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.

We rely on browser extensions every day to complete tasks and streamline workflows. We're always on the lookout for the best browser extensions, so we thought we'd share some of our favorites!
Most popular browsers feature extensions, including Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari, but since most people (approx. 2.65 billion) use Chrome, this article will focus on Chrome browser extensions.
TeamPassword features browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Safari&mdash;so your team can use our password manager with their preferred browser or device. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a free 14-day trial</a> to explore TeamPassword's robust security features to <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-safely-share-passwords-with-coworkers">securely share passwords with team members</a>!
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<h2>What is a Browser Extension?</h2>
A browser extension is a plugin that "extends" the functionality of your browser. Some browser extensions are purpose-built browser tools, while others connect to your favorite applications&mdash;like TeamPassword's browser extension that provides authentication.
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<h2>How to Install Chrome Browser Extensions</h2>
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Open Chrome and click the Apps icon in the Bookmarks bar. (if you can't see the Bookmarks bar, click the three-dot menu in the top right. Click Bookmarks and then Show bookmarks bar.)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Click Web Store (usually the first icon top left of the screen)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Use the search bar in the top left or browse extensions by category.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Once you find the Chrome extension you're looking for, click the large blue Add to Chrome button.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">A popup confirmation will appear; click Add extension to download and install the browser extension.</li>
</ol>
Some browser extensions require you to sign in, while others are ready to use right away.
If you're using TeamPassword's browser extension, you'll need to sign in with your TeamPassword credentials before you have access to the password manager's functionality.
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<h2>10 Best Browser Extensions for 2021</h2>
<h3>1 - TeamPassword's Password Manager Browser Extension</h3>
Like any company, the TeamPassword team shares logins for various tools and platforms. Our team relies on the password manager's browser extension to log in to these shared apps.
Here's how you can too:
(These instructions are for Google Chrome, but you can find full instructions for all browsers after signing up)
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a TeamPassword account</a>. You get a 14-day free trial to explore the password manager and test our features with your team.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Make sure you create a strong password for your TeamPassword account. You can use our <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">free password generator</a>.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Next, install the <a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/teampassword/cikdbigchmgednjbjppflefljobhnhca">TeamPassword Chrome browser extension</a> (follow our How to Install Chrome Browser Extensions instructions above).</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Once installed, click the TeamPassword padlock icon to the right of the address bar (if you don't see the padlock, click the grey extension puzzle icon. Scroll to TeamPassword and click the pin icon. The blue padlock should now appear next to your address bar).</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">You might need to sign in to your TeamPassword account if you're not already signed in via the browser.</li>
</ol>
You're now ready to use TeamPassword's browser extension!
Instead of sharing raw passwords, you provide each team member with a TeamPassword account, and they use our browser extensions to sign in.
Create groups to share access with different teams, clients, or <a href="https://www.teampassword.com/blog/should-i-share-data-with-freelancers">freelancers</a>. When someone leaves the team or completes their tasks, remove them from the group with a single click&mdash;no need to reset passwords to prevent unauthorized sharing and access.
If you do need to reset a password, you can use TeamPassword's built-in password generator to create new credentials. TeamPassword will automatically update the new password for all team members without interruptions!
<h3>2 - Awesome Screenshot</h3>
For most of us, a day doesn't go by where we need to screenshot something to send to a coworker or customer support to solve an issue.&nbsp;
You can screenshot using the keyboard, but this involves pasting it into another app if you want to add highlights or annotations.
Awesome Screenshot is a free browser extension with more than 23,000 installs and a solid 5-star review score!&nbsp;
Once installed, simply click the multicolored Awesome Screenshot icon for a menu dropdown. You have several options, including:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Visible Part - screenshots what's currently on-screen</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Full Page - creates a screenshot of the entire webpage</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Selected Area - lets you highlight the area you want to screenshot</li>
</ul>
You can also set a timer delay. This feature works well if you want to hover over an element to activate a tooltip for the screenshot.
Once you've captured your screenshot, a new tab opens where you can edit the screenshot, add annotations, crop, and more. Clicking Done will take you to another screen where you can download, send a sharable link, save to PDF, or print. With the paid version, you can integrate Awesome Screenshot with productivity tools like Slack, Trello, Asana, and more.
<h3>3 - Loom</h3>
Loom is an essential tool for sharing explanations or demos with team members or freelancers. Loom is particularly useful for teams with significant time differences. You can share explainer videos to avoid those annoying late-night/early-morning Zoom calls!
Once you install the Loom browser extension, click the purple Loom button for a dropdown menu with several options and settings. You can choose to record with or without your webcam and capture the Current Tab or Full Desktop. There are also microphone and camera options and advanced settings to play with.
When you're ready, click the red Start Recording button. Loom gives you a three-second countdown, and you're ready to record. When your recording is complete, you can rename the video, add a description, and share it.
You might want to consider creating a Loom explainer for the TeamPassword browser extension to onboard new team members.
<h3>4 - DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials</h3>
As advocates for privacy and security, we love the DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials Chrome extension. DuckDuckGo is the world's leading browser for user privacy and accurate search results.
Unlike other browsers, DuckDuckGo doesn't manipulate search results. The browser also blocks cookies and other tracking algorithms. For some websites, DuckDuckGo even blocks ads and other popups!
With the browser extension installed, click the DuckDuckGo logo, and a dropdown will appear. Enter your query in the search bar, hit enter, and a new window will open with your DuckDuckGo search results.
The DuckDuckGo browser extension also shares information about your current webpage, including encryption information, cookies blocked, and the website's privacy practices.
<h3>5 - Block Yourself from Analytics</h3>
Many marketers experience inaccurate Google Analytics stats from team members working on websites and landing pages.
One of your most important metrics is time on page, indicating how long users spend exploring your products or content. Team members often spend extended periods on these pages, resulting in incorrect data.
The Block Yourself from Analytics browser extension allows team members to prevent Google Analytics from tracking them. So Google Analytics only tracks users, giving you precise performance results.
<h3>6 - Grammarly for Chrome</h3>
Grammarly is arguably the best writing aid for English. The tool checks grammar, punctuation, and spelling, so you never make embarrassing mistakes!
The Grammarly for Chrome extension works on most websites, highlighting errors and providing suggestions. You can also disable Grammarly on websites if it's not needed.
Grammarly has a free plan, but you can upgrade for more features and writing assistance.
<h3>7 - Print Friendly &amp; PDF</h3>
Ever wanted to save a website to PDF, but ads, navigation, and other elements take up most of the page, making the content small and unreadable!
Print Friendly &amp; PDF removes all the stuff you don't need, creating a printable PDF with only the content you want. You can choose which images to keep and even adjust the font size to make it more legible.
Print Friendly &amp; PDF is handy when you want to complete offline research. You or an assistant can gather the content you need and save it neatly in PDF format for printing or an e-reader.
<h3>8 - Send to Kindle for Google Chrome</h3>
Similar to Print Friendly &amp; PDF, Send to Kindle for Google Chrome lets you reformat and send articles to your Kindle for reading. You can also change the article's title and author for easier reference and categorization.
<h3>9 - Bit.ly</h3>
Bit.ly is a link shortening, and tracking tool marketers use for various marketing campaigns. It's also helpful in sharing links on platforms like Twitter which limits character count per Tweet.
Using the Bit.ly Chrome extension, you can quickly create a unique shortened link to copy and paste where needed&mdash;eliminating the necessity to open the Bit.ly app separately.
<h3>10 - AdBlocker Ultimate</h3>
Ads are gross and annoying! They slow page loads and often install cookies in your browser. On some websites, these ads contain malware providing hackers with an opportunity to hack your device!
There are tons of ad blockers, but none performs as well as AdBlocker Ultimate. Many ad blockers have agreements with "sponsors," allowing certain ads to display. AdBlocker Ultimate blocks everything, including malware and tracking cookies.
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<h2>Increase Your Password Security with TeamPassword</h2>
Hopefully, these browser extensions will help increase your team's productivity, privacy, and security.
TeamPassword is more than a browser extension. It's a secure password manager design to make sharing credentials with team members safe and easy.
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Increase your password security and mitigate attacks with a secure password management solution from TeamPassword. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> to explore our security features and test TeamPassword with your employees!

Here are our top 10 browser extensions to complete tasks and streamline workflows. Share logins for tools and platforms with TeamPassword.

Here are our top 10 browser extensions to complete tasks and streamline workflows. Share logins for tools and ...

10 best browser extensions

Learn what to do if you forgot your Facebook password and how to use TeamPassword to make sure you never forget a password again.

Learn what to do if you forgot your Facebook password and how to use TeamPassword to make sure ...

What to do if you forgot your Facebook password?

Like the dim-lit side alleys of a busy city, the dark web is a place few of us ever visit! According to Cyfima, a cybersecurity firm that provides a dark web monitoring service, "Over 94% of the world's information resides in the deep and dark webs."
A good portion of that information is stolen data, including credit card details, bank account numbers, social security numbers, emails, contact numbers, full names, physical addresses, and other data criminals use.
Many people want to know if or what personal information exists online, so they can take preventative measures to protect themselves. But, who has the time or desire to explore the dark web to find out?
Criminals sell credentials from data breaches on the dark web! A <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">secure password manager like TeamPassword</a> ensures you never reuse credentials, protecting you from credential stuffing and other cyber attacks. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> today!
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<h2>What is the Dark Web?</h2>
If you're unfamiliar with the dark web, the intro to this article must sound like a confusing comic book plot! The dark web is a part of the internet that requires specific software, browsers, configurations, or authorization to access its web pages and networks.
Using dark web browsers like Tor (The Onion Router), users browse and communicate anonymously. This anonymity makes the dark web a popular place for criminals selling everything from stolen personal data to hacking services, ransomware, drugs, and human trafficking!
Criminals use Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to provide criminals with secure and anonymous transactions&mdash;making it easy to buy and sell services just like how you would on legitimate eCommerce websites.
One of the most commonly traded dark web commodities is personal information stolen from data breaches. Attackers can use these details for identity theft, phishing scams, and other cybercrimes.
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<h2>What Kind of Information is Available on the Dark Web?</h2>
If you can't find what you're looking for on the dark web, you can hire someone through hacker forums to get it for you!
You can buy everything from private email addresses to trade and state secrets. Most cybercriminals are interested in the information they can use to conduct cyberattacks to steal or <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/extortion-emails-what-they-are-how-do-they-happen">extort money from victims</a> (individuals &amp; businesses), including:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Databases (names, emails, contact details)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Passwords</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Personal identification numbers (SSNs, passport numbers, etc.)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Financial information</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Medical records</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Academic records</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Intellectual property</li>
</ul>
If companies and individuals know this information is freely available online, they can take preventative action to thwart attacks. For example, changing account credentials or discontinue using a compromised email address.
Dark web monitoring is how you can keep track of any leaked personal or company information and take the necessary steps to protect yourself and your business.
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<h2>What is Dark Web Monitoring?</h2>
Dark web monitoring is the process of scanning dark websites and forums for any stolen company and personal data. Cybersecurity firms offer dark web monitoring as a service, using sophisticated automation tools, including scanners, crawlers, and scrapers to find stolen credentials.
Some firms even have access to secret underground criminal communities where stolen data is sold months or years before ending up on open dark web forums.
While most dark web monitoring provides services at the enterprise level, there are affordable solutions for individuals. For example: <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/have-i-been-pwnd-what-to-do-when-it-happens">have i been pwned</a>&mdash;a free service that lets you search a massive database of credentials stolen from data breaches.
Some cybersecurity firms provide dark web monitoring for families, so parents are alerted if their children's data ends up on these shady forums.&nbsp;
<h3>Why is Dark Web Monitoring Necessary?</h3>
Most cybersecurity focuses on creating a perimeter around a company's IT infrastructure and <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password management</a>&mdash;a defensive strategy!
Dark web monitoring is an offensive cybersecurity strategy. If a business knows what data is compromised, its IT or cybersecurity department can take action to prevent attacks.
For example, if a company suspects its employee's credentials are compromised, the IT department can reconfigure login procedures and change everyone's credentials.
IT personal might also run extra diagnostics looking for unusual behavior to ensure criminals have already breached the company's networks.
<h3>What Data can Dark Web Monitoring Find?</h3>
Dark web monitoring services can scan for any information or keywords. Common data might include:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Personal identification numbers (SSNs, passport numbers, etc.)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Email addresses</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Medical identification numbers</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Bank account numbers</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Phone numbers</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Driver's license</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Bank card numbers</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Retail/membership card numbers</li>
</ul>
Retail/membership numbers might seem irrelevant, but criminals can use them in creative ways, like identity theft scams or contacting the call center to phish for more of your personal information.
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<h2>5 Tips to Keep Your Personal Information Safe</h2>
While we have little or no effect on personal information stolen from data breaches, there are proactive measures you can take to protect yourself from attackers.
Here are our 5 tips to keep your personal information safe.
<h3>Limit What You Share</h3>
The first rule to keeping you and your company safe from cyberattacks is by limiting what you share. If all you need is a username and email to use the service, don't share anything else!
The more personal information you share, the greater your exposure to attacks if the company experiences a data breach.
<h3>Don't Throw Personally Identifiable Information in the Trash!</h3>
Businesses and individuals must never throw personally identifiable information in the trash. Invest in a paper shredder and destroy any documents before throwing them away.
Believe it or not, criminals often sift through people's trash, looking for documents they can either use or sell&mdash;data that might end up on the dark web!
<h3>Avoid Public Networks and Browsing Securely</h3>
Open public networks like you find at coffee shops, airports, malls, entertainment venues, or coworking spaces often attract criminals. These nefarious characters can redirect traffic to websites that deploy malicious code or monitor your connection.
Using a <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/password-manager-and-vpn">virtual private network (VPN)</a> makes you invisible on these public networks, eliminating the risk of falling victim to these scams.
You should also be vigilant when browsing online&mdash;avoid websites without HTTPS, and never complete any forms on unsecure websites!
<h3>Password Protect Devices</h3>
Cybercriminals don't always breach your devices via the internet. If you work in a coffee shop, coworking office, or other public space, criminals can access your devices when you step away to grab a coffee or visit the restroom.
In extreme cases, criminals might corrupt hotel staff to access any devices you leave in your room&mdash;installing malware or stealing credentials you might have saved in your browser.
The point is to expect the unexpected! Ensure every device is password protected to prevent attackers from installing malware or stealing your passwords!&nbsp;
<h3>Use a Password Manager</h3>
A password manager is the best way to keep credentials secure and ensure you always use robust, unique passwords for every account.
A password manager will also allow you to update credentials regularly using a <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">secure password generator</a> without memorizing the new passwords.

<h2>Secure Your Credentials With TeamPassword</h2>
TeamPassword is a robust password manager designed to make credential sharing easy and secure.
Provide team members with access to their TeamPassword account, and provide access to your company's digital assets and accounts without sharing raw passwords.
<h3>How TeamPassword Works</h3>
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a TeamPassword account</a> and provide each team member with their own TeamPassword login.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Team members can install one of TeamPassword's browser extensions (Chrome, Firefox, and Safari) and use the password manager to sign into accounts.</li>
</ol>
No more unsecure credential sharing via spreadsheets, emails, or messaging apps. All of your passwords are safely locked away in TeamPassword.
<h3>Creating Robust Passwords</h3>
Credential stuffing is a common type of cyberattack where criminals use passwords from one data breach to access accounts using the same email and password.&nbsp;
For example, if you use the same email and password for Facebook, Twitter, and your bank account, criminals only need to steal your password, and they have access to all three!
TeamPassword's built-in password generator ensures you use unique credentials for every account! If one account is compromised, it won't affect any of your other accounts.
You can also update passwords regularly, and it'll update the new credentials for all team members&mdash;no disruptions to productivity!
<h3>Activity Logging and Email Notifications</h3>
Keep track of account logins and sharing in TeamPassword with a detailed activity log that records the date and time for every activity&mdash;logins, credential sharing, new accounts, password changes, and more.
You can also set up email notifications to get instant alerts for your most sensitive accounts.
<h3>Two-Factor Authentication</h3>
What's stopping attackers from stealing an employee's credentials and logging in to TeamPassword?
If someone steals a team member's TeamPassword credentials, our two-factor authentication prevents unauthorized access. TeamPassword uses Google Authenticator, which is available on all iOS and Android devices.
You can also generate backup codes for your TeamPassword account, so you never get locked out of your account!
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<h2>Get Started With TeamPassword Today</h2>
Protecting your company's digital assets and accounts starts with effective <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password management</a>. TeamPassword is an affordable and secure password management solution for small businesses.
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 Mitigate the risks of your credentials ending up on the dark web! <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" rel="follow">Sign up for a 14-day trial</a> to test TeamPassword with your team members today!

This article goes over what is in the dark web, and how you can keep your personal information out of the dark web using TeamPassword.

This article goes over what is in the dark web, and how you can keep your personal information ...

What is Dark Web Monitoring

Password encryption is essential to store user credentials stored in a database securely. Without password encryption, anyone accessing a user database on a company's servers (including hackers) could easily view any stored passwords.
Even a strong 32-character password created using a <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">secure password generator</a> is useless without password-encryption! If someone can read your password on a server, they can use it simply by copy/pasting it&mdash;no matter how long or complicated the password might be!
Encryption scrambles your password before saving it on the server. So, if someone hacks the server, instead of finding password123, they find a random series of letters and numbers.
In this article, we're going to explore the world of password encryption, why <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/tips-and-tricks-to-create-a-strong-password">strong passwords matter</a>, and how you can practice better password management!
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<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a> is the password management solution for small businesses! Create, store, and share login credentials safely with employees, contractors, and clients. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> today!
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<h2>Understanding Password Encryption</h2>
To explain password encryption effectively, we must first grasp the language. Several terms might be unfamiliar, so here is a quick intro to password encryption terminology.
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Key: Used to lock and unlock passwords using a random string of bits. You get private and public keys that crypt and decrypt data differently, but we won't get too deep in the weeds with keys!</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Bits: A logical state with one of two possible values, including 1/0, true/false, yes/no, or on/off as typical examples.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Block (block cipher): A deterministic algorithm operating on fixed-length groups of bits, called blocks.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Hash function: The algorithm that uses the key to create password encryption and decryption. A hash function is essentially a piece of code that runs every time someone saves a password or logs into an application.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Hash: A random series of numbers and letters representing your password. The hash function uses your hash instead of the raw password for authentication.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Salt: Additional letters and numbers appended to the hash</li>
</ul>
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<h2>How Does Password Encryption Work?</h2>
When you save a new password, a hash function creates a hash version and saves that on the server.&nbsp;
Every time you log in using your password, the hash function recreates the hash to see if it matches what's stored. If the hashes match, the algorithm passes the authentication and logs you in.&nbsp;
For example:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Original password: Pa$$w0rd123</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Hashed password: 6AF1CE202340FE71BDB914AD5357E33A6982A63B</li>
</ul>
While this might seem secure, simple hashed passwords aren't hack-proof.
The hash function only creates a unique hash for each password, not each user. So, if multiple users have the password, Pa$$w0rd123, the hash will be exactly the same.
To overcome this encryption vulnerability, engineers salt passwords so each hash is unique, even if the passwords are identical.
<h3>How Salt Works</h3>
A salt appends a unique value of 8 bytes (16 characters) to the password before the hash function creates a hash. This way, even identical passwords are unique before the hash function.
For example:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Two identical passwords: Pa$$w0rd123</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Salt value one: E1F53135E559C253</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Salt value two: 84B03D034B409D4E</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Password one before hash: Pa$$w0rd123E1F53135E559C253</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Password two before hash: Pa$$w0rd12384B03D034B409D4E</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Password one hashed value (SHA256): 72AE25495A7981C40622D49F9A52E4F1565C90F048F59027BD9C8C8900D5C3D8</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Password two hashed value (SHA256): B4B6603ABC670967E99C7E7F1389E40CD16E78AD38EB1468EC2AA1E62B8BED3A</li>
</ul>
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<h2>5 Common Password Encryption Methods</h2>
<h3>1. Data Encryption Standard (DES)</h3>
While applications no longer use Data Encryption Standard (DES), it's important to mention this password encryption method because of its history and influence on more secure modern standards.
IBM developed DES as a 56-bit encryption technology in the early 1970s. The NSA adopted and improved DES before it was approved worldwide as the encryption standard.
However, since the late 70s, hackers have been able to break DES encrypted passwords. In 1999, ethical hackers managed to break a DES key in under 24 hours.&nbsp;
To make DES more secure, engineers created Triple DES and later Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), which we still use today.
<h3>2. Triple DES</h3>
Triple DES uses three 56-bit keys (blocks) to create 168-bit encryption (some security experts argue that Triple DES is only 112 bits strong). Although Triple-DES is slowly being phased out, many financial institutions still use it to encrypt ATM PINs.
<h3>3. Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)</h3>
AES is the new encryption standard&mdash;trusted by the United States Government and many other prominent organizations globally. At 128 bits, AES is sufficiently secure, but most organizations prefer heavy-duty 256-bit encryption.
At <a href="https://teampassword.com/security">TeamPassword</a>, we use 256-bit encryption to store passwords, ensuring the highest levels of security for our clients. We're also a <a href="https://teampassword.com/security">secure hosting provider</a> holding multiple security accreditations.
Hackers can only break an AES encrypted password through a brute-force attack&mdash;trying password combinations to find the right one.
To counter brute-force attacks, applications will lock an account after a certain number of attempts or use tools like Google's reCAPTURE.
<h3>4. Blowfish</h3>
American cryptographer, Bruce Schneier, designed Blowfish in 1993 as an antidote to the weak DES encryption. Blowfish uses a 64-bit block and variable key length of 32 to 448 bits.
Although Blowfish is more robust than its DES predecessor, the 64-bit block is still vulnerable to attacks, most commonly birthday attacks&mdash;a cryptographic attack that exploits the mathematics behind the algorithm.
To solve Blowfish vulnerabilities, engineers created Twofish in 1998 (128-bit blocks with 256-bit keys) and Threefish in 2008 (256, 516, 1024-bit blocks with 256, 516, 1024-bit keys).
<h3>5. Rivest-Shamir-Adleman (RSA)</h3>
RSA is one of the oldest and widely used to transfer data securely. The encryption works with two keys, two large prime numbers, and an additional auxiliary value.
Due to the complicated encrypting and decrypting process, there is no known method for breaking RSA encryption.&nbsp;
Although widely used for transferring data, RSA is slow and not suitable for password encryption.
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<h2>Why Strong Passwords Matter</h2>
Password encryption can only prevent criminals from viewing saved credentials stored on a server&mdash;but cannot prevent hackers from guessing weak/commonly used passwords. If you <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/colonial-pipeline-ransomware-attack-dont-reuse-passwords">reuse the same password for multiple accounts</a>, this also puts you at risk!
Encryption is most effective when users create robust, unique passwords for every account. For example, a random 32-character password with letters, numbers, and special characters hashed and salted is near impossible to guess or decode, even using a computer!
In another scenario, let's assume you have a strong 32-character password, but you use it for every account. If hackers manage to steal that password, they have access to every account using the same credentials! Your strong password is effectively useless.
<h3>Improving Your Password Management</h3>
Now that you understand password encryption and the associated vulnerabilities, you can see why strong passwords are essential.
Effective password management is crucial to protect yourself against cyberattacks or in the highly likely event of a data breach where hackers steal your credentials.
Criminals are after the low-hanging fruit&mdash;people who use weak passwords!
5 tips for creating stronger passwords:
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Create strong passwords for every account. The easiest way to do this is using a password generator. <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">TeamPassword has a free password generator</a> anyone can use to create passwords from 12-32 characters using uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and special characters. We recommend creating passwords as long as the application will allow.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Never create passwords shorter than eight characters, with 12 being our recommended minimum.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Never reuse the same password for multiple accounts.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Never create passwords with your name, family member's names, or pet's names. With social media, this information is freely available. Criminals can add those names to algorithms for brute-force attacks.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Don't store passwords in digital notepads or spreadsheets. We recommend using a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager like TeamPassword</a> to create and store your credentials.</li>
</ol>
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<h2>Why You Need a Password Manager like TeamPassword</h2>
We have so many accounts these days; it's almost impossible to create unique, memorable, secure passwords for each one. A password manager solves this problem.
Instead of remembering the credentials for every account, you only need to memorize the one to log into your password manager.&nbsp;
TeamPassword keeps all of your credentials safely stored and encrypted, so you never have to memorize a password again. Instead of entering your credentials, you use one of TeamPassword's browser extensions (Chrome, Firefox, and Safari) to log into accounts.
<h3>Built for Teams</h3>
TeamPassword's best feature is its ability to share credentials with team members securely. Instead of sharing passwords, you provide access through TeamPassword.&nbsp;
Employees <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">use TeamPassword</a> to log in, meaning you never share raw passwords&mdash;no more worrying about unauthorized access or sharing.
You can create groups in TeamPassword to share access with employees, clients, contractors, and freelancers. When someone no longer needs access, remove them from the group with a single click. No need to change passwords every time someone leaves a project!
<h3>Built-In Password Generator</h3>
TeamPassword features a built-in secure password manager so you can create robust passwords for every account. TeamPassword also ensures you never reuse the same credentials so that you won't fall victim to credential stuffing attacks!
With a built-in password generator, you can change passwords regularly, and TeamPassword will update the new credentials for all users!
<h3>Monitor Login Activity</h3>
TeamPassword's activity log keeps track of every action across all of your accounts&mdash;logins, password changes, new team members, sharing access, and more.
You can also set up email notifications for all TeamPassword actions so that you can react fast to any suspicious activity.
<h3>Get Your Free TeamPassword Trial</h3>
Password encryption is not enough to protect your business from password vulnerabilities! You need a robust password manager like TeamPassword to create, store, and share credentials securely.
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<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> and let TeamPassword secure your company's digital assets.

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

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

What is password encryption and how much is enough?

Have I been pwned? is the Robin Hood of <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/category/data-breaches">data breaches</a>. <a href="https://haveibeenpwned.com/">Have I been pwned</a> is a website that sifts through mountains of stolen personal information from data breaches, then organizing everything so users can find out if they're one of the victims!&nbsp;
All you have to do is go to their site, type in your email, and it&rsquo;ll tell you everything the Internet knows about you:
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/l6Gg2HDQvuLJDq0JuwXL" alt="undefined" width="563" height="351" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" />
We have a bittersweet appreciation for have I been pwned?. On the one hand, it's fantastic that victims have a way to discover if they've been pwned, but on the other hand, it saddens us that we need such a service!
Data breaches have increased significantly since 2019. With no signs of decreasing, companies must do everything they can to prevent data breaches. One of the best ways to protect yourself from data breaches is to simply change your password. But with so many passwords required day in and day out, people seldom do.&nbsp;
With a password manager, you can frequently change your passwords and still remember them all.
Using a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">robust password manager like TeamPassword</a> makes it easy to share credentials with team members while preventing attackers from accessing your company's digital assets.
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<h2>What is the site "have I been pwned?" - haveibeenpwned.com</h2>
have I been pwned? is a web service that collects and organizes personal information from data breaches. Users can enter their email or mobile number on the home page to find out if they're among the victims.
The service is free, but there is an option to <a href="https://haveibeenpwned.com/Donate">donate to have I been pwned?</a>&mdash;something we encourage people to do! have I been pwned? provides a valuable service that government agencies should have done a long time ago!
With the looming fear of <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/extortion-emails-what-they-are-how-do-they-happen">extortion emails</a> from the Ashley Madison breach in 2015, users flocked to have I been pwned?&mdash;resulting in a 57,000% increase in website traffic!
Security firms and government agencies encourage businesses and individuals to use the service to stay ahead of possible cyber attacks.
Today, have I been pwned? gets over 165,000 daily visitors, has an email list of over 3 million subscribers, and a database of almost 10 billion compromised accounts!
<h3>pwned? That's a Funny Name!</h3>
Pronounced poned (with a hard "p") pwned originates from the popular game Warcraft back in the early 2000s. The game's developers misspelled owned as pwned.&nbsp;
Gaming enthusiasts and Internet message boards adopted the new term when speaking about "owning" someone. Hackers also use pwn as a slang term when breaching a network or device.
And thus, have I been pwned? was born!
<h3>Who is behind haveibeenpwned.com?</h3>
After a spate of high-profile data breaches, Australian security expert Troy Hunt founded &ldquo;have I been pwned?&rdquo; in December 2013. Troy says the Adobe breach of 2013 affecting 153 million accounts was the catalyst to start the service.
When Troy started in 2013, he indexed just five data breaches: Adobe Systems, Stratfor, Gawker, Yahoo! Voices, and Sony Pictures.
Today, have I been pwned? has 556 compromised websites affecting more than 11 billion accounts!
Troy and his team have created tools and systems to update the website as soon as they're made public. have I been pwned? also lists its recently added breaches and the largest data breaches&mdash;the current number one being <a href="https://www.troyhunt.com/the-773-million-record-collection-1-data-reach/">Collection #1's 2019 breach affecting 773 million unique email accounts</a>!
Troy also has a blog where he releases details about data breaches and discusses cybersecurity matters.
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<h2>How does the site "have I been pwned" Work?</h2>
Users have a few search options on have I been pwned?. On the home page, you can enter your email or mobile number to do a personalized search.&nbsp;
Users can also perform a domain search, a helpful feature for companies to determine if they've been pwned.
You can also sign up to the have I been pwned? mailing list for instant updates to the latest breaches and notification if your email is ever compromised.
<h3>Collecting and Categorizing Data</h3>
Data breaches contain thousands or millions of records (billions of records in the most extreme cases!). Some records have personal information, while others are more mundane. It's not as simple as importing those records into a spreadsheet and searching for a specific user.
Records are not always easy to read. They often reference a user's account number or other non-personal identifiers. For example, if you see a record containing credit card details and a personal identifier, you have to search the database using that identifier to find the actual user.
Even if you find the user, you might need to search several folders to see all of their personal information.
Most people don't have the time or resources to sift through gigabytes of data, trying to find out if they're victims of a breach.
"It's a bit of an unfair game at the moment &ndash; attackers and others wishing to use data breaches for malicious purposes can very quickly obtain and analyse the data, but your average consumer has no feasible way of pulling gigabytes of gzipped accounts from a torrent and discovering whether they've been compromised or not." - Troy Hunt, have I been pwned? Founder,
have I been pwned? organizes all of that personal data into searchable databases so users can find their stolen data fast!
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<h2>What to do if You Have Been Pwned</h2>
So, what do you do if you find out you're a data breach victim?
The first thing you must do is change all of your passwords linked to that email address. You should be <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-often-should-you-change-your-password-the-importance-of-password-safety">changing your passwords</a> monthly for personal accounts, while businesses might want to consider changing passwords weekly.
Changing your passwords monthly or weekly can be challenging without a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager</a>. With TeamPassword, you can change account credentials and update them for all users with one click.
If the account has sensitive data, you might want to consider changing the email address too. That way, if you receive any correspondence to the compromised email, you can mark it as spam and delete it.
Lastly, be hyper-vigilant when it comes to emails containing links and attachments&mdash;not only if you're a victim of a data breach. Get into the habit of checking the sender's email address properly, even if it appears to come from a familiar source.
For example, if you get an email that someone has sent you a message in Slack, delete the email and open Slack separately. Do this for all accounts where you receive notifications: WordPress, flight bookings, social media, marketing/productivity tools, and other web/app accounts.
Attackers often send fake correspondence from seemingly legitimate sources to get you to click a link or open an attachment. Doing so will install malware, giving criminals remote access to your device where they can steal personal information and passwords!
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<h2>Protecting Your Passwords</h2>
Passwords are the keys to our digital assets and accounts. Just like you protect your home or office with locks and alarms, so too must you secure your online presence.
For individuals, securing credentials is relatively simple but still requires you to be "street smart."
But, for a company sharing credentials with multiple teams, clients, freelancers, and contractors, <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password management</a> is significantly more challenging.
Companies that don't use a password manager to <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-safely-share-passwords-with-coworkers">share credentials safely with coworkers</a> are vulnerable to attack, particularly if team members use emails and spreadsheets for sharing.
Many companies also use weak passwords or the same passwords for multiple accounts, making it easy for attackers to guess the credentials! With so many <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">free secure password generators</a> available, this practice is simply inexcusable.
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<h2>The TeamPassword Solution for Small Businesses</h2>
Large organizations with massive cybersecurity budgets have access to sophisticated tools and systems to prevent breaches&mdash;and still fall victim to attacks!
For small businesses, most of these cybersecurity tools are simply too expensive!
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a> is an affordable password management solution with robust security features and state-of-the-art encryption technology.
<h3>Safe &amp; Easy Password Sharing</h3>
Instead of sharing raw login credentials, you provide access to team members through TeamPassword. Employees then use one of TeamPassword's browser extensions (Chrome, Firefox, and Safari) to log into accounts.
Create groups for your various accounts and provide access through TeamPassword only to those who need it. When someone no longer requires access, remove them with a single click.
<h3>Say Goodbye to Weak Passwords</h3>
With TeamPassword's built-in password generator, you never have to worry about weak passwords or reusing the same credentials for multiple accounts.
Instantly create robust passwords from 12-32 characters with lowercase, uppercase, symbols, and numbers. TeamPassword references your saved passwords to ensure you never reuse the same credentials.
If you need to change a password, you can generate a new password and update the new credentials for all users&mdash;while they continue to work without disruption or asking why they can't log in!
<h3>Prevent a TeamPassword Breach with Two-factor Authentication</h3>
Coworkers can secure their <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/password-manager-with-2fa">TeamPassword account with two-factor authentication (2FA)</a>. If an attacker manages to steal an employee's TeamPassword credentials, 2FA prevents criminals from accessing the account.
TeamPassword uses Google Authenticator for 2FA, available on all mobile devices, including iOS and Android.
<h3>Activity Logging &amp; Notifications</h3>
Monitor your company's digital assets using TeamPassword's activity log. The activity log lets you see who has logged in and when, new members added to a group, password updates, and more.
You can also set up email notifications for instant alerts to all of TeamPassword's actions. Perfect for monitoring sensitive data and accounts.
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<h2>Sign up for Free Today</h2>
Don't let hackers pwn you or your company!&nbsp;
Stay ahead of data breaches and secure your company's digital assets with <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a>. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> and start sharing passwords securely with TeamPassword today!

Have i been pwned? is an invaluable tool to see whether your passwords have been compromised. Learn what to do if you are a victim of a leak

Have i been pwned? is an invaluable tool to see whether your passwords have been compromised. Learn what ...

Have i been pwned? What to do When it Happens

Have I been pwned? What to do if it happens to you.

One question our clients often ask is: "should I save passwords in Chrome?" For individual use, <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/should-i-use-my-browsers-built-in-password-manager">saving passwords in a browser</a> is better than keeping them in a spreadsheet or notepad, but Chrome doesn't offer enough security to protect you against attacks.
For businesses, saving passwords in Chrome exposes many cybersecurity vulnerabilities, which we outline below.
This article will look at how to store passwords in Chrome safely and recommend a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">robust password management solution for businesses</a>.
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Start protecting yourself today with a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" rel="follow">free trial</a> with TeamPassword.
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<h2>What is a Password Manager?</h2>
A password manager lets you create and save secure passwords for logging into various apps and accounts. Most password managers, including Google Chrome, feature a <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">secure password generator</a> to create unique credentials for every account.
Password managers also make it possible to share credentials with other users safely&mdash;like friends or colleagues. Instead of sharing the actual password, you provide users with a login to the password manager. They then use the password manager to access accounts (almost like a key), such as social media or a productivity app.
Password managers prevent unauthorized sharing and access for companies that regularly share credentials with coworkers, outside contractors, and freelancers.
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<h2>Saving Passwords in Chrome: What Chrome Can and Can't do</h2>
Most modern browsers, like Google Chrome, feature a password manager for convenience.
We have so many password-protected digital assets these days. Social media accounts, streaming services, online banking, cloud storage, email, and more&mdash;and that's just personal accounts!
Most people can't remember every password, so saving passwords in Chrome is somewhat secure and convenient.
<h3>The Advantages of Saving Passwords in Chrome</h3>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Saving passwords in Chrome is convenient. When you need to log in to an account, Chrome's password manager is there with your credentials.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Chrome's password generator ensures you use secure passwords.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">You can protect your Chrome browser with multi-factor authentication, preventing criminals from logging into your Google account, even if they steal your password.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Chrome has a Check Passwords feature to scan your credentials for weak passwords so you can change them.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Chrome has an Unknown Login feature to alert you when it suspects unauthorized access.</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Disadvantages of Saving Passwords in Chrome</h3>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">No functionality to safely share passwords with other users&mdash;not suitable for <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-safely-share-passwords-with-coworkers">sharing passwords with coworkers</a>.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Chrome doesn't force you to use secure passwords or unique credentials for every account&mdash;cybercriminals regularly breach accounts through credential stuffing or brute force attacks.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Chrome lets you export all of your passwords to CSV, making it easy for hackers to steal all of your passwords at once!</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">You can view stored passwords in Chrome, which is acceptable for individual use but poses a cybersecurity risk for companies.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Changing your passwords in Chrome is not obvious or easy. Most users don't know how to do this or even bother trying.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Chrome doesn't have an activity log for logins or sharing. You also can't set up email notifications for logins to your most sensitive accounts.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Most Chrome passwords are 12-15 characters long with no functionality to increase the character count to <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/lets-talk-about-password-complexity">create complex, more secure credentials</a>.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">You can only use Chrome passwords in Google's browser. To use credentials in another browser, you have to expose the password, copy/paste it into Safari or Internet Explorer. If you're working in a public space, exposing your password on the screen could pose a security risk.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Chrome often saves passwords with an "Unknown" username, forcing you to reset the password for future logins.</li>
</ul>
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<h2>How to Save Passwords in Chrome</h2>
Google makes it easy to save passwords in Chrome. There are two instances where you can save passwords:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Creating passwords in Chrome for a new account</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Saving existing credentials in Chrome</li>
</ul>
Before you start, you'll need to enable Chrome to save your passwords.&nbsp;
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Make sure you are signed in to your Chrome browser using your Google account credentials.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Click the menu icon (three vertical dots) to the right of your profile pic and select Settings.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Click Passwords in the menu.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Make sure the toggle is on (illuminated blue) for Offer to save passwords.</li>
</ol>
Chrome will now suggest and store your passwords in the browser.
<h3>Creating Passwords in Chrome for a New Account</h3>
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Using Chrome, go to the website where you want to create a new account.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">After entering your username or email, a prompt will appear from Chrome with a secure password.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">To accept Chrome's password suggestion, click Save.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">A popup will appear to the right of your address bar, indicating that Chrome has saved your new password.</li>
</ol>
<h3>Saving Existing Credentials in Chrome</h3>
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Using Chrome, go to the website or app where you have an existing account.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Enter your credentials and login</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">A popup will appear to the right of your address bar, indicating that Chrome has saved your credentials</li>
</ol>
You can view any of your Chrome passwords in the settings menu:
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Click the menu icon (three vertical dots) to the right of your profile pic and select Settings.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Click Passwords in the menu.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Scroll to find the password you want or use the search feature at the top of the page.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Click the Preview icon (eye) next to the password you wish to view.</li>
</ol>
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>Why You Shouldn't Save Passwords in Chrome</h2>
Saving your passwords in Chrome poses many cybersecurity risks, especially for businesses! For one, Chrome's password manager is unencrypted, making it easy to view saved passwords in the browser's settings.
Another major vulnerability for anyone saving passwords to Chrome is the ability for someone to download all of your passwords into CSV with one click! If an employee has company passwords saved, this puts your business, coworkers, and clients at risk too!
Many team members work in coffee shops, coworking offices, and other public spaces where Google's password download feature is susceptible to attack.&nbsp;
If an employee leaves their PC to go to the toilet or make coffee, anyone could insert a removable USB drive and download their Chrome passwords in less than a few seconds!
If an employee doesn't have multi-factor authentication set up, hackers could breach their Google account through a phishing attack&mdash;and again use Chrome's password download feature to steal all the browser's passwords.
Google built Chrome's password manager for convenience, not security!&nbsp;
Individuals can save personal passwords to Chrome at their own risk, but companies should never allow team members to share exposed credentials or save passwords to a browser.
So, what is the alternative?
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>Better Password Management with TeamPassword</h2>
Most cyberattacks happen as a result of compromised login credentials. Companies need to set up multiple layers of security to prevent criminals from stealing passwords.
Your team members are the first line of defense! So, <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/cybersecurity-for-small-businesses">educating employees about cybersecurity</a> and password protection should be priority number one.&nbsp;
Cybercrime is constantly evolving, so it's crucial you maintain ongoing training and even have a #cybersecurity messaging channel (Slack, Notion, etc.) for regular updates and vulnerabilities.
<h3>Protecting Passwords with a Password Manager</h3>
Combining a vigilant workforce with a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager like TeamPassword</a> will mitigate many cybersecurity risks.
TeamPassword is a secure password manager designed to make credential sharing safe and easy. No more password spreadsheets or sharing credentials over email or messages!
Instead of sharing exposed passwords, team members use TeamPassword's browser extensions (Chrome, Firefox, and Safari) to log into accounts.&nbsp;
The browser extension! But isn't that the same as Chrome?
No, your passwords are encrypted and cannot be previewed like they can in the Chrome browser. Employees protect their TeamPassword account with two-factor authentication&mdash;so even if someone steals their TeamPassword credentials, criminals can't log in and access your company's passwords.
In the unlikely event that someone breaches your TeamPassword account, the attackers cannot view your passwords. You can also set up email notifications to stay on top of unauthorized sharing and access.
TeamPassword's best feature is the ability for managers to create groups for sharing access. Within a group, you can have multiple accounts, making it easy for employees to log in.&nbsp;
For example, you might have Hootsuite, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and other relevant accounts in your "TeamPassword Social Media Group." Only employees on the social media team have access to that group.
If someone no longer needs access (like an employee leaving the company or after a freelancer finishes a task), you can remove that person with one click&mdash;no need to change passwords every time someone leaves!
And, if you do need to change a password, TeamPassword's built-in <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">secure password generator</a> lets you create new credentials in seconds. TeamPassword updates the new credentials to your whole team without any disruptions to productivity.
<h3>How Secure is TeamPassword?</h3>
TeamPassword is an internationally accredited secure hosting provider using state-of-the-art encryption technology.&nbsp;
We also follow strict security protocols when deploying code and updates and provide frequent vulnerability sweeps to scan our systems for viruses and ensure no backdoors lead to your sensitive data.
We hashed, salted, and encrypted passwords locally on your computer and then transmitted them to TeamPassword's server via an encrypted connection&mdash;not even TeamPassword can view your passwords!
Whereas anyone with access to your Google account, including select Google employees, can open and preview passwords saved in Chrome!
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>Sign Up for a Free Trial!</h2>
Still not convinced <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a> is right for your business? Why not sign up for a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">14-day free trial</a> to test our secure password manager with your team.

Google's Chrome has a password manager but is it really the best option? Learn about Chrome's password manager and what the alternatives are

Google's Chrome has a password manager but is it really the best option? Learn about Chrome's password manager ...

How to save passwords in Chrome and alternatives?

Team Password Blog | Author teampassword | Page 5

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. 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;
<h3>2. Kathy Edens - Marketing Consultant / Freelance Copywriter - United States</h3>
<a href="https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~016177d19f0624c1a7?viewMode=1">Kathy Edens is a Top Rated Upwork Freelancer</a> with over $300k platform earnings! Kathy has been self-employed as a marketing consultant and freelance copywriter for almost ten years from her home in Ohio, United States.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Professional Writing and Psychology from Oregon State University, which she says "...helps me understand how to reach your target audience with words."&nbsp;
Kathy has ghost-written several non-fiction books on various topics, including social entrepreneurship, healthcare, real estate investing, and the cannabis industry, to name a few.
Kathy also writes web content, sales pages, email marketing content, case studies, white papers, brochures, press releases, and more. Kathy's rates start at $86 per hour for her writing and marketing services.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
<h3>3. Koen van Oeveren - UX designer - Netherlands</h3>
Koen van Oeveren is a freelance UI &amp; UX designer from North Brabant, Netherlands, with almost ten years of experience. Koen works with several design agencies in the Netherlands, designing apps, websites, and eCommerce experiences for many international brands.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
Koen holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Communication and Multimedia Design from Avans University in the Netherlands. Koen's <a href="https://www.koenvo.com/index.html">portfolio website Koenvo</a> was nominated for a <a href="https://www.awwwards.com/sites/koenvo-ui-ux-portfolio">2021 awwwards. Award</a>.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
<h3>4. Pascal Strasche - Product / UX designer - Germany</h3>
Pascal Strasche is a product and UX designer with more than ten years of design experience from Germany. He holds a Master of Arts in Interaction Design and a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design, both from HAWK University of Applied Sciences and Arts.
For almost a year over 2020/2021, Pascal worked as the sole product designer to design Con Cubo's SaaS tool that helps complex organizations visualize and manage teams. He's also worked with German steel giant XOM Materials to find product solutions to digitalize&nbsp;Germany's steel industry.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
In 2019, Pascal founded Product Design Resources, a growing archive of 800+ design resources, weekly updated for the design community.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>5. Paul Hunkin - Developer - New Zealand</h3>
Paul Hunkin is a freelance software consultant and developer from Tauranga, New Zealand, but currently living in Portugal.&nbsp;
Paul has over ten years of experience as a software developer with an impressive work history, including Google, NASA, InfoSys, and the Chinese aerospace industry leader COMAC.
He's worked with several early-stage startups designing everything from high-performance big-data systems to complex web applications to 3D rendering engines. He's also built a lot of the foundational code for independent games on Android.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
Paul is a Top Rated Upwork Freelancer with over $400k in platform earnings. His rates start at $120 per hour for software development. <a href="https://paulh.consulting/">Check out Paul's website</a> for more about his impressive portfolio and work history.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>6. Jana Galat - Writer / Brand Strategist - Canada</h3>
Jana Galat is a freelance copywriter and brand strategist from Ontario, Canada. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Management and Organizational Studies from King's University College and an Honors in Business Administration from Western University.
Jana has extensive experience writing landing pages, email campaigns, social media ads, and print materials and says, "I am obsessed with creating copy that sells..."
After several years of professional work experience, Jana went freelance in 2019 and has quickly built a reputation as a <a href="https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~01bfa17a48301876dd">Top Rated Upwork Freelancer</a> with over $70k in platform earnings. Jana's rates start at $100 per hour for copywriting and brand consulting.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>7. Kate H. - Logo Designer / Branding Expert - United States</h3>
Kate is a freelance professional logo designer and branding expert from Maryland, United States. Kate&nbsp;ran her own green wedding brand which she sold to mywedding.com in 2014, allowing her to focus on helping small&nbsp;businesses figure out what they want (and who they are) and translate that into design.
She holds a Master's degree in Environmental Management from Yale School of The Environmental, and a J.D. in environmental law from Pace Law School.&nbsp;
Kate's skillset includes redesigning and updating material to make it easier to understand, building a consistent brand from a simple starting point like a logo, and creating unique logos that guarantee results.
Kate is a Top Rated Upwork Freelancer, and her rates start at $225 per hour. You can find out more about Kate on her <a href="https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~013ce73876c1c18126" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Upwork profile</a>.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>8. Xhensila Zemblaku - Art Director - Canada</h3>
Xhensila Zemblaku is a freelance art director, UX/UI designer, and illustrator from Markham, Canada. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Ryerson University with almost ten years of experience.
Xhensila has been a freelancer for most of her professional career and earned over <a href="https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~01a08d1fcc6ea8fbcb">$400k on Upwork</a>, completed over 150 jobs, and 4,663 hours!&nbsp;
Xhensila's work includes typography, print design, UX/UI design, web, and mobile design. She's a Top Rated Upwork Freelancer currently charging $200 per hour for various creative gigs.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>9. Tanya Litvinova - UX/UI Designer - United States</h3>
Tanya Litvinova is a freelance UX/UI designer from New York City, United States. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Advertising Design / Communication Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology.
Tanya specializes in product, mobile, and web design as well as user experience flow, research, and validation.
"I have a passion to make the complex simple, shape behavior, design, plan, and strategize. Aiming for the best user experience, all the while balancing the needs of business and technology to create engaging, habit-forming digital products."
Tanya has worked with Fortune 100 &amp; Fortune 500 companies and successfully delivered business-transforming data-driven analytics, responsive BI dashboards, enterprise web apps, and management systems. Some of Tanya's notable clients include KOCH Industries, BlackRock Financial, BCG Group, and FireEye, to name a few.
<a href="https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~0165035041b26e96df">Tanya is a Top Rated Upwork Freelancer</a> with more than $200k platform earnings. Her current rate starts at $162.50 per hour.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>10. Guangming Lang - Data Scientist - United States</h3>
Guangming Lang is a freelance data scientist from Michigan, United States. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from New College of Florida and a Master of Science in Biostatistics from the University of Michigan. Guangming has also completed several Coursera courses in data science and machine learning.
Guangming has been a freelancer since 2013 and has worked across several industries, including fintech, trading, medicine, biotech, advertising, and HR.&nbsp;
Guangming is a Top Rated Upwork Freelancer with over $400k in platform earnings. He's completed 216 jobs on Upwork totaling 3,805 hours! Guangming's current rates start at $200 per hour.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
<h2>Secure Freelancer Workflows With TeamPassword</h2>
No matter how talented or reputable the freelancers and contractors you hire, your company must use secure workflows to protect your digital assets.
Freelancers often need access to shared accounts and tools. Using a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager</a> is the first step to securing these accounts and platforms. You can also use a password manager to share credentials with employees, clients, and other stakeholders to ensure you never expose raw passwords via email, spreadsheets, chat apps, and other non-secure methods.
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a> lets you create groups to share access with only those who need it. When they're done, revoke access with a single click. No need to change passwords every time someone leaves the team.
If you do need to change a password, TeamPassword's built-in <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">password generator</a> lets you create secure passwords between 12-32 characters using numbers, letters (uppercase/lowercase), and symbols.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
Ready to onboard clients and freelancers securely with TeamPassword's robust <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password management solution</a>? <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a free trial</a> to secure your company's digital assets today!

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

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

10 extremely successful freelancers and what they do

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

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

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

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

Username ideas to make your logins more secure

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

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