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.
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<h3>2. Kathy Edens - Marketing Consultant / Freelance Copywriter - United States</h3>
<a href="https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~016177d19f0624c1a7?viewMode=1">Kathy Edens is a Top Rated Upwork Freelancer</a> with over $300k platform earnings! Kathy has been self-employed as a marketing consultant and freelance copywriter for almost ten years from her home in Ohio, United States.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Professional Writing and Psychology from Oregon State University, which she says "...helps me understand how to reach your target audience with words."&nbsp;
Kathy has ghost-written several non-fiction books on various topics, including social entrepreneurship, healthcare, real estate investing, and the cannabis industry, to name a few.
Kathy also writes web content, sales pages, email marketing content, case studies, white papers, brochures, press releases, and more. Kathy's rates start at $86 per hour for her writing and marketing services.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
<h3>3. Koen van Oeveren - UX designer - Netherlands</h3>
Koen van Oeveren is a freelance UI &amp; UX designer from North Brabant, Netherlands, with almost ten years of experience. Koen works with several design agencies in the Netherlands, designing apps, websites, and eCommerce experiences for many international brands.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
Koen holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Communication and Multimedia Design from Avans University in the Netherlands. Koen's <a href="https://www.koenvo.com/index.html">portfolio website Koenvo</a> was nominated for a <a href="https://www.awwwards.com/sites/koenvo-ui-ux-portfolio">2021 awwwards. Award</a>.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
<h3>4. Pascal Strasche - Product / UX designer - Germany</h3>
Pascal Strasche is a product and UX designer with more than ten years of design experience from Germany. He holds a Master of Arts in Interaction Design and a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design, both from HAWK University of Applied Sciences and Arts.
For almost a year over 2020/2021, Pascal worked as the sole product designer to design Con Cubo's SaaS tool that helps complex organizations visualize and manage teams. He's also worked with German steel giant XOM Materials to find product solutions to digitalize&nbsp;Germany's steel industry.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
In 2019, Pascal founded Product Design Resources, a growing archive of 800+ design resources, weekly updated for the design community.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>5. Paul Hunkin - Developer - New Zealand</h3>
Paul Hunkin is a freelance software consultant and developer from Tauranga, New Zealand, but currently living in Portugal.&nbsp;
Paul has over ten years of experience as a software developer with an impressive work history, including Google, NASA, InfoSys, and the Chinese aerospace industry leader COMAC.
He's worked with several early-stage startups designing everything from high-performance big-data systems to complex web applications to 3D rendering engines. He's also built a lot of the foundational code for independent games on Android.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
Paul is a Top Rated Upwork Freelancer with over $400k in platform earnings. His rates start at $120 per hour for software development. <a href="https://paulh.consulting/">Check out Paul's website</a> for more about his impressive portfolio and work history.
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<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.
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<h3>7. Kate H. - Logo Designer / Branding Expert - United States</h3>
Kate is a freelance professional logo designer and branding expert from Maryland, United States. Kate&nbsp;ran her own green wedding brand which she sold to mywedding.com in 2014, allowing her to focus on helping small&nbsp;businesses figure out what they want (and who they are) and translate that into design.
She holds a Master's degree in Environmental Management from Yale School of The Environmental, and a J.D. in environmental law from Pace Law School.&nbsp;
Kate's skillset includes redesigning and updating material to make it easier to understand, building a consistent brand from a simple starting point like a logo, and creating unique logos that guarantee results.
Kate is a Top Rated Upwork Freelancer, and her rates start at $225 per hour. You can find out more about Kate on her <a href="https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~013ce73876c1c18126" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Upwork profile</a>.
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<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.
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<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.
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<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.
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<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.
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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!

Small business password management requires a robust password manager. Learn more about managing passwords for your business in this guide.

Small business password management requires a robust password manager. Learn more about managing passwords for your business in ...

Small Business Password Management: The Best Password Tools

Years after the COVID-19 pandemic required many companies to allow their teams to work from home, it&rsquo;s clear that this remote arrangement is here to stay. While there are many <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/remote-work-isnt-just-a-trend-its-the-future" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">perks associated with remote work</a>, if your team isn&rsquo;t managed correctly, they may become overworked and experience burnout.&nbsp;
To create a successful remote work culture, companies need to streamline their processes and ensure that their employees have what they need to succeed. Having the right tools and systems in place can reduce work related stress and improve efficiency.
Below are ways your company can create a more productive workforce.
<h2 dir="ltr">The Connection Between Remote Work and Burnout</h2>
While remote work offers plenty of freedom and flexibility, the downside is that many employers fail to provide structure. In an office setting there is a work location, often with set hours, and constant communication. Without these, problems can arise.&nbsp;
Without streamlined processes providing clarity and order, employees may unnecessarily duplicate work, perform the same tasks differently, or apply inefficient strategies that prolong projects. Because of this, it may take a remote worker more time to complete an assignment. <img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/nhXlk5AIT9O9opQVhcvg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
Image Source: Image by <a href="https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/tiny-people-huge-sand-glass_9176917.htm#page=5&amp;position=24&amp;from_view=author" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">pch.vector</a> on Freepik
Studies show that <a href="https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/news/hr-news/pages/remote-employees-are-working-longer-than-before.aspx" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">remote workers already tend to work longer hours</a>. Without a train to catch or traffic to beat, many remote workers extend their day beyond the scheduled endpoint. The temptation to respond to emails or finish projects is too great when their work computer is sitting in their home office or living room.&nbsp;
Streamlined processes and tools built to improve efficiency reduce the need employees feel to work longer hours and enables them to complete tasks during their planned schedule.&nbsp;
In addition to wasting your company&rsquo;s resources, employees who work an unnecessary amount of time on arduous tasks can become overwhelmed and stressed, which can contribute to more significant mental health issues.&nbsp;
Over <a href="https://www.zocdoc.com/blog/how-your-job-can-impact-your-mental-health/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">44 million American adults</a> deal with conditions like depression and anxiety. And stress is a significant contributing factor to both conditions. A poor work-life balance is often listed as one of the greatest causes of stress. Without intervention, stress, depression, and anxiety often get worse.
Poor mental health not only affects employees directly, it also impacts businesses through depreciated job performance and employee turnover. Therefore, it is in a company&rsquo;s best interest to ensure that their entire workforce is productive and happy.&nbsp;
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/sqjabqRRMKgXwtOw2RGw" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
Image Source: Image by <a href="https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/tiny-people-huge-sand-glass_9176917.htm#page=5&amp;position=24&amp;from_view=author" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">pch.vector</a> on Freepik
<h2 dir="ltr">Ensure Your Teams Are Secure</h2>
The first aspect of your company that should be streamlined is your company&rsquo;s cybersecurity. When employees are working at the office, they know that they can summon the IT team when they see a suspicious email or fear a data breach.&nbsp;
Remote workers are not oblivious to the fact that working from home creates a higher <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/hillennevins/2021/05/19/new-dangers-of-working-from-home-cybersecurity-risks/?sh=2adbd03f22fb" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">risk of cybercrime than those in the office</a>. However, many remote employees are lost when it comes to cybersecurity because they don&rsquo;t have the same resources they would have in an office environment.&nbsp;
As a company, you need to <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-talk-to-remote-employees-about-cybersecurity" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">talk to your remote employees about cybersecurity</a> and train them on common threats and the tactics they can use to protect their home setup.&nbsp;
Start by streamlining how your employees report cybersecurity issues when they see them. Give your team a direct phone number, email, or an online portal where they can make a report. Knowing that they can take action and that their concern will be addressed provides them with peace of mind while protecting your organization from cybercrime.
Remote workers know the importance of having strong passwords for the programs that they use every day. However, using strong unique passwords for every account can be burdensome without the right tool and can quickly become overwhelming. Any company that hires remote employees would be wise to streamline this issue by <a href="https://teampassword.com/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">implementing a password manager</a> that can store all of their passwords for them, while also allowing employees to share records across the team. By providing secure and easy access to online accounts they need to perform their job, password managers can help reduce remote worker anxiety.
<h2 dir="ltr"><img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/0CCt8xQU5gE2H7sGFVQp" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></h2>
Image Source: Image by <a href="https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/tiny-people-huge-sand-glass_9176917.htm#page=5&amp;position=24&amp;from_view=author" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">pch.vector</a> on Freepik
<h2 dir="ltr">Tech Can Help With Productivity</h2>
If your teams need to be on top of numerous projects at once, then consider the use of <a href="https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-project-management-software" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">project management software</a>. This tech provides an easy way for your employees to keep track of individual progress on any given task. Project managers also help employees understand where their efforts fall into the overall project.&nbsp;
Remote workers can feel like they are on their own island and that it&rsquo;s difficult to reach out to management when they need them the most. Project management software can help. Business messaging apps like Slack and Microsoft Teams allow your team to reach out to anyone in the organization with a few clicks. Most of these programs also enable employees to share files and screenshots, and even start a virtual meeting. When your team can get quick answers, they can accomplish their work faster and avoid working longer hours.
Consider pairing all of this technology with <a href="https://www.verizon.com/about/news/how-5g-can-help-make-hybrid-work-work" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">5G connectivity</a>. This reliable, high-speed connection is essential, especially when your team is not in the same office. A reliable network will give your employees the confidence that their computer programs will continue to work efficiently and that they won&rsquo;t lose connection when they need it most. Sometimes, a strong internet connection is all you need to improve your team&rsquo;s morale.
Ultimately, your company needs to streamline its processes to reduce burnout and improve efficiency. Follow these tips and have a happier, healthier, and more productive workforce.

Help remote workers avoid burnout by streamlining processes. Follow these tips for a happier, healthier, and more productive workforce.

While there are many perks associated with remote work, if your team isn’t managed correctly, they may experience ...

Streamline processes to avoid remote worker burnout

While there are many perks associated with remote work, if your team isn’t managed correctly, they may experience burnout. Companies need to streamline processes to create a successful remote work culture and ensure that their employees have what they need to succeed. These tips provide

Passwords inundate our brains in this technological era.
While simple passwords like '123456' may be easy to remember, it&nbsp;<a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/ultimate-guide-to-password-security-teampassword#whyaresomepasswordsstrong" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">poses a security risk</a>. Password managers are an excellent solution that provides secure storage for all your passwords while remaining easily accessible.
The abundance of password managers available in the market can make it challenging to determine the best fit for you or your organization.
We're here to help! Our article thoroughly compares Dashlane, LastPass, and TeamPassword, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses so you can make an informed decision based on your specific requirements.
Table of Contents
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="#featuresoverview" rel="follow">Features Overview</a></li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="#commonfeatures" rel="follow">Common Features</a></li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="#uniquefeatures" rel="follow">Unique Features</a></li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="#usability" rel="follow">Usability</a></li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="#sharingcapabilities" rel="follow">Sharing Capabilities</a></li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="#security" rel="follow">Security</a></li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="#devicecompatibility" rel="follow">Device Compatibility</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="#pricing" rel="follow">Pricing</a></li>
</ul>
<h2 id="featuresoverview">Features Overview</h2>
<h3 dir="ltr">Dashlane Features</h3>
Dashlane is a password manager that prides itself on being "security-first." It boasts top-notch encryption and dark web monitoring to protect your information from breaches. Additionally, Dashlane offers convenient features such as on-the-go access, unlimited sharing, and a unique password generator to help you easily manage your passwords.
<h3 dir="ltr">LastPass Features</h3>
LastPass is the biggest password manager by far, though we&rsquo;ve watched those numbers slide after the recent breach. LastPass aims to overwhelm you with features such as a security dashboard that helps you identify weak or duplicate passwords and the ability to grant emergency access to your account to trusted family members or friends in case of an emergency.
<h3 dir="ltr">TeamPassword Features</h3>
As a password management solution built with teams and businesses in mind, TeamPassword prides itself on its affordable rates and easy sharing features that set it apart from its competitors. Its key features include a favorites list, password refresh reminders, and access to Google Single Sign-on offered with all plans. It has been recognized as one of the most user-friendly business password managers.
<h2 id="commonfeatures">Common Features</h2>
<h3 dir="ltr">Common features of Dashlane, LastPass, and TeamPassword:&nbsp;</h3>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Custom Groups for Team Organization</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Two-Factor Authentication</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Group Sharing</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Password Generator</li>
</ul>
These features come standard with most password managers including the topics of this article. They&rsquo;ll operate differently based on the company, but the functionality is the same.&nbsp;
<h2 id="uniquefeatures">Unique Features</h2>
<h3 dir="ltr">Dashlane Unique Features</h3>
Dashlane&rsquo;s most unique offering is the ability to change all your passwords at once on supported websites with one click. They also offer a public Wi-Fi VPM, advanced reporting, identity theft protection, and enterprise mass deployment.&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">LastPass Unique Features</h3>
LastPass provides an Emergency Access feature that allows you to grant trusted family or friends access to your account in an emergency. They boast 1,200+ pre-integrated SSO apps and 100+ customizable policies, though you&rsquo;ll need to pay extra for these features.
<h3 dir="ltr">TeamPassword Unique Features</h3>
Designed for teams, TeamPassword places a premium on simplicity. It has learned that if password hygiene is too complicated, employees won&rsquo;t do it. TeamPassword enables you to create an unlimited number of groups to share passwords with a small team or your entire organization, all with just a few clicks. It offers live customer support and frequently adds features based on the user feedback that it gathers.&nbsp;
<h2 id="usability">Usability</h2>
<h3 dir="ltr">Dashlane Usability</h3>
Dashlane's sleek user interface makes it a standout option. This platform is equipped with a range of security features that prioritize your protection, such as breach notifications and dark web insight alerts, placing it alongside its competitors as a powerful and versatile tool.
<h3 dir="ltr">LastPass Usability</h3>
LastPass has been criticized for being overly complicated. It&rsquo;s loaded with features; if you find a feature unique to LastPass that you absolutely must have, it may be your best option. But the complexity can keep employees from adopting it as part of their workflow.&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">TeamPassword Usability</h3>
TeamPassword has created a UI that is intuitive and user-friendly through extensive testing. As with its competitors, it offers browser extensions and built-in password generators for an efficient, enjoyable experience. TeamPassword is so intuitive your new staff will catch on quickly. No need to add another element to their onboarding schedule.
<h2 id="sharingcapabilities">Sharing Capabilities&nbsp;</h2>
<h3 dir="ltr">Dashlane password sharing</h3>
Dashlane's sharing functionality allows users to share multiple passwords with multiple individuals using sharing groups, but it requires that those individuals have a Dashlane account.
<h3 dir="ltr">LastPass password sharing</h3>
LastPass allows you to share passwords with an individual user by entering their email address, so any changes to that password will sync between your accounts. You can also share folders of passwords with other people. All users must have a LastPass account.&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">TeamPassword password sharing</h3>
TeamPassword's main emphasis is on sharing, and the platform is organized into groups of records that correspond to different departments or projects, such as Marketing, Sales, or the iOS Dev Team. Adding or removing users from these groups is simple, and users can easily share their own records with one or more groups. However, just like LastPass and Dashlane, sharing passwords requires that users have an account and be part of your organization.&nbsp;
<h2 id="security">Security</h2>
<h3 dir="ltr">Dashlane Security</h3>
With AES-256 encryption, Dashlane securely transfers your data to its servers while dark web monitoring is in place to safeguard against potential threats.
<h3 dir="ltr">LastPass Security</h3>
LastPass uses AES-256 encryption and the other safeguards expected in the industry.&nbsp; However, due to <a href="https://www.privacytools.io/guides/7-publicly-known-lastpass-security-breaches-since-2011">seven breaches</a> in the last few years - by far more than any other password manager - some of LastPass&rsquo;s security practices have come under <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/12/28/23529547/lastpass-vault-breach-disclosure-encryption-cybersecurity-rebuttal">intense scrutiny</a> from experts. In its current state, many experts do not recommend LastPass.
<h3 dir="ltr">TeamPassword Security</h3>
TeamPassword uses AES-256 encryption, and Google Single Sign-on is included with all plans. TeamPassword employs backend fraud analytics to identify and prevent suspicious activity. Its platform is equipped with audit tools for admins, allowing them to monitor access, changes, and removal of records by team members. Additionally, admins can enforce two-factor authentication throughout the organization.
<h2 id="devicecompatibility">Device compatibility</h2>
Dashlane, LastPass, and TeamPassword are similarly matched. These password managers work seamlessly on Windows and Mac OS, as well as on mobile devices running iOS or Android. They are used primarily through web browser apps and extensions, but LastPass does offer a Windows desktop application - though not to users on their free plan. They also tell you to expect performance degradation after 2,500 items are added.&nbsp;
<h2 id="pricing">Pricing</h2>
Although all three password managers offer excellent features, the price factor will play a major role in determining which one is the best fit for you.
<h3 dir="ltr">Dashlane Pricing</h3>
$0 to $8.99 per user / month
Team plan: $5 per user / month
Business: $8 per user / month
<h3 dir="ltr">LastPass Pricing</h3>
Solo users and families: $0 to $4 per user / month
Teams: $4 per user / month
Business: $6 per user / month
<h3 dir="ltr">TeamPassword Pricing</h3>
$1.66 to $7.60 per user / month
Dashlane and Lastpass offer variable prices depending on your needs. They do offer free plans, which are great for individual users, but businesses will want more feature-rich options.&nbsp;
TeamPassword is designed for businesses, and this extends to pricing. TeamPassword offers its yearly plans for just $1.66 per user per month for the first six months. After six months, the cost rises to $4.16 per month per user, with additional discounts based on plan size.&nbsp;
As an example, TeamPassword offers Google SSO with all of its plans, whereas SSO is locked to the $8 and $6 plans for Dashlane and LastPass, respectively.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">Secure Your Passwords with TeamPassword</h2>
Dashlane, LastPass, and TeamPassword each have unique advantages and disadvantages. Dashlane stands out for its comprehensive security features, while LastPass offers many add-ons. Its security has come into question, however.&nbsp;
TeamPassword is the most cost-effective and easy-to-use option and is tailored specifically to the needs of teams and businesses.
Choosing the right password manager is entirely your decision. We&rsquo;ve outlined the pertinent differences related to a password manager for your business. Hopefully, you feel equipped to make the best decision for your needs!
Get started with a <a href="https://teampassword.com/pricing" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">free trial of TeamPassword</a> today!
Interested in how 1Password stacks up against Dashlane and TeamPassword? Check out our comparison&nbsp;<a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/dashlane-vs-1password-vs-teampassword" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp;

TeamPassword is here with a detailed comparison of Dashlane vs LastPass. Discover the differences between some of the top password managers on the market. Learn about their most unique features to help you choose the best one.

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You&rsquo;d be surprised how many businesses still haven&rsquo;t updated their software to the most recent, secure versions or how many don&rsquo;t even have antivirus software installed on their computers. If you manage employees, it&rsquo;s crucial that you understand the risks they face and how you can protect them from cyber threats.&nbsp;

Many different things could lead to <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/cybersecurity-the-most-important-topic-your-team-can-learn-about-this-year">potential security risks</a> for your business. Here are 5 of the biggest cybersecurity mistakes you should avoid to keep your company safe from cyber threats:
<h2>1. Failing to Train Employees on Cybersecurity</h2>
One of the most important things you can do as a manager is to <a href="https://www.chanty.com/blog/security-best-practices-for-remote-teams/">train your staff on cybersecurity</a>. This means they understand the risks they face and how to mitigate them.&nbsp;

You don&rsquo;t want to scare them, but you want to make sure they know how to protect themselves and the company from cyber threats. This can include understanding the latest <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/cybersecurity-complete-guide">hacking techniques</a> and how they&rsquo;re used to target businesses like yours, how ransomware works, how to avoid phishing (a common method hackers use to try to steal data), and more.&nbsp;

You can even ask your IT department to create a cybersecurity training module that all employees can access. This can help ensure that everyone knows the latest threats and knows what to do if something happens. Plus, it can help prevent employees from panicking when an incident does occur.
<h2>2. Using Outdated Hardware and Not Updating Software</h2>
If your employees use outdated hardware and software, that may put your business at risk. For example, if they&rsquo;re using computers with Windows 7, security patches for that version have stopped being released. That means that hackers could easily exploit any bugs that might be present in the software.&nbsp;

You don&rsquo;t want computers with outdated software on your network. This could increase your risk of malware infections and other security incidents. If possible, you should provide employees with the newest hardware and software.&nbsp;

If you&rsquo;re managing a large business, replacing every computer in the company might not be feasible. However, you can ensure your IT team is putting in the effort to keep computers secure. This means installing security patches and updating antivirus software regularly.
<h2>3. Not Changing Passwords</h2>
Employees might have habits that could put your company at risk. For example, some employees might have old habits from their personal lives, such as refusing to change their passwords. Or, they might be using a <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/top-5-dangerous-ways-to-store-your-passwords">password that&rsquo;s easy to guess</a>.&nbsp;

Hackers know that many people don&rsquo;t change their passwords regularly, so they try to target people who use the same password. If they get access to one of your employee&rsquo;s accounts, they can use it to try to get access to a lot of other accounts. You don&rsquo;t want this to happen to your business.&nbsp;

Make sure that all of your employees change passwords regularly. Ideally, they should be changing them every month. Consider implementing two-factor authentication (2FA) on your sensitive accounts. This means that employees must enter a unique code and <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">their password </a>to log in. 2FA makes it much harder for hackers to break into their accounts.
<h2>4. Storing Sensitive Data in the Cloud Without Encryption</h2>
If you&rsquo;re using the cloud for storage, you might have employees storing sensitive data there. While this can be useful for sharing documents with clients and partners, you must also ensure that information is safe. Some <a href="https://blog.internxt.com/best-private-cloud-storage/">cloud providers</a>, like Internxt, let you encrypt your data.&nbsp;

You could risk your business if you&rsquo;re storing sensitive data in the cloud without encryption. Hackers could access it if they get into the cloud account, which is very relevant to SaaS businesses and can be one of the <a href="https://blog.coupler.io/saas-challenges">SaaS management challenges</a>. This could lead to a breach that has severe financial and reputational consequences for your business.&nbsp;

You want to ensure you&rsquo;re storing sensitive data in the cloud with encryption. This way, even if a <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/cybersecurity-complete-guide">hacker gets into your account</a>, they won&rsquo;t be able to read your data. Some providers also charge less if you encrypt your data. So, it could actually be cheaper to use encryption than not.
<h2>5. Having No Processes for Detecting Breaches and Incidents</h2>
Another type of common cybersecurity mistake does not have processes in place to detect breaches and incidents. You might have employees who are logging in from unsecured computers. Or computers that have malware, viruses, or other programs installed that could lead to a breach. You might not even realize something has gone wrong until it&rsquo;s too late.
&nbsp;
You might have employees accidentally sharing sensitive material with the wrong person. Or someone who inadvertently sends sensitive information to the wrong person. You might have an employee falsifying data, or another malicious employee could be trying to frame someone else. You don&rsquo;t want to miss any of these things.&nbsp;

You want to make sure you&rsquo;re prepared for them so you can resolve the situation as quickly as possible. To do this, you can create a list of events you want to be aware of, such as a new computer being added to your network or someone logging in from an unusual IP address.
<h2>Managing Employees While Protecting Your Company Online</h2>
Finally, while you want to protect your business from cybersecurity mistakes, you also don&rsquo;t want to create a culture of fear. You don&rsquo;t want employees to be so scared of making a mistake that they stop taking any action at all.&nbsp;

Instead, make sure that you&rsquo;re providing resources for employees to learn about cybersecurity. And encourage them to ask questions if they don&rsquo;t understand something. You can also provide employees with the tools they need to protect themselves online.<a href="https://teampassword.com/features"> Password managers</a> are one of the best tools available to protect teams from cybersecurity threats. Also consider security services like antivirus software, a <a href="https://internxt.com/virus-scanner">virus scanner</a>, a <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">password strength checker</a>, or an add-on to help them avoid phishing attempts.&nbsp;

You must protect your company from cybersecurity mistakes, and you can only do so by being aware of the risks and putting in the effort to make sure those risks don&rsquo;t become real problems.
 Author bio: Mia Naumoska is a Chief Marketing Officer at <a href="https://internxt.com/">Internxt</a> - the world's most secure cloud storage. With over a decade of experience in marketing, Mia is responsible for Internxt&rsquo;s overall marketing strategy, managing a fantastic team of marketing experts. Feel free to connect with Mia on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mianaumoska/">LinkedIn</a>.

If you manage employees, it’s crucial that you understand the risks they face and how you can protect them from cyber threats.

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If you manage employees, it’s crucial that you understand the risks they face and how you can protect them from cyber threats. You’d be surprised how many businesses still haven’t updated their software or how many don’t have antivirus software installed on their computers.

We've all worked with agencies who don't have their processes together, causing projects to run over schedule and over budget. Password managers provide a built-in procedure for handling sensitive information so you can win clients&rsquo; trust and outperform the competition. Not all password managers are created with business security in mind. Make sure yours has the following features so that you're improving security&nbsp;and&nbsp;saving time.&nbsp;
<h2>Control Access</h2>
Follow two simple steps to ensure your team members have the up-to-date information they need, and clients feel secure knowing that only the people directly involved in their project have access to their information.
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Create an individual Group for the client where you&rsquo;ll store all their specific logins</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Add agency team members working on that client&rsquo;s account</li>
</ol>
<h2><img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/K8IRmYGKRDGsltcdm3Om" alt="undefined" width="335" height="261" class="butter-float-left" /></h2>
<h2>Generate Secure Passwords</h2>
Show clients that you take the threat of hacking very seriously. Utilizing <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">TeamPassword&rsquo;s password generator</a> to create long, randomized passwords for you and your clients adds yet another layer of security to protect your (and their) online information.
<h2>Store and Share Client Passwords Securely</h2>
I&rsquo;d hate to be the <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/2022-uber-breach#:~:text=In%20this%20case%2C%20one%20Uber%20contractor%20unknowingly%20allowed%20the%20hackers%20the%20access%20they%20needed." rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">contractor targeted</a> during the 2022 Uber data breach. In that instance, poor password hygiene opened the door for the cybercriminal to bully the contractor into giving up their multi-factor authentication code. Help your employees, your clients, and ultimately yourself by using a product built to share passwords securely. TeamPassword allows you to add and remove users with the click of a button.&nbsp;
<h2>Streamline Processes</h2>
With TeamPassword, we give you a centralized, client-friendly way to request logins so you can start providing value to your client (and start logging billable hours) immediately. Our streamlined process makes you look like the pro you are &mdash; and promises that you&rsquo;ll never waste your clients time having to go back to ask for passwords.
If you&rsquo;re interested in trying TeamPassword with a 14-day free trial, sign up <a href="https://www.teampassword.com/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">here</a>!

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<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/real-estate/our-insights/americans-are-embracing-flexible-work-and-they-want-more-of-it" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Remote work is becoming more popular</a> than ever. Employers realize the cost-saving and productivity-boosting benefits of having their teams out of the office and working from their homes, and things seem to be going well. However, one issue that continues to plague remote teams is the possibility of cybercrime and data breaches. Hackers know that remote employees are often not as equipped to thwart attacks and target them with a vengeance.&nbsp;
The solution is for management and administration to train and educate their teams on cybersecurity. Talk to your employees about what they can do to protect their company and the customers' data from the machinations of cybercriminals.&nbsp;
Let&rsquo;s get specific on how you will make this happen.
<h2>Cybersecurity Training Is Key</h2>
To start your team off on the right foot, your company should incorporate an extensive cybersecurity training program into your employee orientation schedule. This will give them the training they need from day one. <a href="https://www.wizer-training.com" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Wizer</a> is a great tool that provides effective and thorough cybersecurity training for teams.&nbsp;
<h3>Explain the Consequences of a Cyberattack</h3>
Remote employees have the best of intentions but may not realize the stakes of a breach at your organization. When working from the comfort of home, cyberthreats seem distant and it&rsquo;s easy to forget that anyone can be the weak link that allows a cyberattack to succeed.
During instruction, give the team a clear picture of what your organization and the individuals on your team will face if a breach does occur. Common consequences resulting from a breach are:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Reputational damage to the corporation that leads to job loss</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Corporate responsibility for millions of dollars of damages and fines resulting in lay-offs</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Legal repercussions that force the company to close its doors</li>
</ul>
The point is that cybersecurity is the responsibility of every employee, from the CEO to the mailroom clerk, and it&rsquo;s in everyone&rsquo;s best interest to protect the company and its future.&nbsp;
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/hvd8k1uISfeNd3yLAaud" alt="undefined" width="757" height="473" />
<h3>Confirm Employees&rsquo; Understanding</h3>
Once their cybersecurity training is complete, every employee should sign off on a memo stating that they understand the crucial nature of what they learned and may be held responsible if they fail to report a potential threat.
<h3>Revisit and Refresh Cybersecurity Training</h3>
Cybersecurity training is not one-and-done. As vulnerabilities get patched and people become wiser to common scams, cybercriminals adapt accordingly with ever more sophisticated attacks. When your IT team learns of a new cyber threat, management should require all employees to undergo supplemental training that prepares them to handle it appropriately.
<h3>Report Attempted Attacks</h3>
Every organization should have a designated cybersecurity point of contact. Ideally, this will be someone who has a background in cybersecurity or has at least taken additional training in cybersecurity best practices. When an employee receives a suspicious email or other suspected cyberattack, they should let the internal point of contact know immediately.&nbsp;
Employees can also help make the internet safer by reporting phishing attacks to organizations like the <a href="https://apwg.org/reportphishing/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG)</a> by forwarding phishing attack emails to <a href="mailto:reportphishing@apwg.org" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">reportphishing@apwg.org</a>. APWG, and groups like them, analyze and share data from reports to help stop cybercriminals before they can victimize others.&nbsp;
<h2>Talk About Sharing Data</h2>
Now that your remote team members understand the big picture, teach them where their data is shared and how to properly access, share, and use it to minimize risk.&nbsp;
<h3>Sharing Data on the Cloud</h3>
Almost all companies now use some form of cloud storage or service. A common example for most of us is our email account. Take Gmail: Google has floor space for servers and hardware and maintains all the software that allows you to log into your account from anywhere. Gmail is an example of a public cloud.&nbsp;
Your team should know the <a href="https://businessdegrees.uab.edu/blog/private-public-and-hybrid-clouds-whats-the-difference/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">differences between public, private, and hybrid clouds</a> and the associated risks in using each. Your IT department may have different policies for each type of service.
Public accounts are generally the least expensive but are also the least secure. A third party such as Google, Amazon, or Microsoft handles maintenance which frees up your IT team&rsquo;s time. In return, you sacrifice security and control.
Private servers are owned and maintained by a private organization. They offer your team greater security and flexibility, but the price can be prohibitive.&nbsp;
Hybrid cloud accounts are a combination of both public and private. An organization may use a public cloud for email but restrict sensitive data to a private cloud.&nbsp;
It is important to inform your teams that even with some protection on the cloud, they still need to keep watch for scams and inform management if they see anything suspicious.&nbsp;
<h3>User Access&nbsp;</h3>
Remote employees should know that not everyone in the organization is entitled to see and use the same data. Every employee should only have access to what they need to do their jobs and should not share information unless they are given the approval to do so.&nbsp;
To make this process easier to understand, consider creating an <a href="https://www.lucidchart.com/pages/tutorial/organizational-charts" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">organizational chart</a> that includes the title and clearance level of every employee. That way, when in doubt, your team can refer to the organizational chart and see what sensitive information can be passed to which team members.&nbsp;
<h2>Create and Follow Smart Security Practices</h2>
<h3>Off-Board Employees Properly</h3>
Note to management: when an employee leaves your organization, you must revoke their system access so an upset former worker can&rsquo;t get in and steal or manipulate your data. Having strong off-boarding procedures will simplify this process, while tools like a password manager can make it even easier.&nbsp;
<h3>Make Training Best Practices into Company Policy</h3>
When your team works remotely, it is difficult to monitor all of their computers for potential threats. Management should advise their teams of the strategies they must implement to protect their devices and their data at all times. Use the cybersecurity training you provide to establish clear policies and procedures everyone can follow. And revisit these regularly.
<h2>Use the Right Tools</h2>
<h3>Save Data on Backup Servers</h3>
In addition to keeping all corporate information on the main server, you should also have backup servers so that you can restore your information immediately in the event of a virus or ransomware attack. Don&rsquo;t forget to inform your team that the company&rsquo;s information is backed up; it can help put their mind at ease.
<h3>Invest in a Password Manager</h3>
Give your team a password manager to make it easy for everyone to use complex passwords that include a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special characters. <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-build-a-passphrase" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Building a strong passphrase</a> can also give them extra protection. Also, let them know the<a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/the-importance-of-responsible-password-management" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank"> importance of responsible password management</a>, including keeping passwords in encrypted environments and never sharing them via unsecured platforms such as email.&nbsp;
Managing passwords and logins can be a big hassle for busy companies with remote workers. At TeamPassword, we believe that passwords should be secure, easy to access, and, most importantly, reliable. Our easy-to-use, encrypted environment allows you to create, update, and access passwords anywhere. Your passwords are divided into different folders called Groups, so employees only see what they need.&nbsp;
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/W06bJ4BSoCDG7A7bhQ8Q" alt="undefined" width="535" height="474" />
Managing permissions for individual team members is a breeze. Should the time come that you need to revoke a user&rsquo;s access to all of your passwords, you can do so with the click of a button. Then, use the built-in password generator to create new strong passwords for every login.
<a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank"><img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/rAqIb5pdSBWEHxSGdpRT" alt="undefined" width="786" height="387" /></a>
<h3>Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN)</h3>
Employees who leave their homes to work at public places like coffee shops or restaurants need to be advised about the importance of not misplacing their devices and not logging onto public Wi-Fi unless they know it is a legitimate connection and not a fake network set up by a hacker. The best way to be sure is to ask an employee at the establishment. They should also install a virtual private network on their device; the VPN will automatically encrypt their information so it cannot be used even if it is stolen.
<h3>Install Anti-Virus Software</h3>
Finally, express the importance of installing and using up-to-date antivirus software on their systems. Employees should run scans multiple times weekly to catch an issue before it ravages their system. Your IT team should always ensure that your teams are updated to the newest version of their antivirus program, so they can be protected against the latest threats.
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
In the end, protecting the company against cyber threats is a team effort. Educating your remote employees about good cybersecurity is in everyone&rsquo;s best interest. Implement these tools and training, and keep your organization secure against cyberattacks.

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How to Talk to Remote Employees About Cybersecurity

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Password encryption is essential to store user credentials stored in a database securely. Without password encryption, anyone accessing a user database on a company's servers (including hackers) could easily view any stored passwords.
Even a strong 32-character password created using a <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">secure password generator</a> is useless without password-encryption! If someone can read your password on a server, they can use it simply by copy/pasting it&mdash;no matter how long or complicated the password might be!
Encryption scrambles your password before saving it on the server. So, if someone hacks the server, instead of finding password123, they find a random series of letters and numbers.
In this article, we're going to explore the world of password encryption, why <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/tips-and-tricks-to-create-a-strong-password">strong passwords matter</a>, and how you can practice better password management!
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<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a> is the password management solution for small businesses! Create, store, and share login credentials safely with employees, contractors, and clients. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> today!
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<h2>Understanding Password Encryption</h2>
To explain password encryption effectively, we must first grasp the language. Several terms might be unfamiliar, so here is a quick intro to password encryption terminology.
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Key: Used to lock and unlock passwords using a random string of bits. You get private and public keys that crypt and decrypt data differently, but we won't get too deep in the weeds with keys!</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Bits: A logical state with one of two possible values, including 1/0, true/false, yes/no, or on/off as typical examples.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Block (block cipher): A deterministic algorithm operating on fixed-length groups of bits, called blocks.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Hash function: The algorithm that uses the key to create password encryption and decryption. A hash function is essentially a piece of code that runs every time someone saves a password or logs into an application.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Hash: A random series of numbers and letters representing your password. The hash function uses your hash instead of the raw password for authentication.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Salt: Additional letters and numbers appended to the hash</li>
</ul>
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<h2>How Does Password Encryption Work?</h2>
When you save a new password, a hash function creates a hash version and saves that on the server.&nbsp;
Every time you log in using your password, the hash function recreates the hash to see if it matches what's stored. If the hashes match, the algorithm passes the authentication and logs you in.&nbsp;
For example:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Original password: Pa$$w0rd123</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Hashed password: 6AF1CE202340​FE71BDB914AD5357​E33A6982A63B</li>
</ul>
While this might seem secure, simple hashed passwords aren't hack-proof.
The hash function only creates a unique hash for each password, not each user. So, if multiple users have the password, Pa$$w0rd123, the hash will be exactly the same.
To overcome this encryption vulnerability, engineers salt passwords so each hash is unique, even if the passwords are identical.
<h3>How Salt Works</h3>
A salt appends a unique value of 8 bytes (16 characters) to the password before the hash function creates a hash. This way, even identical passwords are unique before the hash function.
For example:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Two identical passwords: Pa$$w0rd123</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Salt value one: E1F53135E559C253</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Salt value two: 84B03D034B409D4E</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Password one before hash: Pa$$w0rd123E1F53135E559C253</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Password two before hash: Pa$$w0rd12384B03D034B409D4E</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Password one hashed value (SHA256): 72AE25495A7981​C40622D49F9A52E4F15​65C90F048F59027BD9​C8C8900D5C3D8</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Password two hashed value (SHA256): B4B6603ABC670​967E99C7E7F1389E40​CD16E78AD38EB1468E​C2AA1E62B8BED3A</li>
</ul>
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<h2>5 Common Password Encryption Methods</h2>
<h3>1. Data Encryption Standard (DES)</h3>
While applications no longer use Data Encryption Standard (DES), it's important to mention this password encryption method because of its history and influence on more secure modern standards.
IBM developed DES as a 56-bit encryption technology in the early 1970s. The NSA adopted and improved DES before it was approved worldwide as the encryption standard.
However, since the late 70s, hackers have been able to break DES encrypted passwords. In 1999, ethical hackers managed to break a DES key in under 24 hours.&nbsp;
To make DES more secure, engineers created Triple DES and later Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), which we still use today.
<h3>2. Triple DES</h3>
Triple DES uses three 56-bit keys (blocks) to create 168-bit encryption (some security experts argue that Triple DES is only 112 bits strong). Although Triple-DES is slowly being phased out, many financial institutions still use it to encrypt ATM PINs.
<h3>3. Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)</h3>
AES is the new encryption standard&mdash;trusted by the United States Government and many other prominent organizations globally. At 128 bits, AES is sufficiently secure, but most organizations prefer heavy-duty 256-bit encryption.
At <a href="https://teampassword.com/security">TeamPassword</a>, we use 256-bit encryption to store passwords, ensuring the highest levels of security for our clients. We're also a <a href="https://teampassword.com/security">secure hosting provider</a> holding multiple security accreditations.
Hackers can only break an AES encrypted password through a brute-force attack&mdash;trying password combinations to find the right one.
To counter brute-force attacks, applications will lock an account after a certain number of attempts or use tools like Google's reCAPTURE.
<h3>4. Blowfish</h3>
American cryptographer, Bruce Schneier, designed Blowfish in 1993 as an antidote to the weak DES encryption. Blowfish uses a 64-bit block and variable key length of 32 to 448 bits.
Although Blowfish is more robust than its DES predecessor, the 64-bit block is still vulnerable to attacks, most commonly birthday attacks&mdash;a cryptographic attack that exploits the mathematics behind the algorithm.
To solve Blowfish vulnerabilities, engineers created Twofish in 1998 (128-bit blocks with 256-bit keys) and Threefish in 2008 (256, 516, 1024-bit blocks with 256, 516, 1024-bit keys).
<h3>5. Rivest-Shamir-Adleman (RSA)</h3>
RSA is one of the oldest and widely used to transfer data securely. The encryption works with two keys, two large prime numbers, and an additional auxiliary value.
Due to the complicated encrypting and decrypting process, there is no known method for breaking RSA encryption.&nbsp;
Although widely used for transferring data, RSA is slow and not suitable for password encryption.
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<h2>Why Strong Passwords Matter</h2>
Password encryption can only prevent criminals from viewing saved credentials stored on a server&mdash;but cannot prevent hackers from guessing weak/commonly used passwords. If you <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/colonial-pipeline-ransomware-attack-dont-reuse-passwords">reuse the same password for multiple accounts</a>, this also puts you at risk!
Encryption is most effective when users create robust, unique passwords for every account. For example, a random 32-character password with letters, numbers, and special characters hashed and salted is near impossible to guess or decode, even using a computer!
In another scenario, let's assume you have a strong 32-character password, but you use it for every account. If hackers manage to steal that password, they have access to every account using the same credentials! Your strong password is effectively useless.
<h3>Improving Your Password Management</h3>
Now that you understand password encryption and the associated vulnerabilities, you can see why strong passwords are essential.
Effective password management is crucial to protect yourself against cyberattacks or in the highly likely event of a data breach where hackers steal your credentials.
Criminals are after the low-hanging fruit&mdash;people who use weak passwords!
5 tips for creating stronger passwords:
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Create strong passwords for every account. The easiest way to do this is using a password generator. <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">TeamPassword has a free password generator</a> anyone can use to create passwords from 12-32 characters using uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and special characters. We recommend creating passwords as long as the application will allow.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Never create passwords shorter than eight characters, with 12 being our recommended minimum.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Never reuse the same password for multiple accounts.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Never create passwords with your name, family member's names, or pet's names. With social media, this information is freely available. Criminals can add those names to algorithms for brute-force attacks.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Don't store passwords in digital notepads or spreadsheets. We recommend using a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager like TeamPassword</a> to create and store your credentials.</li>
</ol>
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<h2>Why You Need a Password Manager like TeamPassword</h2>
We have so many accounts these days; it's almost impossible to create unique, memorable, secure passwords for each one. A password manager solves this problem.
Instead of remembering the credentials for every account, you only need to memorize the one to log into your password manager.&nbsp;
TeamPassword keeps all of your credentials safely stored and encrypted, so you never have to memorize a password again. Instead of entering your credentials, you use one of TeamPassword's browser extensions (Chrome, Firefox, and Safari) to log into accounts.
<h3>Built for Teams</h3>
TeamPassword's best feature is its ability to share credentials with team members securely. Instead of sharing passwords, you provide access through TeamPassword.&nbsp;
Employees <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">use TeamPassword</a> to log in, meaning you never share raw passwords&mdash;no more worrying about unauthorized access or sharing.
You can create groups in TeamPassword to share access with employees, clients, contractors, and freelancers. When someone no longer needs access, remove them from the group with a single click. No need to change passwords every time someone leaves a project!
<h3>Built-In Password Generator</h3>
TeamPassword features a built-in secure password manager so you can create robust passwords for every account. TeamPassword also ensures you never reuse the same credentials so that you won't fall victim to credential stuffing attacks!
With a built-in password generator, you can change passwords regularly, and TeamPassword will update the new credentials for all users!
<h3>Monitor Login Activity</h3>
TeamPassword's activity log keeps track of every action across all of your accounts&mdash;logins, password changes, new team members, sharing access, and more.
You can also set up email notifications for all TeamPassword actions so that you can react fast to any suspicious activity.
<h3>Get Your Free TeamPassword Trial</h3>
Password encryption is not enough to protect your business from password vulnerabilities! You need a robust password manager like TeamPassword to create, store, and share credentials securely.
&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.

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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

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