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!
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a> is the password management solution for small businesses! Create, store, and share login credentials safely with employees, contractors, and clients. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> today!
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>Understanding Password Encryption</h2>
To explain password encryption effectively, we must first grasp the language. Several terms might be unfamiliar, so here is a quick intro to password encryption terminology.
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Key: Used to lock and unlock passwords using a random string of bits. You get private and public keys that crypt and decrypt data differently, but we won't get too deep in the weeds with keys!</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Bits: A logical state with one of two possible values, including 1/0, true/false, yes/no, or on/off as typical examples.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Block (block cipher): A deterministic algorithm operating on fixed-length groups of bits, called blocks.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Hash function: The algorithm that uses the key to create password encryption and decryption. A hash function is essentially a piece of code that runs every time someone saves a password or logs into an application.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Hash: A random series of numbers and letters representing your password. The hash function uses your hash instead of the raw password for authentication.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Salt: Additional letters and numbers appended to the hash</li>
</ul>
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<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>
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<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.
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<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>
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>Why You Need a Password Manager like TeamPassword</h2>
We have so many accounts these days; it's almost impossible to create unique, memorable, secure passwords for each one. A password manager solves this problem.
Instead of remembering the credentials for every account, you only need to memorize the one to log into your password manager.&nbsp;
TeamPassword keeps all of your credentials safely stored and encrypted, so you never have to memorize a password again. Instead of entering your credentials, you use one of TeamPassword's browser extensions (Chrome, Firefox, and Safari) to log into accounts.
<h3>Built for Teams</h3>
TeamPassword's best feature is its ability to share credentials with team members securely. Instead of sharing passwords, you provide access through TeamPassword.&nbsp;
Employees <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">use TeamPassword</a> to log in, meaning you never share raw passwords&mdash;no more worrying about unauthorized access or sharing.
You can create groups in TeamPassword to share access with employees, clients, contractors, and freelancers. When someone no longer needs access, remove them from the group with a single click. No need to change passwords every time someone leaves a project!
<h3>Built-In Password Generator</h3>
TeamPassword features a built-in secure password manager so you can create robust passwords for every account. TeamPassword also ensures you never reuse the same credentials so that you won't fall victim to credential stuffing attacks!
With a built-in password generator, you can change passwords regularly, and TeamPassword will update the new credentials for all users!
<h3>Monitor Login Activity</h3>
TeamPassword's activity log keeps track of every action across all of your accounts&mdash;logins, password changes, new team members, sharing access, and more.
You can also set up email notifications for all TeamPassword actions so that you can react fast to any suspicious activity.
<h3>Get Your Free TeamPassword Trial</h3>
Password encryption is not enough to protect your business from password vulnerabilities! You need a robust password manager like TeamPassword to create, store, and share credentials securely.
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> and let TeamPassword secure your company's digital assets.

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

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

What is password encryption and how much is enough?

Most modern browsers offer an autofill function. The browser stores your name, phone number, address, etc. so that every time you fill out a form, you do not need to fill out the information line by line.&nbsp;
However, what you save in tedious work you lose in potential security risks. This is especially the case if the computer is shared. While most people know not to put their personal information into a public computer at the library, they may forget that other people might jump on to their computer at home or in a dorm room&mdash;or that someone might grab their smartphone right off their table while working in a caf&eacute;.
Even if you are not concerned about the security issues, the data stored may be out of date, have an error in it, or otherwise require you to constantly change a single field after autofill is completed.&nbsp;
In this article we will learn how to add, delete, and modify all or some of the autofill information in your Google Chrome browser, as well as other information you may wish to remove.
<h2>How to delete unwanted autofill entries on Chrome browser</h2>
You can clear all or only some of your autofill data in Chrome. Let&rsquo;s take a look at these two cases below.
<h3>Clear all autofill entries directly via Chrome settings in your toolbar</h3>
Use the following instructions to clear all of your autofill information in Chrome:
<ol>
<li aria-level="1">Open Chrome</li>
<li aria-level="1">Click the&nbsp;three dot symbol &gt; More Tools &gt; Clear browsing data...</li>
<li aria-level="1">Click the&nbsp;Advanced tab in the new window, and select&nbsp;All time from the drop down.&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Check the Autofill form data&nbsp;box. Be sure to unselect all others if you do not wish to delete other data</li>
<li aria-level="1">Click the Clear data button</li>
</ol>
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/JJ9oIPCRoe0qHCnu5Fqs" alt="undefined" width="397" height="333" /> &nbsp; &nbsp; <img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/YduonhM8SryTCFvCd5O7" alt="undefined" width="394" height="361" /> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
You have now cleared all of your autofill data in Chrome. But what if you want to delete only part of the information?
<h3>Clear some autofill entries directly via the autofill tab of Chrome settings</h3>
Follow the steps below to clear only part of your autofill information in Chrome:
<ol>
<li aria-level="1">Open Chrome</li>
<li aria-level="1">Click the&nbsp;three dot symbol in the top right corner</li>
<li aria-level="1">Click Settings</li>
<li aria-level="1">Click the&nbsp;Autofill tab</li>
<li aria-level="1">Here, you can individually edit or delete the different autofill categories: passwords, payment methods, and addresses and more</li>
</ol>
<h2>How to make specific changes to what autofill saves</h2>
If your computer is regularly used by others, or you are currently using a public computer, you may wish to turn off autofill entirely. Let&rsquo;s look at different types of autofill information stored by Google and how to disable them. This may also be wise if you regularly use these devices in public where a thief can get their hands on them.
<h3>Passwords</h3>
The &ldquo;Offer to save passwords&rdquo; setting allows you to save passwords in Chrome. This can be done in all modern&nbsp;<a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-save-passwords-in-chrome-and-alternatives">browsers</a>. However,&nbsp;<a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/are-chrome-passwords-safe" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">saving passwords in a browser might not be the safest or easiest option</a>. Flipping this toggle to off will disable Chrome&rsquo;s password saving feature. You can also disable this functionality in other&nbsp;<a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-disable-your-browsers-built-in-password-manager" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">browsers</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/P1IBEoW2QbtQaWIXnVTq" alt="undefined" width="860" height="216" />
<h3>Payment methods</h3>
To turn off autofill for payment methods, find &ldquo;Save and fill payment methods&rdquo; and set the toggle button to off. You can also see a link below this that you can follow to clear any autofill payment information currently stored in Chrome.
<h3>Addresses and more</h3>
This information includes your email address, physical address, phone number, etc. Similar to above, find &ldquo;Save and fill addresses&rdquo; and flip the toggle to off.
<h2>What is autofill and how does it work?</h2>
Autofill does exactly what it sounds like. By default, Chrome will remember what you input into different form fields and then add that information automatically whenever you encounter the same field in the future.&nbsp;
Autofill saves time and reduces the hassle of providing information in the future. While filling out an address doesn&rsquo;t take most people much time while working on their PC or laptop, typing in number and letter combinations, especially when your address has uncommon words or non-dictionary words that make autocorrect hiccup, can be rather time-consuming. If it leads to incorrect information on those forms, then the delays to shipments could cause further issues.
No technology is without its drawbacks. You should take the time to understand the security implications of using Chrome autofill.
<h2>Reasons why autofill may not be working correctly</h2>
Autofill might not be working for various reasons. Sometimes it is simply that friends or family have used your computer recently to fill in their own information and now Google Chrome is confused about what is the correct information.
Other times it might be that your information has been changed by government edict. In Canada, the postal code (like a zip code but fancier with letters) format has changed from A1A-1A1 to A1A 1A1 and now A1A1A1 over time. Because of this change, many postal code form fields are limited to six characters now instead of seven (bye bye space). Then, you might find Chrome autofill always adding &ldquo;A1A 1A&rdquo;, which you need to go and manually change to &ldquo;A1A1A1&rdquo;. And if you are super lazy, this might persist for a few years until you are tasked with writing about how to clear autofill in Chrome and finally get around to fixing the information&hellip;&nbsp;
However, whatever the issue, it is easy to change the Chrome autofill settings.
<h2>Other data settings to keep in mind</h2>
Accessing the same menu, you can delete all of the other information your browser is storing. Doing this periodically is a practical and proactive step to help reduce your risk online. The following are some other types of information that you should consider clearing along with autofill in Chrome:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Browsing history</li>
<li aria-level="1">Cookies and other site data</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://macpaw.com/how-to/clear-cache-on-mac" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://macpaw.com/how-to/clear-cache-on-mac&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1648309794332000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1lwRodBSl30WBTzbWzYHap" rel="follow noopener">Cached images and files on your Mac</a> (or any other device)</li>
</ul>
Anyone who touches your device, whether&nbsp;<a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/prevent-password-theft-from-ex-employees" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">at the office</a>, the caf&eacute;, or on the subway (if you accidentally leave your briefcase behind), with or without your permission, can access every account you have saved in Chrome passwords.&nbsp;
This leaves you wide open to being hacked.
<h2>Is Chrome autofill safe?&nbsp;</h2>
While convenient, using Chrome to store passwords and credit cards is not secure. If the device on which you have autofill enabled is stolen or accessed by someone else, they can easily get into your accounts. Chrome's password manager also lacks a way to share logins with coworkers, making it completely inappropriate for use at work.
We recommend using a <a href="https://teampassword.com/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">password manager</a> instead. Password managers store your passwords in an encrypted environment and can even be used to store credit card information and addresses in the Note section, as the entire record is secured with AES 256-bit encryption.&nbsp;
<h2>What should I use instead of Chrome autofill?</h2>
TeamPassword offers a fast, safe, and easy solution for storing and managing your passwords that doesn&rsquo;t leave you vulnerable to Chrome password security issues.
Create and customize strong passwords that you can use with any browser or device and access all your passwords whenever and wherever you need them. With TeamPassword, your passwords are secure, even if your device falls into the wrong hands.&nbsp;
A&nbsp;<a href="https://teampassword.com/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">dedicated password manager</a> protects you by requiring you to log in with a separate &ldquo;master&rdquo; password. It automatically locks your passwords after a specific amount of time has passed. With browser extensions and apps, password managers are only slightly less convenient than Chrome's built-features, but&nbsp;a lot more secure.&nbsp;
TeamPassword has a Chrome extension which autofills to most website and shows you record information from a dropdown without needing to go to separate page.
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/H6sqhcSSGARs0vTaPvw6" alt="undefined" width="559" height="389" />
It also has extensive features for safe credential sharing - something Chrome's password feature lacks entirely. Passwords are categorized into Groups, and team members are given access to Groups as needed. Removing members and editing records is just as easy.&nbsp;&nbsp;
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> to test TeamPassword with your team members today.

Learn how to clear your autofill on Chrome to protect your passwords. Use TeamPassword instead of letting Chrome remember your passwords for you.

Don't store your passwords in Chrome, it's not safe. Clear your Chrome Autofill and use TeamPassword instead.

How to Clear Autofill on Chrome (Protect Your Data!)

How to Clear Autofill on Chrome: Protect Your Internet Security by Clearing Chrome’s Saved Information

iCloud Keychain is Apple's password management system. So how good is Apple's password management software? And what can it do for you?

iCloud Keychain is Apple's password management system. So how good is Apple's password management software? And what can ...

What Are iCloud Keychains and Why Are They Better Than Passwords

Biometrics are physical (e.g., fingerprint or vein pattern) or behavioral (e.g., gait or handwriting) traits that are unique to an individual. Biometric technologies use these unique and measurable qualities to perform security actions in lieu of traditional security measures, specifically passwords.
First, a user is expected to provide documentation of their identity. This documentation can be specific to the trait or tied to the individual as well.&nbsp;
For example, the registration of your fingerprint on your phone allows you to access your phone with your fingerprint in the future, but it does not tie your fingerprint to your personal identity.&nbsp;
Conversely, in some high-security situations, for example immigration documentation, the biometric identification can be made simultaneously to both the documentation and to your identification. For example, you may have a fingerprint and facial recognition image attached to your passport so that an airport official can confirm both that you are the owner of the passport and that the passport is valid to the personal identification on file.
For this reason, even the best biometric identification system is only as effective as its ability to discern your biometrics and the veracity of the information stored in the system.
Note that, while we will differentiate briefly between biometric identification and biometric authentication below, for much of the discussion, they can be used interchangeably.&nbsp;
Biometrics can be very secure, but also cumbersome, expensive, and invasive. Within an organization, consider a password manager for your security needs.&nbsp;
&nbsp;<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a> is an accredited secure provider utilizing state-of-the-art encryption technology for its <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager</a>.
Whenever you save a new password, the data is hashed, salted, and encrypted locally on your computer before being uploaded to TeamPassword via an encrypted connection. with this level of encryption, it is impossible for nefarious actors to intercept your passwords.
 &rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
Sign up today for a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">free 14-day TeamPassword trial</a> and protect your company's digital assets from cybercriminals.
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>What does biometric identification mean?</h2>
Throughout this article, we are going to explain exactly what biometrics means in different contexts. However, the simple answer is that biometric identification is the use of personal traits, physical or behavioral, for security purposes.&nbsp;
You probably use biometrics to open your smartphone. Depending on how old your smartphone is, that might be using your thumbprint to open the screen or the phone performing facial recognition.&nbsp;
Biometric identification is found across many different industries. For example, you&rsquo;ve probably experienced some forms of biometric identification at airports and hospitals.
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>Biometric authentication vs. biometric identification</h2>
As mentioned above, biometric identification is really only half of what biometrics can accomplish. The other main task is called biometric authentication.
<h3>Biometric authentication</h3>
Biometric authentication is when a computer is tasked with determining the resemblance of a person to their template by measuring some trait. In essence, the computer is tasked with answering the question: &ldquo;Are you person X?&rdquo; This is accomplished according to the steps below:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Before the authentication actions, the template must be stored. That is, the template is registered to the system.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Then, when the person seeks authentication, their scanned information is compared to the stored data.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<h3>Biometric identification</h3>
Biometrics identification is slightly more complicated. In this case, the computer is tasked with determining the identity of an individual. Here, the question to be answered is: &ldquo;Who are you?&rdquo; This is accomplished by the following steps:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Sensors record one or more traits of an individual whose identity is to be determined. These can be physical traits such as fingerprints or behavioral traits such as gait.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">The collected information is then compared to the stored biometric data of different people in a database.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>Biometrics performance</h2>
This part is quite technical and so I recommend interested people spend some time on Wikipedia as we are really only going to gloss over the basics. You can find more information <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biometrics">here</a> (biometrics) and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entropy_(information_theory)">here</a> (entropy). Be warned though, as the rabbit hole on entropy is deep!
Essentially the ability of a biometric technology to discriminate among different individuals is based on the amount of entropy they can encode and use when matching.&nbsp;
The entropy of a random variable in information theory (which is different from the entropy used in physics) is the average level of uncertainty inherent in the variable&rsquo;s possible outcomes.&nbsp;
The following are used as performance metrics for biometric systems (their definitions can all be found on the Wikipedia pages linked above):&nbsp;
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">False match rate&nbsp;(FMR, also called FAR (false accept rate))&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">False non-match rate&nbsp;(FNMR, also called FRR (false reject rate))</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Receiver operating characteristic or relative operating characteristic (ROC)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Equal error rate&nbsp;or crossover error rate (EER or CER)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Failure to enroll rate&nbsp;(FTE or FER)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Failure to capture rate&nbsp;(FTC)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Template capacity</li>
</ul>
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>What are the types of biometrics?</h2>
As alluded to above, there are two types of biometrics: physical measurements and behavioral measurements. Let&rsquo;s take a look at both below and then consider a list of specific types of biometrics used for identification and authentication.
<h3>​Physiological measurements&nbsp;</h3>
Physiological measurements can be separated into morphological and biological types:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Morphological identifiers: The main morphological identifiers are fingerprints, hand shape, vein pattern, face shape, and the eye (iris and retina).</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Biological identifiers: These are mainly used in medicine or by the police and include DNA, blood, saliva, or urine.</li>
</ul>
<h3>​Behavioral measurements</h3>
There are many behavioral measurements used for biometric identification. They include voice recognition, signature dynamics (the speed, acceleration, inclination, and pressure of pen strokes), keystroke dynamics (similar to signature dynamics but relating to how you type), the way we use objects, gait, the sound of steps, and gestures.
<h3>Specific types of biometrics</h3>
The following are some specific biometric identification examples.
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">DNA matching: This is as straightforward as it is scary.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Ear: Surprisingly, ear shapes are unique and can be used for identification.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Eyes (iris recognition): Iris features have been the focus of biometric identification research for a long time.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Eyes (retina recognition): The retina is also being used.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Face recognition: Facial features including the overall shape and pattern are currently being used for identification.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Fingerprint recognition: The fingerprint has been used to identify people for a couple thousand years!</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Finger geometry recognition: The next step in fingerprint identification is actually using the 3D geometry of the finger.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Gait: Made famous in a Mission Impossible movie, people have unique gaits and they can be measured using cameras.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Hand geometry recognition: Similar to recognizing the geometry of a finger, the whole hand can be measured.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Odor: Every individual produces unique odors from their mouth, etc., and it is totally not disgusting to identify people using this.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Typing recognition: The force and speed, not to mention finger choice, when typing can be used to identify a person.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Vein recognition: The vein pattern of a finger or hand can be used for biometric identification.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Voice: A speaker&rsquo;s voice can be used for biometric identification and authentication.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Signature recognition: While signatures of different sorts have been used with varying success for thousands of years, now the way a person signs (from the pressure on the pen to the speed and acceleration of pen strokes) can now be used for more accurate identity verification.</li>
</ul>
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>Advantages of biometric identification</h2>
The following are only some of the advantages of biometric identification. Biometrics are:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Universal: We all have them.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Unique: We all have different ones.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Permanent: The ones we have (usually *) don&rsquo;t change.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Recordable: You can record them (but hopefully you ask us first).</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Measurable: You can turn them into numbers for future comparison.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Forgery-proof: We keep them with us and you can&rsquo;t take them (usually **).</li>
</ul>
* There is the possibility that, e.g., your face is damaged in an accident and then you cannot use it for facial recognition. This is an example of one of the ongoing controversies with biometric identification.
** There was a Malaysian car thief who cut off a victim&rsquo;s finger to steal their Mercedes. This is an example of another of the ongoing controversies with biometrics.
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>Why is biometric identification controversial?</h2>
Biometrics have many advantages, but no technology is without disadvantages and those of biometrics are particularly unsettling.
Surveillance humanitarianism in times of crisis: While humanitarian efforts are noble in their motivations, i.e., helping those in times of need, different groups may have different specific goals and segmenting people through biometrics could lead to questionable distributions of aid.
Human dignity: The use of biometrics has been a boon to authoritarian regimes and led to the dehumanizing processing of individuals as they can become a set of values.&nbsp;
Privacy and discrimination: Any data obtained during biometric enrollment could be used nefariously without consent. Many of the traits measured could disclose physical or neurological disorders that could lead to discrimination.
Danger to owners of secured items: As mentioned above, if a finger or iris is needed as part of a larger crime, it could put someone at bodily harm.&nbsp;
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>What are some effective attacks on biometric identification?</h2>
The two main types of attacks that can be performed against biometrics are presentation attacks and cancelable attacks.
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>Summary</h2>
Biometrics are useful security tools, but like all tools they are not immune to their own threats or controversies. In the never-ending hunt for stronger and simpler security&mdash;and, indeed, simpler often means stronger&mdash;biometrics will almost certainly continue playing a role.&nbsp;
From iris, face, or thumbprint recognition on your smartphone, to the futuristic biometrics identification showcased in the latest spy thrillers, biometrics are here to stay as part of the security ecosystem.&nbsp;
Whether you use SSO, a passwordless login, biometrics identification, or any other futuristic password solution, a strong password manager should be part of your security protocol. <a href="https://teampassword.com/">TeamPassword</a> makes it safe and easy to share passwords throughout your organization.
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
If you&rsquo;re unsure where to begin, <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">sign up for a TeamPassword free trial</a> to secure your shared passwords once and for all.
 &rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;

What exactly is biometric Identification? what is the technology behind it and how is it used to protect your personal/professional data?

What exactly is biometric Identification? what is the technology behind it and how is it used to protect ...

What Is Biometric Identification?

Single sign-on (SSO) is a way for a user to have a single set of login credentials for multiple applications. This is different from reusing the same login credentials, i.e., name and password, for multiple sites, which is incredibly <a href="https://www.teampassword.com/blog/colonial-pipeline-ransomware-attack-dont-reuse-passwords">dangerous</a>.
With SSO, you are using a single login system, which then allows you to access multiple other sites, so you are introducing vulnerability by sharing the same credentials across many platforms.
Opposite to SSO, there is SLO (single log-out, which is sometimes called single sign-off), which is a single action leading to the termination of access to many different systems.
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a> is an accredited secure provider utilizing state-of-the-art encryption technology for its <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager</a>. Whatever other security measures you have in place, make TeamPassword a part of your security protocols to facilitate secure and easy collaboration across your organization.
When you save new passwords, the data is hashed, salted, and encrypted locally on your computer before being uploaded to TeamPassword via an encrypted connection. This level of encryption makes it impossible for nefarious actors to intercept your passwords.
 &rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
Sign up today for a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">free 14-day TeamPassword trial</a> and protect your company's digital assets from cybercriminals.
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>How single sign-on works</h2>
SSO is a type of federated identity management (FIM) arrangement. FIM refers to the establishment of trusted relationships between an organization and third parties, e.g., application vendors or partners, which allows them to share identities and authenticate users across domains. <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/what-is-oauth-20-and-how-can-teampassword-help-you">OAuth</a> (Open Authorization) is the framework that enables the user's account information to be used by third-party services, such as Facebook, without exposing the user's password.
The basic web SSO service works as follows:&nbsp;
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">The agent module on the application server retrieves the authentication credentials for a user from a dedicated SSO policy server.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Then, the agent module authenticates the user against the user repository, e.g., a lightweight directory access protocol directory.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">The service then authenticates the user for all applications for which the user has been given rights, thus eliminating the need for further password prompts during the session. This is done using SSO tokens.</li>
</ol>
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>Types of SSO configurations</h2>
Many terms are used when discussing SSO, including Federated Identity Management (FIM), OAuth (nowadays OAuth 2.1), OpenID Connect (OIDC), Security Access Markup Language (SAML), and Same Sign-On (SSO).
SSO systems can be configured using different protocols. Two of them are Kerberos and SAML. They work as follows:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">SAML:&nbsp;<a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/customer-spotlight-robert-lowry-vts">SAML</a> is an extensible markup language&nbsp;(XML) standard that facilitates the exchange of user authentication and authorization data across secure domains. SAML-based SSO services require communications among the user, the identity provider that maintains the user directory, and the service provider.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Kereberos: In a Kerberos-based setup, a ticket-granting ticket (<a href="https://searchenterprisedesktop.techtarget.com/definition/authentication-ticket">TGT</a>) is issued when the user credentials are provided. The TGT then retrieves service tickets for any other applications the user tries to access so that the user does not need to personally provide further credentials.</li>
</ul>
Differently, a <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/one-time-passwords-vs-two-factor-authentication">smartcard</a>-based SSO requires the user to use a physical card holding the sign-in credentials for the first login. After using the information provided by the smartcard, the user will not have to enter any other usernames or passwords. Different SSO smartcards store either certificates or passwords.
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>What are the most popular SSO solutions?</h2>
The following are some of the most popular SSO solutions available today:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Duo Single Sign-On (SSO)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Ping Identity</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Ping Identity</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">CyberArk Workforce Identity</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Lastpass Enterprise</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">LastPass Logo</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Microsoft Azure Active Directory</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Okta Single Sign-On</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">OneLogin Secure Single Sign-On</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">RSA SecureID Access</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">SecureAuth Identity Platform</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Symantec VIP Access Manager SSO</li>
</ul>
In our quest to become more secure, passwords become less and less easy to remember. Let <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a> take care of securely remembering your passwords while you focus on growing a successful business! Using a third-party SSO service, such as your Gmail SSO, you can securely use TeamPassword.
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> to test TeamPassword with your team members today.
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>What makes a true SSO system?</h2>
A true SSO system means you do not need to reenter credentials moving from site to site. Once you log in to the system, it submits all the credentials behind the scenes using SSO tokens for you as you move from one site to another.&nbsp;
This is the key point of SSO as in single sign-on. It requires the trust relationship among the sites to be performed as a true SSO solution.&nbsp;
So what is SSO (as in same sign-on), besides the frustrating reuse of the same abbreviation? Same sign-on is very similar to SSO, with the big difference being that you need to keep logging in as you move from site to site even though you use the same credentials.&nbsp;
If you use your browser to save your passwords (and <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/are-chrome-passwords-safe">you shouldn&rsquo;t if you currently are</a>), then it likely types in the username and password fields for you as you enter a site, and then you need to click login all the same. Thus, you still need to log in to each website individually, even if it is accomplished with the same credentials as your browser.
If you are using the much more secure <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/whats-the-best-small-business-password-manager">password manager system</a>, then things are similar. As you navigate from page to page, you are prompted to log in with the same credentials&mdash;those of your password manager&mdash;which then fills in the specific username and password for the website you are trying to access.&nbsp;
With SSO, meaning single sign-on as used throughout, you can log in to all applications for which you are approved once and with only one set of credentials, including cloud applications, on-premises applications, and web applications.
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>What are some types of SSO?</h2>
<h3>Social SSO</h3>
Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, and Twitter all offer popular SSO services. While these services are convenient and simple to begin using, they can present security risks as they create a single point of failure that can be exploited by attackers.
More recently, Apple unveiled its own SSO service as part of its repositioning as a more privacy-conscious company. Sign-in with Apple offers enhanced security as it requires users to use two-factor authentication (<a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/password-manager-with-2fa">2FA</a>) on all Apple ID accounts to support integration with Face ID and Touch ID on iOS devices.
<h3>Enterprise SSO</h3>
Enterprise single sign-on (eSSO) software products and services are based on a client-server structure and are used to log in the user to target applications by replaying user credentials. One benefit is that target applications do not need to be modified to work with the eSSO system.
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>Advantages of SSO</h2>
The advantages of SSO include the following:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">It allows users to remember and manage fewer passwords and usernames.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">The process of signing on and using applications is streamlined by no longer needing to reenter passwords.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">It reduces the chance of a successful phishing attack.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">The risks from third-party sites are mitigated by the federated system.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">IT costs are reduced due to the decrease in the number of IT help desk calls about passwords.</li>
</ul>
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>Disadvantages of SSO</h2>
Some disadvantages of SSO are the following:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Different sites may require different levels of security, but SSO offers a uniform level of security.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">If the SSO system becomes unavailable, then users are locked out of all their services.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">If unauthorized users gain access, then they could gain access to more than one application.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Since the risk of stolen or abused SSO credentials is higher, it necessitates a much higher level of security during the initial credentialing process.</li>
</ul>
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>What is an SSO token?</h2>
The SSO token is a collection of data passed between systems during the SSO process. It contains the information required to log in to the system and proof of its veracity. The information could include an email address and must be digitally signed to be accepted.
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>Is SSO secure?</h2>
As always, the answer to this question is &ldquo;sometimes.&rdquo;&nbsp;
While SSO can improve security in many ways, like all security systems, it is not infallible. With a single username and password, the user is more likely to pick a long and secure password, as well as change it regularly. This reduced &ldquo;password fatigue&rdquo; also prevents users from recycling credentials.&nbsp;
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>Security risks and SSO</h2>
While SSO is convenient to use and does provide the opportunity for users to swap multiple passwords for one complex password, they may choose to have one simple password anyways. They may also reuse it for personal accounts, introducing risk to your enterprise.&nbsp;
Since the risks of a compromised account are so much higher when that single account can grant access to all the applications used by an organization, organizations must be extra vigilant in how they grant, use, and manage their SSO system. 2FA or even multifactor authentication (<a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/can-you-put-a-price-on-your-security">MFA</a>) is one way they can improve their overall security system.
Don't let your company fall victim to extortion emails, credential stuffing, and other password vulnerabilities. Let <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a> take care of security while you focus on growing a successful business!
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> to test TeamPassword with your team members today.

This article explains what is SSO (single sign-on), how it can be used, and what makes it secure to keep all of your information safe.

This article explains what is SSO (single sign-on), how it can be used, and what makes it secure ...

What Is Single Sign-On (SSO)?

What Is SSO?

If one member of your team uses a weak password, it exposes your entire network to threats. Likewise, if one member of your team reuses their strong password elsewhere and it is <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/have-i-been-pwnd-what-to-do-when-it-happens">pwned</a>, then your entire network is exposed.&nbsp;
Passwords have become the main point of entry for hackers. Any password complex enough to garner security cannot be remembered easily, and with an ever-increasing number of passwords being needed, users often <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/colonial-pipeline-ransomware-attack-dont-reuse-passwords">reuse</a> them, which is a huge security risk.&nbsp;
Between weak and reused passwords, your network is far less secure than it would be by design. The first step in rectifying this situation is to audit passwords on your network. A password audit is simply using similar software as hackers to test your network against <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/the-truth-about-terrible-passwords">dictionary attacks</a>, <a href="about:blank">brute force attacks</a>, and more.&nbsp;
Special software is used to audit passwords. They attempt to break into your network similarly to nefarious actors to show you all of your password vulnerabilities, from weak passwords to pwned passwords, so that your network can realize maximum security.
The best way to secure your IT infrastructure is to use a password manager that includes sharing features. TeamPassword offers high-level encryption and two-factor authentication so that only the right people can make sense of the passwords.
Before anyone can access the list of shared passwords, they must log in to the platform using their personal password and a short-term authentication code.
Teams often need to share passwords to access mutual accounts, but you don't have to put your data at risk to make this possible. Instead, use<a href="https://teampassword.com/"> TeamPassword</a> to securely generate, store, and share passwords within a team.&nbsp;
 &rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
If you&rsquo;re unsure where to begin, <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">sign up for a TeamPassword free trial</a> to secure your shared passwords once and for all.
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>Why Audit Passwords?</h2>
The fact is that passwords are fatally flawed: they need to be complex and unique, they need to be different for each site, you need to remember them, and you shouldn&rsquo;t store them somewhere unsafe like on a post-it note on your monitor or an <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/password-manager-or-excel">Excel</a> file. Human nature is hard to avoid, and it runs counter to the aim of secure passwords.&nbsp;
Of course, a strong <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/whats-the-best-small-business-password-manager">password manager</a> helps, but before you get the most out of the added security and convenience of a password manager, you need to be confident that the passwords being used to access your network are secure.&nbsp;
Let&rsquo;s assume everyone on your team understands that they shouldn&rsquo;t reuse passwords and have chosen a unique one for their work login, as well as the logins for all the tools they use at work. That&rsquo;s great.
Let&rsquo;s assume you enforce password complexity to maximize security. That means everyone must choose a password with a minimum length of 12 characters and that it must have at least one each of lowercase letters, uppercase letters, numbers, and a set of characters. That is, it meets the following requirements:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Lowercase letter {abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz}</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Uppercase letter {ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ}</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Number {0123456789}</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Character {!@#$%^&amp;*()_+{}|:"&lt;&gt;?~`-=[]\;',./}</li>
</ul>
That&rsquo;s great, too. But, is it enough? Well, to crack that password by trying 20,000,000,000 attempts per second, which is easily accomplished using a cloud computing platform, would take a maximum of approximately 6,600 years and an average of half that, or 3,300 years. Problem solved, right?&nbsp;
Well, it depends on what kind of passwords your team is choosing. If they are picking truly random passwords, then it is unlikely anyone will ever crack those codes. But there&rsquo;s a difference between passwords that can be brute force attacked and those that are easy to guess. For example, &ldquo;Password#333&rdquo; matches the requirements but isn&rsquo;t going to take any longer than &ldquo;password&rdquo; to guess.
To understand this fully, we need to understand the difference between a brute force attack and a dictionary attack. The brute force attack starts with &ldquo;aaaaaaaaaaaa,&rdquo; then &ldquo;aaaaaaaaaaab,&rdquo; and so on until the password is found.&nbsp;
A dictionary attack, conversely, tries every word in a dictionary. Although these dictionaries might include the entire Oxford English Dictionary, they go well beyond that and include the words commonly used as passwords and variations of those passwords. For example, in addition to &ldquo;password,&rdquo; they might include &ldquo;p4ssw0rd&rdquo;, &ldquo;pa55word&rdquo;, &ldquo;passwordpassword,&rdquo; etc.&nbsp;
Passwords need to be safe from both, and auditing passwords will tell you whether you have either issue.
Don't let your company fall victim to extortion emails, credential stuffing, or any other password vulnerability. Let <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a> take care of security while you focus on growing a successful business!
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> to test TeamPassword with your team members today.
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>How do you Audit Passwords?</h2>
To audit passwords, you need to use specialized software. We provide a list of several popular tools to audit passwords in the following section. But how do they work?
Essentially, the password auditing tools attempt to guess the passwords being used on your network. They do this through a combination of dictionary and brute force attacks, among other attacks, and then notify you about any other ways that the passwords might be compromised, for example, by being pwned.
Once you have performed a password audit, you can then notify any users whose passwords have been compromised or too weak so that they can change them.
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>What are some tools to audit passwords?</h2>
You&rsquo;ve decided to audit the passwords on your network, but what program should you use? Here are five popular password auditing apps.&nbsp;
<h3>RainbowCrack</h3>
RainbowCrack is based on Phillippe Oechslin&rsquo;s faster time-memory trade-off technique. It is a brute force hash cracker that generates all possible plaintexts and then computes the corresponding hashes on the fly. Next, it compares the hashes to the one that needs to be cracked.&nbsp;
If a match has been found, then the plaintext has also been found. Conversely, if all possible plaintexts have been tested, but no match has been found, then the plaintext has not been found.&nbsp;
RainbowCrack requires a pre-computation stage that involves time-consuming computations.
<h3>Wfuzz</h3>
Wfuzz is another tool designed to brute force attack web applications. It was originally created to assess web applications, but it can also be used to find hidden resources, e.g., directories, servlets, and scripts.
<h3>Cain and Abel</h3>
Cain and Abel is a password recovery tool. It is available for Microsoft operating systems. It can help recover lost passwords by using several types of attacks. These include dictionary attacks, brute force attacks, and cryptanalysis attacks.&nbsp;
It can also decode scrambled passwords, record VoIP conversations, reveal password boxes, uncover cached passwords, recover wireless network keys, and analyze routing protocols.
Cain and Abel was originally developed for use by network administrators, teachers, security consultants, forensic investigators, network penetration testers, etc.&lrm; &lrm;
<h3>THC Hydra</h3>
THC Hydra is a common choice for performing brute force cracks of remote authentication services because it can perform quick dictionary attacks on more than 50 protocols, such as Telnet, FTP, HTTP, https, smb, and various databases.
THC Hydra is a fast network login password cracking tool. New modules can be installed easily to enhance its features. It is currently available for Windows, Linux, Free BSD, Solaris, and OS X.
<h3>Ncrack</h3>
Ncrack is another fast network authentication cracking tool. It was originally designed to help companies improve the security of their networks by testing their hosts and network devices for poor passwords.&nbsp;
Because Ncrack enables rapid, reliable, and large-scale password auditing, it is also used by security professionals. Furthermore, it has a flexible interface that gives the user full control of network operations.&nbsp;
The protocols supported include RDP, SSH, HTTP(S), SMB, POP3(S), VNC, FTP, SIP, Redis, PostgreSQL, MySQL, and Telnet.
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>What are common issues found in when you audit passwords?</h2>
<h3>Weak Passwords</h3>
Weak passwords are too short, too simple, or too common.&nbsp;
The too short and/or too common passwords can be found easily through brute force attacks because the total number of testable passwords before hitting the correct password combination is too low compared to modern computing as a service capabilities.&nbsp;
Too common passwords, for example, your child&rsquo;s name, are highly vulnerable to dictionary attacks.&nbsp;
Whichever type of weak passwords is found, all affected passwords should be changed immediately.
<h3>Compromised Passwords</h3>
A &ldquo;pwned&rdquo; password is one that has been leaked online. This is when a username and password combination has been hacked on some site, so hackers can integrate those credentials into the ones they test when trying to break into other networks.&nbsp;
Since people regularly reuse passwords despite all recommendations against the practice, these pwned passwords are likely to show up on your network, and they need to be changed asap.
<h3>Identical Passwords</h3>
If the same password is being used for several accounts, this is another risk that can be found during password audits. Be sure to replace these repeated credentials.
<h3>Expired Passwords</h3>
Depending on security requirements, passwords can expire. If expired passwords are being found, then they need to be changed. A good password audit will show currently expired as well as soon-to-be expired passwords.
Whatever issues are found during your password audit, the best thing you can do to prevent further issues is to help your users create strong passwords by providing a password manager. Only with <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a> can you facilitate your team in being proactive participants in network security.&nbsp;
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> to test TeamPassword with your team members today.

This article explains how to audit your passwords, what auditing your passwords means, and why you should audit passwords. | TeamPassword

This article explains how to audit your passwords, what auditing your passwords means, and why you should audit ...

How to Audit Passwords

Getting a joint credit card account is common for married couples - but you&rsquo;re not married to your coworkers. Usually married people will eventually combine their finances to some degree, and sharing credit cards to increase their rewards points or cashback is a natural part of that process.
But what about coworkers? Is it ever safe to share credit cards with coworkers? Although many companies will be tempted to share credit card numbers across teams to make small purchases easier, there really is no safe way to share credit cards.&nbsp;
While sharing credit cards with coworkers safely isn&rsquo;t really possible, you can share passwords across your team with <a href="https://teampassword.com/">TeamPassword</a>.&nbsp;
As your company increases the number of different online services you utilize to compete in the modern ecommerce landscape, it becomes harder for your employees to keep track of all of their login information. This leads to password <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/colonial-pipeline-ransomware-attack-dont-reuse-passwords">reuse</a> or weak passwords.&nbsp;
TeamPassword can increase productivity at the same time as improving your security.
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> to test TeamPassword with your team members today.
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>What is a joint credit card account?</h2>
A joint credit card allows you to share a credit card with another person, usually your spouse or family member. It is very rare to share credit cards with coworkers in this way.
This is different from adding an authorized user to your account because, as joint account holders, both users of the credit card are legally responsible for the combined debt accrued by both users.
Conversely, an <a href="https://financejar.com/credit-cards/authorized-user-credit-card/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">authorized user</a> is permitted to make purchases with the card, but they are not responsible for the debt. Only the account owner may be penalized if they fail to repay the debt or miss payments.
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>Should you open a joint credit card account?</h2>
Sharing a credit card requires a lot of trust. It also requires a firm understanding of the spending habits of each joint account holder. In the case of sharing credit cards with coworkers, all of these issues are exacerbated.
That&rsquo;s why at TeamPassword we are inundated with emails from clients asking about how to share credit cards with coworkers using our password manager.&nbsp;
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;&lrm;
<h2>The problem with opening a joint credit card account</h2>
Here is a composite of several emails we have received recently:
Hi there,

We have recently started using TeamPassword to share login information across our team and it's been great.&nbsp;
However, we&rsquo;d also like to be sharing credit cards with coworkers. We are a small business and usually only an account manager needs to have access to the cards, but at times other team members also need to pay for expenses.
We are currently using TeamPassword to share credit card numbers.&nbsp;
Right now, we have the cardholder name as a username, the credit card number as a password, and use the notes section for the three-digit code on the back, the expiry date, and the billing address.
Is this safe? Is this advisable? Is there a better way of doing this?

Thank you!
Basically, some clients are using their password manager vault to share credit card numbers with coworkers. Let&rsquo;s answer the questions asked in this email.&nbsp;
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>Is it safe?</h2>
TeamPassword is an incredibly secure system, based around two-factor authentication (2FA) and the latest cryptography best practices. While your credit card is stored in your TeamPassword vault, it is safe.
When you save new passwords, or your credit card number to share with coworkers, the data is hashed, salted, and encrypted locally on your computer before being uploaded to TeamPassword via an encrypted connection. This level of encryption makes it impossible for criminals to intercept your passwords.
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
Sign up today for a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">free 14-day TeamPassword trial</a> and protect your company's digital assets from cybercriminals.
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>Is it advisable?</h2>
While the password is safe in the Internet security sense of the word, we cannot say this is an advisable solution. There are a couple main reasons why we recommend against using a password manager to share credit cards with coworkers.&nbsp;
First, since your team members are not authorized users on the account, giving them access to your private information is not a good idea.&nbsp;
It might even void your credit card&rsquo;s anti-theft/fraud insurance if they find out that the thief got your credit card information from you sharing your credit card information contrary to the terms of service agreement for your card.
Second, as much as we all love our teammates and hope our time together never ends, sadly, employees leave from time to time, and in this case, they could leave after writing your credit card number down.&nbsp;
With a password, you can easily get TeamPassword to create new passwords for every account after a team member departs. However, this is not so easy or convenient with a credit card number.
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>Is there a better way?</h2>
While there might not be a better way to share your credit card number with coworkers, especially when they are not next to you in the office during these COVID-19 times, there are two better ways to deal with this issue.&nbsp;
<h3>Reimbursement</h3>
The classic approach to this problem is to have your employees use their own credit cards, send you a copy of the receipt, and then reimburse them.&nbsp;
Keep in mind that employees will be aggravated if they find themselves jumping through a lot of hoops to be reimbursed, waiting months to be reimbursed, or find reasonable purchases being denied reimbursements.&nbsp;
Conversely, if you are prompt about reimbursing your team members, the perk of earning air miles or cash back at work might make this their preferred solution.
<h3>A special corporate credit card</h3>
While corporate credit cards are becoming less common over time, Stripe has recently released The Stripe Corporate Card, a corporate card designed for the modern work experience.
<a href="https://stripe.com/corporate-card">The Stripe Corporate Card</a> is an easy way for everyone in your company to handle expenses.&nbsp;
While we recommend against using <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a> for sharing credit cards with coworkers, our secure password manager is still great at keeping your other information secure online while being accessible to the whole team.&nbsp;
&lrm;&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> to test TeamPassword with your team members today.

This article explains when, how, and with whom to share credit cards safely and whether sharing credit cards with coworkers is safe.

This article explains when, how, and with whom to share credit cards safely and whether sharing credit cards ...

Sharing Credit Cards with Coworkers

Team Password Blog | Author timothy-ware | Page 1

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.

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. Padcha Uaarisakkul - Brand / Creative Consultant - United States</h3>
Padcha Uaarisakkul is a freelance brand and creative consultant from Los Angeles, United States. Padcha worked at The Walt Disney Company for six years, where she managed Licensing &amp; Brand Partnerships for Pixar.
She holds a Master's degree, Marketing Communications from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Advertising from California State University.
Padcha's skillset includes brand strategy, creative concepting, marketing communications, pitch development, and design&mdash;specializing in consumer packaged goods, entertainment, nonprofit, startup, and tech.
Padcha is a Top Rated Upwork Freelancer, and her rates start at $120 per hour. You can find out more about Padcha on her <a href="https://www.padcha.me/">website</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/padcha/">LinkedIn page</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!

TeamPassword Blog

Browse our carefully created articles about Information Security, Password Management, Product Information, and Modern Business, all written with your team's safety and success in mind.

Most popular articles

Cybersecurity

September 21, 2021 ∙ 10 min read

What is password encryption and how much is enough?

Have I Been Hacked? How to Know for Sure.

10 extremely successful freelancers and what they do

Best types of usernames: username ideas to make your logins more secure

Cybersecurity

November 3, 2022 ∙ 7 min read

How to Clear Autofill on Chrome: Protect Your Internet Security by Clearing Chrome’s Saved Information

Password Management

September 28, 2021 ∙ 11 min read

What Are iCloud Keychains and Why Are They Better Than Passwords

Cybersecurity

September 24, 2021 ∙ 10 min read

What Is Biometric Identification?

Cybersecurity

September 24, 2021 ∙ 9 min read

What Is SSO?

Password Management

September 23, 2021 ∙ 9 min read

How to Audit Passwords

Business

September 22, 2021 ∙ 6 min read

Sharing Credit Cards with Coworkers

The Password Manager for Teams

Product

Support

Channels

Legal