he guessed Trump's credentials, which gave him access to the former President's private photos, messages, and block list. Gevers says he was "looking for vulnerabilities on the internet."&nbsp;
At the time Gevers accessed the account, Trump had 89 million followers.&nbsp;
Recommended reading:&nbsp;<a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/the-truth-about-terrible-passwords" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Truth About Terrible Passwords</a>
<h2>Password Vulnerabilities on Social Media</h2>
In July 2020, hackers&nbsp;<a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/embarrassed-twitter-reveals-130-accounts-were-hacked-8-profile-info-were-downloaded/articleshow/77058844.cms?from=mdr#:~:text='Embarrassed'%20Twitter%20reveals%20130%20accounts%20were%20hacked%2C%208%20profiles%20downloaded,-AFP" target="_blank" rel="noopener">infiltrated</a>&nbsp;the accounts of 130 high-profile Twitter users (such as Elon Musk and Joe Biden) and data breaches affect businesses on social media platforms all the time &mdash; Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, you name it.&nbsp;
Businesses are susceptible to hackers because employees share social media passwords. Salespeople, marketing reps, and customer service agents often require access to the same account, and passwords can easily fall into the wrong hands. Other times, hackers guess passwords that are not secure enough. (Compromised passwords make up a massive&nbsp;<a href="https://www.idagent.com/blog/10-password-security-statistics-that-you-need-to-see-now/#:~:text=In%202019%2C%2042%25%20of%20companies,reuses%20each%20password%2014%20times!" target="_blank" rel="noopener">81 percent</a>&nbsp;of all hacking-related incidents.)
What's the solution?
Recommended reading:&nbsp;<a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/common-password-problems-faced-small-organizations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Most Common Password Problems Faced by Small Organizations</a>
<h2>The Benefits of a Password Manager</h2>
A password manager provides businesses like yours with an extra level of robust security. It stores social media passwords in a super-secure environment, keeping logins locked up safe. You can still access your Twitter or Facebook account whenever you like, but your passwords remain protected.&nbsp;
There are other benefits:
<ul>
<li>When you use a&nbsp;<a href="https://teampassword.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reliable password manager</a>, you don't need to remember social media passwords. (Great if you don't have a good memory.) Your password manager recalls your password and automatically logs you into your account. There's no longer a need to scribble passwords on a scrap of paper or list them on an Excel spreadsheet.&nbsp;</li>
<li>A password manager generates an uber-strong password that prevents hackers from entering your social media accounts. This benefit reduces the risk of identity theft, fraud, and account takeover.&nbsp;</li>
<li>A password manager cranks up the security credentials in your organization, improving compliance with data protection legislation and frameworks.</li>
</ul>
Recommended Reading:&nbsp;<a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/why-do-i-need-a-password-manager" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Why Do I Need a Password Manager?</a>
<h2>Have You Heard About Team Password?</h2>
Team Password benefits business teams like yours, letting you share logins and passwords so you can keep projects moving. You can store passwords in a safe environment and access them when you need them.&nbsp;
All kinds of businesses use Team Password to protect their social media assets, such as
<ul>
<li>Retailers</li>
<li>Banks</li>
<li>Tech startups</li>
<li>Creative agencies</li>
<li>Software design and development teams</li>
<li>Marketing agencies</li>
</ul>
Recommended Reading:&nbsp;<a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/the-biggest-password-trends-of-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Biggest Password Trends of 2020</a>
<h2>Before You Go</h2>
How hackable is your password? If someone can access the then president's Twitter account, cybercriminals could hack into yours. Using a password manager such as Team Password improves security in your organization and lets you share and sync logins with the rest of your team.&nbsp;
Are you looking for a secure social media password manager? Try the free 14-day trial&nbsp;<a href="https://teampassword.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

Learn about what you can do to protect yourself from hackers guessing your password on Twitter and other social media. | TeamPasswordBlog

Learn about what you can do to protect yourself from hackers guessing your password on Twitter and other ...

When Twitter Passwords  Are Easy to Guess. What Should You do?

When Twitter Passwords Are Easy to Guess. What Should You do?

<h2>Introduction</h2>
In a world where two-factor authentication (2FA) has become widespread and popular, a secure authentication process is still vulnerable. The main cause of this is the widely used one-time password (OTP) over SMS and OTP over email two-factor authentication methods.
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a> is a convenient and efficient way to store and share team logins and passwords to ensure trouble proof and secure business project management and protecting your assets. To get started click <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" rel="follow">here</a> to sign up for a 14-day free trial
<h2>What is OTP?</h2>
A one-time password (OTP) is a part of two-factor authentication. Generally, an OTP is several digits that a service sends to the phone or email of a user as a text message or is generated by an <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/is-it-safe-to-save-my-credit-card-online">authenticator</a> app. The user needs to enter these digits on the service side as an additional security layer to prove his identity.
Often users choose 2FA via SMS as a convenient and hassle-free way. But they don't know how many vulnerabilities this method has. Using these vulnerabilities, attackers can hijack an account, which means they can gain full control over it. Below we will look at how hackers can gain control of an account and how to prevent it.
<h2>OTP via SMS Hijacking</h2>
SMS-based 2FA method has several serious security drawbacks. Here is why you shouldn't be using OTP via SMS two-factor authentication and give preference, if possible, to another authentication method.&nbsp;
Lock screen notifications -&nbsp; - criminals can stealthy look at a locked phone's screen to get OTP codes.
SIM Basics - Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) contains information about user phone numbers, cellular vendor information, and other info. SIM cards can be stolen and used by intruders in their phones to receive SMSs or calls.
SIM Swapping - SIM information is often stored and transferred digitally. Criminals can transfer this information to their phones using trojans on the victim's phone or obtain information from the vendor&rsquo;s tech support applying social engineering hacks. With this information on hand, hackers can disconnect the victim&rsquo;s phone from the mobile network.&nbsp;
SS7 Attacks - OTP codes can be intercepted by criminals, who take advantage of severe security flaws in SS7 message transmission protocol.
While many services offer password reset via SMS messaging, considering the aforementioned disadvantages, hackers can hijack a user account, take full control over it and restrict access of the account.&nbsp;
Even if you use an authenticator app, hackers can send you an SMS, stating that there is suspicious activity on a certain service, and you must send an SMS in response to the code generated by the application. This code will be intercepted by cybercriminals for further access to the service.&nbsp;
<h2>OTP via Email Hijacking</h2>
If criminals get control over a particular email account by SS7 attack, phishing attack, or credentials leakage, they can use this compromised email account for further malicious purposes. In a case when an email account is mentioned as the main email in email-based recovery methods, hackers can hijack several different service accounts easily.
There are also cases where an automated bot calls its victims, alerts them about unauthorized activity on the account, and prompts them to enter an OTP generated by the authenticator app. This code is then transferred back to the scammers and they use it to hijack an account.&nbsp;
<h2>How to Prevent Hijacking</h2>
The following steps can help you prevent service account hijacking:
Use long passwords - <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/common-password-problems-faced-small-organizations">Passwords</a> must contain 8 characters or more (lowercase, uppercase letters, digits, and special symbols). It defends an account from brute force attacks.
Apply different passwords for different services - This can help prevent credentials leakage if one of the services gets compromised.
Change passwords periodically - By regularly changing your passwords, it can help avoid account hijacking in case of a service database leak.
Use a password manager - Encrypted <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/why-do-i-need-a-password-manager">password storage</a> prevents thefts by trojans.
Update OS and programs - Developers continuously improve security issues, and by using the latest software, you&rsquo;ll be safeguarded against dated hacking methods.&nbsp;
Beware of phishing emails and text messages - Don&rsquo;t click on suspicious links. Hackers can steal credentials when you enter them on a fraudulent site.
Only use sites with SSL certificates - Try to only visit websites with a trusted SSL certificate that provides site authentication, enables encrypted connections,&nbsp; and avoids sensitive data interception during a man-in-the-middle attack.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Disable lock screen notification - This can help eliminate the risk of criminals peeping at your OTP.
Protect SIM card by PIN - This helps prevent unauthorized SIM usage in the case of phone or SIM card theft.
Do not use SMS-based applications - App data can&rsquo;t be as easily passed to a 3rd party without your knowledge. That prevents easy SIM-swapping attacks.
Try to avoid email-based and SMS-based recovery methods - These methods are vulnerable to account hijacking.
Type the OTP directly into browsers - Never send back codes via SMS&nbsp; and don't enter the codes from the prompt during a phone call. Reliable services don't provide these options for authentication.
Try to use trusted authenticator apps or U2F hardware authenticators when it is possible - This helps to avoid weaknesses of 2FA via SMS and 2FA via email methods.
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
Using 2FA methods is still more reliable than not using it at all. Use two-factor authentication if the service provides that authentication option. Employ program security solutions for credentials storage and persistently improve your network security knowledge and awareness to protect your data and accounts.&nbsp;
TeamPassword offers the best software for password generation and management. To learn more - <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">sign up for the free 14-day trial</a> today.

Learn about OTP hijacking. The vulnerabilities that cause account hijacking and what steps to take to prevent hijacking. | Teampassword Blog

Learn about OTP hijacking. The vulnerabilities that cause account hijacking and what steps to take to prevent hijacking. ...

How Does One Time Password Hijacking Work?

It&rsquo;s been almost three years since the GDPR took effect. Now that the initial uncertainty about it has started to clear up, many are asking: Was it a big deal?
This blog entry explains why the GDPR is definitely a huge deal. GDPR not only imposes strict requirements and hefty fines. It also massively impacts how businesses <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-manage-your-small-business-passwords">manage data security and avoid data breaches</a>.
TeamPassword helps you take the needed steps to stay GDPR-compliant. We provide cyber-security tools and expertise for protecting your organization&rsquo;s data. Shield your information from data breaches, <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">sign up for a free 14-day trial</a> today.
<h2>GDPR and DATA Security</h2>
The EU&rsquo;s <a href="https://gdpr-info.eu/">General Data Protection Regulation</a> (GDPR) lays down rules on how companies should handle the personal data they collect from EU citizens and residents. Among other things, it outlines strict responsibilities and requirements to ensure organizations keep consumer&rsquo;s data private and protected.
These data security provisions cover areas such as implementing data protection protocols and roles, adopting a privacy-by-design approach throughout the organization, and mitigating data breaches. This gives the GDPR its reputation as the world&rsquo;s <a href="https://gdpr.eu/what-is-gdpr/">toughest data privacy and security law</a>.
An even more crucial GDPR component is the costly fines and penalties it imposes on businesses for noncompliance. Depending on the severity of the violation, fines can reach up to &euro;20 million or 4% of annual revenue, whichever is higher.
Put simply, the GDPR makes it a very expensive mistake for businesses to <a href="https://www.teampassword.com/blog/the-truth-about-terrible-passwords">skimp on data security</a>.
<h2>Cost of Non-compliance</h2>
Just how much do data security violations cost businesses under the GDPR? This depends on various factors, but the overall trends show that data security infringements have so far been a major source of GDPR fines.
At the time of writing, the <a href="https://www.enforcementtracker.com/?insights">GDPR Enforcement Tracker</a> reports a total of &euro;275 million in fines levied since enforcement. Of this amount, &euro;64 million comes from fines for &ldquo;insufficient technical and organisational measures to ensure information security&rdquo; (the second biggest category in the list).
In addition, four out of the five largest GDPR fines ever imposed have involved some form of data security violation (although the fines also included other non-compliance issues):
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">H&amp;M: &euro;35.2 million (an error that left a network drive unprotected)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">TIM: &euro;27.8 million (broad set of GDPR violations including data breaches)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">British Airways: &euro;22 million (phishing websites hijacked site traffic)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Marriott International: &euro;20 million (cyber-attack that compromised user data including 31 million EU residents)</li>
</ul>
This clearly indicates that regulators are very serious about going after businesses that don&rsquo;t adequately protect consumer data.
<h2>Comparing GDPR Fines With Other Data Privacy Regulations</h2>
To see how GDPR stacks up against similar data protection laws, here&rsquo;s a quick comparison of the fines imposed by other GDPR-like regulations:
<table height="543" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 58.32399840394875%; height: 780px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 29.489962984054667%;">
Regulation
</td>
<td style="width: 8.107915717539864%;">
Jurisdiction
</td>
<td style="width: 57.16472095671982%;">
&nbsp; &nbsp; Maximum Fines
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 29.489962984054667%;">
California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)
</td>
<td style="width: 8.107915717539864%;">
California
</td>
<td style="width: 57.16472095671982%;">
&nbsp; Civil penalties of $7,500/violation, statutory damages of $750/consumer/incident
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 29.489962984054667%;">
Data Protection Act (DPA)
</td>
<td style="width: 8.107915717539864%;">
UK
</td>
<td style="width: 57.16472095671982%;">
&nbsp; &pound;17.5 million or 4% of global revenue
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 29.489962984054667%;">
Digital Charter Implementation Act
</td>
<td style="width: 8.107915717539864%;">
Canada
</td>
<td style="width: 57.16472095671982%;">
&nbsp; CAD25 million or 5% of global revenue
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 29.489962984054667%;">
Privacy Act
</td>
<td style="width: 8.107915717539864%;">
Australia
</td>
<td style="width: 57.16472095671982%;">
&nbsp; AUD1.8 million
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 29.489962984054667%;">
Act on Protection of Personal Information
</td>
<td style="width: 8.107915717539864%;">
Japan
</td>
<td style="width: 57.16472095671982%;">
&nbsp; &yen;100 million
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 29.489962984054667%;">
Personal Data Protection Law
</td>
<td style="width: 8.107915717539864%;">
China
</td>
<td style="width: 57.16472095671982%;">
&nbsp; CNY50 million
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 29.489962984054667%;">
Lei Geral de Prote&ccedil;ao de Dados (LGPD)
</td>
<td style="width: 8.107915717539864%;">
Brazil
</td>
<td style="width: 57.16472095671982%;">
&nbsp; R$50 million
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>So, Is GDPR A Big Deal?</h2>
With strict responsibilities and steep penalties it places on businesses, the GDPR is a huge deal. But is it a big deal for your company, too? If you collect or process EU citizens&rsquo; and residents&rsquo; personal data, then it absolutely is.
As we&rsquo;ve seen, data security makes up a critical part of GDPR compliance. In particular, it requires businesses to:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Implement <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/your-passwords-are-only-as-secure-as-your-teams">proper organizational and technical measures</a> to protect personal data</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Assess how business decisions impact data protection</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Track data breaches and promptly notify affected parties</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Train employees on keeping data secure</li>
</ul>
In terms of how big a liability you&rsquo;ll face for data infringements, regulators take various data security factors into account when <a href="https://www.ciodive.com/news/how-do-regulators-calculate-gdpr-fines-an-explainer/558495/">calculating GDPR fines</a>:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">The size and duration of the breach</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Type of data compromised</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Whether intent or negligence is involved</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Prevention and mitigation steps taken</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Record of past data breaches</li>
</ul>
Finally, as more GDPR-like regulations take effect, you&rsquo;re bound to be governed by other data privacy laws at some point. Becoming GDPR-compliant helps you stay ahead at meeting similar regulations down the road. That makes GDPR quite a big deal for everyone.
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
In this post, you&rsquo;ve seen what GDPR means for data security and why it&rsquo;s a big deal for every business right now. The big takeaway is that GDPR mandates a data-privacy-by-design mindset which, in turn, needs robust data protection mechanisms in place.
That&rsquo;s where TeamPassword can help. We give you tools to easily manage passwords across your organization so that data stays secure. Give it a try with a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">free 14-day trial today</a>.

Was the GDPR a big deal? The quick answer is yes and the GDPR is an even bigger deal for how businesses handle data security. | TeamPassword

Was the GDPR a big deal? The quick answer is yes and the GDPR is an even bigger ...

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With <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a>, users can benefit from simple and effective solutions to store and share passwords and team logins. These convenient features enable you to let business projects progress securely and protect your digital assets. Our pricing models are designed to give flexible options depending on your team size and budget. This article explains why it is a small price to pay to invest in a password manager like TeamPassword. To get started with protecting yourself click <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">here</a> for a free trial.
<h2>Password Breach Cases</h2>
When an accident doesn&rsquo;t happen to us, we don&rsquo;t know the importance of protection. People tend to learn lessons after they make a mistake. But, when it comes to cybersecurity, making a mistake and being naive can be extremely costly. In this section, we will have a look at three password breach cases and the cost the companies had to pay.
<h3>RI Advice Group stored passwords in plain text</h3>
RI Advice Group is an Australian financial firm. In August 2020, the company was sued for storing passwords and other credentials in plain text files. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) took the financial advisory firm to the Federal Court for failing to maintain a &ldquo;reasonable standard&rdquo; of cybersecurity. In the court filings, ASIC alleged that RI failed to ensure its representatives secured the critical personal and financial information of their clients.
<h3>500,000 Zoom Account Breaches</h3>
In April 2020, over 500,000 Zoom accounts were compromised and sold on the Dark Web and other hacker forums. It turned out that the majority of the passwords were old and had been hacked before. An investigation by Cyble, a cyber risk assessment firm, found that each password was sold under $0.01 in USD and some were even offered for free.
<h3>Facebook stored millions of user passwords in plain text</h3>
In March 2019, it was reported that the social media network giant stored hundreds of millions of user passwords in clear text although they were not exposed externally. The majority of the passwords were for users of Facebook Lite, which is a light version of Facebook for slow network connections. Facebook is known to well protect passwords normally but this case was not a best practice for password management.
Poor password management can lead to significant damage to your company&rsquo;s bottom line and brand. Considering the potential damage, using a paid security tool to protect passwords can yield a great return on investment.
<h2>TeamPassword can protect passwords</h2>
To protect your critical assets, TeamPassword offers an extensive range of features. Let&rsquo;s have a look at some of our major features.
<h3>Password Generator</h3>
As we could see from the case studies above, old weak passwords can be an easy target for hacking. When you have to generate unique and <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/the-importance-of-a-strong-password-for-each-account">strong passwords</a> regularly, it can be tough since it needs your creativity. Our <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/why-should-i-use-a-password-generator">password generator</a> tool helps you ease the burden and lets you create strong passwords with simple clicks.
<h3>Ease of Use</h3>
TeamPassword supports various devices including desktops, laptops, and <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/introducing-teampassword-mobile-to-increase-user-productivity">mobile devices</a>. With the TeamPassword&rsquo;s extension, you can use Chrome, Firefox, or Safari to easily access your password. After installing the extension, you can simply click your password on the extension menu to log in.
<h3>Collaboration</h3>
When you work in multiple teams or work for many clients, managing passwords becomes more difficult and scalability becomes an important factor for <a href="https://kanbanize.com/agile/project-management" rel="follow">project management</a>. With TeamPassword, you can easily and securely share credentials with the whole or part of your teams and even with external clients. When new members come in or leave, you can add or remove certain users to your group.
<h3>Logging and Notifications</h3>
When a new user is added to a login group, you might want to get notified to monitor the person&rsquo;s activities. Also, TeamPassword informs you of which logins are being updated. With this feature, you can take swift action at the right time to prevent an accident.
<h3>Multi-Factor Authentication</h3>
MFA or Multi-Factor Authentication adds an extra security layer to your login credentials. It is known that using MFA can block most of the automated login attempts from hackers. TeamPassword can be compatible with Google Authenticator to generate code. After your login using username and password, you&rsquo;ll be prompted to provide an MFA code when MFA mode is enabled. You can also make backup codes to prevent you from being locked out.
<h2>Pricing Plans</h2>
TeamPassword provides various affordable pricing options for our users. You can explore our product with the Starter plan at $15 per month. That&rsquo;s for five members. If you have a large team, our highest option allows 50 users at $100 per month. We also have $30 and $60 per month options for different team sizes.
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
In this article, we learned why using TeamPassword can be a good investment for the future. If you consider the potential damage to your organization, <a href="https://teampassword.com/pricing">our price plans</a> have affordable options for various teams sizes and periods. At TeamPassword we provide the best software to generate and have your passwords managed correctly. If you would like to learn more about it, please <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">sign on to the free 14-day trial</a> today.

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

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

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

What is password encryption and how much is enough?

What is password encryption and how does it work?

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

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

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

TeamPassword Blog

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