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!
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<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>
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<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 will send 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. Cybercriminals know that if they keep trying, they'll catch you when you're distracted or in a hurry.&nbsp;
In effect, unique usernames act as a second password, preventing anyone from finding your accounts with a single username.
What are some username mistakes that could put you at risk?
Don't use easy-to-guess information that could be found elsewhere on the web or sensitive info such as your social security or phone number.&nbsp;
<h4>What should not be included in a username so that it's secure?</h4>
<ol>
<li>
Personal Information: Avoid using any personal information such as your real name, date of birth, or address as part of your username.
</li>
<li>
Passwords or PINs: Do not use your passwords, PINs or other sensitive information as your username.
</li>
<li>
TMI: Do not include too much information that could potentially give away your identity, such as your phone number or email address.
</li>
<li>
Phishing Traps: Do not include any words or phrases that could be used in phishing attempts, such as "password", "admin", "login", etc.
</li>
</ol>
<h3></h3>
<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.
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<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.
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<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!
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<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>
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<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.
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<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" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">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" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">TeamPassword</a>.
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">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!

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

As cyberattacks continue to increase and criminals find new methods for breaching networks, regular security audits are crucial to securing company, client, and user data.
Companies can conduct a security audit themselves, but it's usually best to hire a professional cybersecurity firm. Outsourcing a security audit will expose vulnerabilities your IT department might not consider while testing systems against the latest hacking techniques.
Part of a security audit is testing an organization's password management. Using an encrypted password manager like TeamPassword can mitigate password vulnerabilities. Sign up for a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">14-day free trial to test TeamPassword</a> with your team today!
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<h2>What is a Security Audit?</h2>
A security audit (also referred to as an information security audit or IT audit) assesses an organization's data security by looking for physical, technical, and administrative vulnerabilities.
Cybersecurity auditors conduct scans and penetration tests to expose security loopholes or where attackers might breach the organization's systems.
A professional security audit will conduct more than a thousand tests (sometimes thousands of tests) to thoroughly inspect the organization.
Auditors produce a security audit report on completion with recommendations for security upgrades, training, and other cybersecurity considerations.
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<h2>Why Are Security Audits Important?</h2>
Like any technology, cybersecurity is constantly evolving to prevent attacks. Cybercriminals and <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/category/hacking-groups">advanced persistent threats</a> are continually working to develop new tools and techniques to find vulnerabilities.
A system or tool that prevented a cyberattack five years ago might not be effective today.
A security audit effectively looks at an organization from a criminal's point of view&mdash;examining flaws and weaknesses where one might launch an attack.
Organizations also have to ensure they comply with ever-changing regulations to stay compliant. In some cases, a security audit might be a regulatory requirement to protect consumer data.
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<h2>How Often Should an Organization Conduct a Security Audit?</h2>
The frequency of security audits depends on many factors, including the organization's size, industry, data sensitivity, state/federal regulations, and corporate structure, to name a few examples.
For example, financial services and healthcare providers might have to conduct security audits several times a year, with lots of smaller vulnerability sweeps in between.
Most small to medium-sized companies that don't handle sensitive data will conduct security audits at least once or twice a year. While bigger corporations and multinationals will carry out more frequent security audits&mdash;monthly or quarterly.
Some national and multinationals might have separate security audits at different tiers of the organization:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Organization-wide security audits</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Regional security audits</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Location/site security audits</li>
</ul>
In some cases, departments within an organization will conduct security audits separately from the rest of the company. For example, the accounts department will have completely different systems, data storage, and communication channels than the logistics department.
While security audits are essential to protect an organization against attacks, they also require valuable time and resources. So, monthly or quarterly audits might be all a company can realistically afford.
<h3>When an Organization MUST Conduct a Security Audit</h3>
There are instances where an organization must conduct a security audit or seriously consider the risk of not performing an audit!
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">After a data breach&mdash;or if a significant supplier/contractor/client experienced a data breach</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Network or system upgrade</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Data migration</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Implementation of new legislation</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">New system/software implementation (CMS, ERP, CRM, etc.)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Significant workforce or department expansions</li>
</ul>
These are just a few examples where companies might introduce new vulnerabilities. Organizations should always consider a security audit after significant changes or rapid growth cycles.
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<h2>Security Audit Process</h2>
Security audits follow a structured process to ensure auditors fully understand the organization and how it operates.
A typical audit process happens in four steps:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Security audit plan &amp; preparation</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Security Audit objectives</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Conducting the security audit</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Compiling a security audit report</li>
</ul>
<h3>Audit Plan &amp; Preparation</h3>
During audit planning and preparation, auditors will meet with the relevant stakeholders to educate themselves about the business and its audit objectives.
During the audit preparation, audits might consider a few key points:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">The company's organizational chart</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Departmental management</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Review job descriptions</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Credential management</a> and access</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Review &amp; research systems, software, equipment, etc.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Review company policies&mdash;IT, cybersecurity, data processing</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Evaluate cybersecurity &amp; IT budgets</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Review IT &amp; cybersecurity disaster recovery plans</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Consider industry and geographic standards (HIPAA, CCPA, GDPR, etc.)</li>
</ul>
As you can imagine, audit planning and preparation can take auditors considerable time to complete for a large organization!
Auditors will also assess previous security audits to identify areas for review.&nbsp;
<h3>Audit Objectives</h3>
With research complete, auditors outline the security audit's objectives to align with the organization and its audit goals. The auditors will define each test including tools required, the methodology, KPIs, and other factors.
The audits&rsquo; objectives will also include the security baseline auditors must test against to measure a pass or fail.&nbsp;
The organization or its IT/cybersecurity head will review the objectives and sign off for the auditors to continue.
<h3>Conducting the Security Audit</h3>
Auditors take great care to document every action and result during a security audit. This documentation will help prepare the security audit report and allow auditors to double-check and review their work.
While conducting a security audit, auditors will assess many critical vulnerabilities:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Team members: training, ability to spot suspicious activity, do they follow security policies, possible insider threats, <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/why-do-i-need-a-password-manager">password management</a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Premises vulnerabilities: gate security, physical access points, restricted areas, natural disaster response, fire safety, etc.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Devices: what devices employees use, antivirus, spam filters, external hard drives, WiFi routers, servers, etc.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Data security: physical data center access, employee access levels, data backups, firewalls, antivirus</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Software: test known manufacturer vulnerabilities</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Cyberattack simulations: social engineering, DDoS attacks, phishing, brute force attacks, malware, trojans, ransomware, etc.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Compiling a Security Audit Report</h3>
The final step in the security audit process is compiling and delivering the final report. The security audit report details test results along with the auditor's findings and recommended actions.
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<h2>Types of Security Audits</h2>
There are three types of security audits:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Black Box Security Audit</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">White Box Security Audit</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Grey Box Security Audit</li>
</ul>
<h3>Black Box Security Audit</h3>
For a black box security audit, auditors simulate real-world external attacks. Auditors will assess an organization from an outsider's perspective using publicly available information&mdash;similar to a typical hacker's approach.
<h3>White Box Security Audit</h3>
White box security audits provide auditors with in-depth knowledge of the organization&mdash;similar to an employee's access.
The purpose of a white box security audit is to simulate an insider threat scenario where a contractor or employee supports or carries out an attack.
White box security audits are more thorough than black-box audits because auditors have access to more systems and data.
<h3>Grey Box Security Audit</h3>
A grey box security audit gives auditors enough information to complete specific tests against systems, departments, or employees.&nbsp;
Grey box security audits are excellent for exposing social engineering vulnerabilities&mdash;where attackers might steal enough company data to target a specific employee or department.
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<h2>Team Members - A Organization's First Line of Defense</h2>
An organization's first line of defense is its employees. Even with the most expensive and sophisticated cybersecurity tools and protocols, inadequate training will expose cyber security vulnerabilities.
For example, the <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/what-happened-with-the-cam4-data-leak">CAM4 leak in 2020</a> exposed 11 billion records with emails and hashed passwords because an employee misconfigured an internal database!
Even at large organizations, employees fall for phishing attacks, exposing their credentials to attackers. A perfect example is the <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/what-happened-during-the-twitter-spear-phishing-attack">2020 Twitter spear-phishing attack</a> where a 17-year-old managed to trick low-level employees into sharing their credentials over the phone.
Educating employees about cybersecurity vulnerabilities is crucial to preventing attacks. Security audits help to determine if that training is effective!
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<h2>Improving Password Management</h2>
Your company's passwords provide the keys to your systems and networks. Protecting credentials must be your employee's top cybersecurity priority.
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword is a robust password manager</a> designed to store your company's credentials while providing a safe way for employees to share passwords.
TeamPassword is an accredited secure hosting provider using state-of-the-art encryption technology to store your company's passwords. Not even TeamPassword employees can view passwords, making it impossible for attackers to steal your credentials.
Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds a second layer of security to your TeamPassword account. Even if someone steals an employee's TeamPassword credentials, 2FA will prevent access.
Track logins, <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-safely-share-passwords-with-coworkers">credential sharing</a>, password changes, and more using TeamPassword's activity tracker. You can also set up email notifications for instant alerts to any TeamPassword action.
Weak passwords and reusing credentials pose a severe security risk. TeamPassword's built-in secure password generator ensures you create strong, unique passwords for every account.
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<h2>Getting Started With TeamPassword</h2>
Sign up for a free 14-day TeamPassword trial to secure your company's credentials from attackers.
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a TeamPassword account</a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Add your team to TeamPassword</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Create groups to share access only to those who need it</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Ensure employees set up 2FA&mdash;TeamPassword uses Google Authenticator, available on iOS and Android devices</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Employees install their preferred TeamPassword browser extension&mdash;we support Chrome, Firefox, and Safari</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Employees log in using the browser extensions, so you never share or expose passwords</li>
</ol>
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With an effective password management solution, your company won't fail credential tests during a security audit. Let <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword protect your company's credentials</a>, so you can focus on growing your business!

Learn how a Security Audit can protect your business. Why you need them, how often to get them, and the different types available to you.

Learn how a Security Audit can protect your business. Why you need them, how often to get them, ...

What is a Security Audit and Does My Business Need One?

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.
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<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.
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<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 authorized user 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.
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<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;
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<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;
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<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.
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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.
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<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.
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<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;
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<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

With the fast-growing gig economy and websites like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer, agencies can now offer a wide range of marketing and creative services with just a handful of full-time employees.
While this new age of distributed workforces enables startups to be competitive while empowering remote workers and freelancers, it does expose businesses and their clients to potential data security risks.
These data security risks involve basic <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password management</a> for most companies, but for others, there's the risk of exposing customer data and possibly contradicting data privacy laws.
Here are 10 things to consider to keep data secure when you&rsquo;re a business with a lot of remote workers and freelancers.
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If you are working with freelancers try Teampassword for <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" rel="follow">14 days for free</a>
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<h2>Evaluate Risk &amp; Assign Data Security Protocols</h2>
Businesses working with remote workers and freelancers must evaluate levels of risk and the associated protocols.&nbsp;
For example, it might be ok for teams to log in to social media accounts remotely, but accessing client databases or financial information must only be accessed by vetted full-time employees working on a secure company network.
Once you set up these data protection protocols, you can determine which projects, tasks, and clients are for internal teams and which you can outsource to remote workers and freelancers.
It's important to note that these levels of security are guidelines and not a one-size-fits-all approach. While <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/secure-password-sharing">secure password sharing</a> might be enough for some clients, high-risk multi-national organizations might require that only vetted, full-time employees on a secure company network access its accounts and systems.
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<h2>Limiting Access</h2>
Part of evaluating your data security risks is determining who needs access to tools and apps.&nbsp;
For example, if you use software to manage social media, is it necessary to give freelancers access to social media channels? Does a copywriter need access to your CMS, or can they submit articles via Microsoft Word or Google Docs? Should you give marketers access to analytics software or generate the reports they need and share via Excel or Sheets?
Even if your password management is watertight, companies must prioritize limiting access to tools and applications over convenience.
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<h2>Creating Access Levels</h2>
Another consideration within an organization is creating access levels for apps, tools, and access to data. Companies must treat every element of the organization on a need-to-know basis to minimize leaks and breaches.
With a tool like TeamPassword, these access levels can be associated with our groups and sharing feature, so there is no confusion over who is allowed access to what&mdash;especially when it comes to freelancer security policies.
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<h2>Educating Team Members About Data Security</h2>
Cybersecurity training is an essential part of mitigating potential data security risks. Depending on your security protocols, training might extend to freelancers.
Due to the ever-changing landscape of technology and cybercrimes, companies must keep employees and freelancers up-to-date with the latest scams and attacks. You might even consider a dedicated Slack channel or cybersecurity wiki to keep teams informed of the latest scams and attacks.
Companies should also educate teams about reacting to a breach or attack, such as shutting down servers, going offline, and communication protocols.
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<h2>Common Types of Data Breaches in 2021</h2>
The baseline for any data security training is for employees to understand two of the most common types of data breaches in 2021.&nbsp;
<h3>Malware Email or Messaging Attacks</h3>
With malware email attacks, cybercriminals send seemingly mundane messages or emails containing malicious links or file downloads.&nbsp;
Once the link or download is activated, criminals have complete access to a device, emails, messages, and any saved login credentials. The problem with these sorts of attacks is criminals can monitor a device indefinitely without being detected.
Many businesses will regularly test employees by sending "spoofed" emails and messages to see if anyone takes the bait. Employees who fail these tests must be retrained to ensure they're fully aware of malware scams and tactics.
<h3>Phishing</h3>
Phishing or social-engineering attacks are one of the most common cyber threats to companies and individuals. Cybercriminals will attempt to direct an individual to a site or app they think is legitimate to enter login credentials or personal information.
Using a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager like TeamPassword</a> eliminates the need for an employee to enter login credentials, reducing the risk of employees falling victim to phishing scams. Companies should also limit access to surfing the net and block access to sites without Secure Sockets Layer (SSL/HTTPS).
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<h2>Freelancers and Remote Works on Public Networks</h2>
One of the most significant issues companies face is how teams connect to the Internet. The romanticized notion of teams working from coffee shops poses a severe risk for data security. It's impossible to know who's monitoring a public network or if anyone is looking over a team member's shoulder while they work.
Policies around working on public WiFi come down to educating teams about potential risks. A strict VPN policy is an excellent first step. Still, employees should also be aware of their surroundings, people sitting near them, mirrors, CCTV cameras, and never leaving their computers or devices unattended.
Companies might also want to consider allocating portable WiFi devices to remote team members. While these devices are not entirely secure, it is better to be on a mobile network than public WiFi.
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<h2>Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM)</h2>
Businesses can control the access they give remote teams and freelancers working on their own devices through an effective Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) policy.&nbsp;
EMM enables IT admins to monitor and manage both company and personal devices to corporate data security and protect sensitive data. These security management systems also allow IT departments to monitor a team member's WiFi network, determine its safety, and react to any suspicious activity. IT admins can remotely lock or wipe the device if a team member's device is lost or stolen.
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<h2>Regulations for Freelancer Security</h2>
Businesses must also consider the regulatory requirements of countries and states. In the United States, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is one of the only national data protection policies protecting against the access and sharing of health-related data.
California has one of the strictest data privacy regulations under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). The act goes beyond health-related data to protect every consumer across all industries.&nbsp;
Businesses contravening the CCPA face hefty fines and may be subject to class-action lawsuits. The act protects consumer's rights, affording them to:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Know what data organizations collect about them</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Opt-out of data sales to third parties</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Access and download data collected about them</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Transfer their data to a different service</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Delete their data</li>
</ul>
US States implementing similar regulations include:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Vermont</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Alabama</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">South Dakota</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Arizona</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Colorado</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Oregon</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Virginia</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">New Jersey</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Rhode Island</li>
</ul>
With heightened awareness around <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/the-scariest-data-breaches-of-all-time">data breaches</a> and cybercrime, we will likely see similar laws passed at the federal level soon.
<h3>General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)</h3>
Europe's GDPR is the strictest privacy law globally and will likely become the global standard for other nations to model data protection regulations.
GDPR doesn't just protect EU consumers but anyone trading with EU merchants or even travelers passing through the region. The laws also extend to the hiring of remote workers and freelancers.
Leaking an email database or <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/top-five-mistakes-when-sharing-passwords-with-your-team">negligent password management</a> could see fines of as much as &euro;10 million or 2 percent of a company's annual revenue.
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<h2>Robust Password Management</h2>
If you need to give freelancers access to shared tools or apps, then a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager</a> is essential. In fact, password managers must be used whenever you share login credentials for apps, tools, and accounts, even for internal staff members.
TeamPassword allows companies to <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-safely-share-passwords-with-coworkers">share passwords with coworkers safely</a>. By installing a browser extension, team members never see passwords, mitigating the risk of <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/prevent-password-theft-from-ex-employees">password theft</a> or unauthorized sharing and access.
5 reasons to use TeamPassword when working with remote teams and freelancers:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Secure Password Generator - With a secure password generator, you never have to worry about team members creating weak passwords or sharing credentials across tools or applications. TeamPassword's secure password generator allows you to create passwords up to 32 characters long with uppercase, lowercase, symbols, and numbers.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Groups &amp; Sharing - Instead of sharing a username and password, you can add team members and freelancers to a TeamPassword group with access to a specific tool or app. Teams never see login credentials, and you can remove a team member with a single click.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">2-Step Verification (2FA) - <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/password-manager-with-2fa">2FA</a> is essential for remote teams and freelancers. With 2FA, you reduce password breaches like credential stuffing, phishing, and brute force attacks, to name a few. 2FA is also effective against prying eyes in public spaces like coffee shops.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Activity and Logging - Effective password management also requires that companies manage activity logs to react immediately to unauthorized access and sharing. Activity logs also help when investigating breaches.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Email Notifications - TeamPassword alerts managers via email to any action or activity&mdash;a vital feature for monitoring data protection and access to sensitive tools and applications.</li>
</ul>
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Secure your data, tools, and apps with advanced secure encryption technology from TeamPassword. Start your <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">free trial</a> and mitigate freelancer security risks and password sharing with <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a>.

Freelancers can now offer creative services with just a handful of employees, but how do you keep your data safe when working with them?

Freelancers can now offer creative services with just a handful of employees, but how do you keep your ...

keeping data secure when working with Freelancers

Keeping Data Secure When Working With Freelancers

The rise of the gig economy has changed marketing and creative agencies. Gone are the days where agencies employ huge teams of full-time staff. Modern agencies are now small, opting to hire freelancers as and when needed.
This reliance on freelancers and remote workers has increased the necessity for sharing tools with teammates, including remote workers and freelancers. While these kinds of marketing agencies can be incredibly profitable and productive, sharing access to tools and apps does introduce security vulnerabilities for your business and clients.
In this article, we're going to explore some of the best-shared tools for companies&nbsp;<a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/teampassword-for-every-department">working with remote teams</a> and how you can minimize your risk by using a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">secure password manager</a>.
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To keep your Data safe while working with freelancers give TeamPassword with their <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Free Trial</a>
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<h2>Document Sharing with Remote Teams &amp; Freelancers</h2>
Document sharing is one of the most common tools agencies use to distribute files with team members. Teams need shared access to PDFs, word documents, images, videos, creative assets, and more.&nbsp;
These are our top four free document-sharing tools for marketing agencies.
<h3>Google Drive</h3>
Google Drive is one of the most accessible and free methods for teams to share documents with freelancers. Most people worldwide have a Gmail address, and if they don't, anyone can sign up for an account within minutes.
The great thing about Google Drive is that teams can also share access to Docs and Sheets beyond sharing files, making it a versatile collaborative tool.
<h3>Dropbox</h3>
Dropbox is another convenient and free document-sharing tool. While Dropbox also provides document collaboration functionality, it's not as user-friendly as Google Drive.&nbsp;
<h3>Microsoft OneDrive</h3>
For teams using Office 365, then the obvious choice for document sharing is Microsoft OneDrive. OneDrive has a free plan offering up to 5 GB of storage so that teams can share access with freelancers too.
The downside to OneDrive is that you can only share access to Excel and Word with users who have a paid Office 365 subscription.
<h3>Zoho Docs</h3>
Zoho Docs provides free sharing for teams of up to 25 people with 5GB of free storage. The user experience is similar to Google Drive, but their mobile apps have limited features. Zoho Docs integrates well with other Zoho products, so it makes the most sense if your agency already uses Zoho Mail.
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<h2>Project Management</h2>
Staying on top of project management is crucial when managing remote teams and freelancers. Unfortunately, you're unlikely to find decent project management tools for free, but they're usually inexpensive, even for large teams.
Here are three popular project management tools when working with remote teams and freelancers.
<h3>Asana</h3>
Asana is one of the most comprehensive and intuitive project management tools. Navigating your way around Asana is easy, and because it's so widely used, many freelancers are familiar with the platform.
<h3>Monday.com</h3>
Monday.com is another popular, widely used project management tool for remote teams. Like Asana, the intuitive user experience makes it easy for anyone to jump in and start working immediately.
While Monday.com and Asana both offer free plans and are evenly priced, the latter is a couple of dollars more expensive per paid seat on their cheapest plan.
<h3>Notion</h3>
Notion provides a minimalist layout, similar to a word or spreadsheet document, making it the most accessible project management tool on the market. What makes Notion especially great for teams with freelancers is the ability to create Wikis.&nbsp;
Wikis are fantastic for outlining brand guidelines, standard operating procedures, and general how-to guides for new team members and freelancers.

<h2>Invoicing Apps for Teams</h2>
One of the most challenging elements of working with marketing or creative teams is time tracking and invoicing, especially when hiring freelancers all charging different rates.&nbsp;
If you're working with freelance accountants, you want to ensure you have complete control over who has access to your software and restrict any unauthorized sharing. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a> is fantastic for sharing apps with sensitive data. You can control an individual's login credentials, monitor activity logs, and get email notifications when users log in or share access.
<h3>Hubstaff</h3>
Hubstaff is an excellent invoicing tool for agencies needing to track and invoice hours, with tons of integrations to keep track of expenses across multiple sharing tools and apps.&nbsp;
Team members can install the Hubstaff app and log hours working on various tasks and projects. From the Hubstaff dashboard, you can monitor individual performance, hours billed by department, and hours attributed to projects.
Hubstaff will also capture your freelancer's invoices and allow you to bill customers.
<h3>Zoho Invoice</h3>
If your agency uses Zoho Mail, then Zoho Invoice will make the most sense. Like Zoho Docs, Zoho Invoice integrates the entire Zoho suite, making financial workflows and sharing easy and efficient.
Zoho invoice is fantastic for tracking team member's time and invoicing clients. The Client Portal supports multiple payment gateway integrations making it easy for clients to log in and pay invoices.
<h3>FreshBooks</h3>
FreshBooks has been around for more than 20 years, and it's one of the most widely used invoicing software for small businesses and agencies. While FreshBooks is designed for small companies, it's a fully comprehensive invoicing software designed to scale as your business grows.
FreshBooks allows unlimited time tracking with powerful reporting and analytics so you can monitor projects and expenses accurately.
<h3>Xero</h3>
Xero is comprehensive accounting software with advanced features like tax filing, payroll, project management, and a ton of integrations. A paid add-on called Xero Projects provides time and job tracking.
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<h2>Creative Tools for Teams</h2>
If you're working with designers and content creators, you'll need to share access to your creative apps. While many of these apps have free plans, teams often require paid plans.&nbsp;
If your freelancers don't have a paid version, you might have to share your username and password, which isn't ideal. To share login credentials safely, you need a tool like TeamPassword. You can give access to freelancers via TeamPassword, and they can use one of many <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/teampassword-browser-extensions-save-you-even-more-time">browser extensions</a> to sign in.
<h3>Canva</h3>
Canva is extremely popular for creating social media content. The intuitive drag-and-drop builder and a vast library of assets allow creators to create content that's on-brand every time.
Canva has excellent features for teams allowing collaborators to work on the same design together for effective and efficient workflows.
<h3>Adobe</h3>
Adobe has a massive product range with software for every creative project. Adobe Spark is almost identical to Canva and forms part of Adobe's Photography plan.
Like Canva, you can invite teams to collaborate in Adobe Spark and upload client brand assets, making it a perfect tool for agencies.
Aside from Canva, Adobe has powerful tools like Illustrator, Photoshop, Lightroom, and more to design logos, edit images, and much more.
<h3>Figma</h3>
Figma is one of the hottest tools for designing apps and websites. The app is optimized for collaboration with the ability to add comments to artboards and elements. Many creators also use Figma to create logos, icons, and other components.
<h3>Envato Elements</h3>
Envato is a massive library of creative assets, including stock images and video, icons, logo templates, CMS themes, and much more.&nbsp;
You must have a paid plan to use <a href="https://elements.envato.com/" rel="follow">Envato Elements</a>, so you will need to share a single username and password with multiple team members. When sharing tools like Envato Elements, it's crucial agencies use a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager</a>.&nbsp;
With TeamPassword, you can grant or remove team members with a few clicks, perfect for a tool like Envato Elements and other asset libraries teams might need access to.
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<h2>Video Creation &amp; Editing Tools</h2>
Video creation is a big part of content strategies for social media platforms. Unfortunately, video apps and tools are expensive, and many freelancers don't have plans for every service, meaning you will likely need to <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-safely-share-passwords-with-coworkers">share login credentials</a>.
<h3>Lumen5</h3>
Lumen5 is an excellent video maker for creators who might not have professional video editing skills. The app comes with templates for Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn ready to go.
Unless you're willing to pay $200 for Lumen5's Pro plan, you'll only have one user login. While Lumen5 lacks collaboration features, it is a powerful app for creating video content fast.
<h3>Vimeo</h3>
Vimeo not only hosts video content, but they also have an excellent video maker with similar features to Canva. Vimeo Video Maker has thousands of templates for most social media platforms, including a vast library of assets to customize your designs.
Vimeo is a paid app, so you will need to share access using a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager</a> with team members and freelancers.&nbsp;
<h3>InVideo</h3>
InVideo is a unique video maker because it supports 70+ languages, perfect for agencies with diverse, multinational teams. The layout and dashboard are similar to Canva, making InVideo an easy app to use.
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<h2>Keyword Research</h2>
SEO writing requires keyword research and analysis. The problem with keyword research is they're expensive, and freelancers rarely have their own plans. Agencies almost always have to share login credentials with team members and freelancers, which is the perfect job for <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a>.
<h3>SEMRUSH</h3>
SEMRUSH is a powerful keyword research and marketing tool. The app allows copywriters to dive deep into keywords and optimize content plans for articles.
SEMRUSH also allows PPC team members to research keywords and analyze paid ad campaigns.
<h3>Ahrefs</h3>
Ahrefs is another amazing keyword research tool and a favorite for content marketers. The app allows copywriters to explore the highest-ranking websites in search results to analyze competitors and look for opportunities. You can also perform SEO audits to evaluate the health of your website and make improvements.
<h3>Ubersuggest</h3>
Until 2020, Ubersuggest was 100% free. Unfortunately, that's no longer the case, but the plans are still very competitive compared to other keyword research tools.
While Ubersuggest is not as comprehensive as Ahrefs or SEMRUSH, it provides copywriters with many of the core tools required to create content, including a Chrome extension to analyze websites on the fly.
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<h2>Sharing Tools With Teammates Securely</h2>
Throughout this article, we've featured tools and apps your team members, including freelancers, will need access to. Using a password manager like TeamPassword will allow you to share tools and apps safely.

Protect your agency's passwords and sign up for a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">free TeamPassword trial</a> today.

With the rise of reliance on freelance workers with companies. What are the best tools so you can have a seamless workflow while being safe?

With the rise of reliance on freelance workers with companies. What are the best tools so you can ...

Freelancer Workflow With Shared Tools

The modern workforce is a diverse mix of full-time and freelance talent from around the world. Some freelancers are hired to complete a specific task, while others work as part of your team for months or years.
Data sharing is a crucial element for these modern teams but creates security vulnerabilities for companies to manage. Being mindful of data sensitivity and limiting what you share with freelancers is key to avoiding breaches and, in some regions, maintaining data compliance regulations.
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try the <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">free trial</a>&nbsp;and see what TeamPassword can do for you.
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<h2>What is Remote Data Sharing?</h2>
Remote data sharing is the act of <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">sharing passwords</a>, files (images, documents, etc.), client data, company data, and any other information required for teams outside of your secure business network to complete tasks and projects.
Data sharing is an unavoidable element for modern workforces, but many businesses still fail to mitigate <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/secure-remote-team">security risks for remote teams</a>.
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<h2>Managing Remote Data Sharing with Freelancers</h2>
While remote data sharing with freelancers might seem complicated, companies can minimize their risks significantly by implementing some basic data security protocols.
<h3>Categorize Projects by Security Level</h3>
Before companies even consider sharing data with freelancers, it's crucial first to create security levels and protocols. Once these standard operating procedures are in place, team members will have a basis for how and when to share data.
Security designations might include:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Sensitive</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Confidential</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Private</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Proprietary</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Public</li>
</ul>
Each project or task must receive one of these labels, so team members know what the protocols are for sharing:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Over company networks</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Within internal teams</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">To remote teams</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">To freelancers &amp; contractors</li>
</ul>
Companies might also consider creating "separation of duties" policies for highly sensitive tasks and projects.
<h3>Sharing Customer Information with Freelancers</h3>
When it comes to customer data, businesses must exercise the strictest "need to know" policies and procedures, especially when it comes to small businesses and agencies.
More than 70% of all cyber-attacks target small businesses, often using these companies as a conduit to larger organizations. So, sharing customer information with freelancers must be as limited as possible.
<h3>Sharing Login Details</h3>
The first rule for sharing login details is never to share login details. The only secure way to share passwords is with a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager like TeamPassword</a>.
With TeamPassword, you can add freelancers to groups giving them access to specific apps and tools. Once their task is complete, you can remove them again with one click.
With TeamPassword, you'll never expose login details, not even to your most trusted employees. By using a password manager, companies can eliminate <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-safely-share-passwords-with-coworkers">credential sharing</a>, one of the leading causes of data breaches.
<h3>Never Share Personal Customer Data</h3>
Under no circumstances should companies ever share customer's personal details with freelancers. In many US states, particularly in California, and the EU, sharing customer data with contractors and freelancers is illegal.
Even giving freelancers access to your email marketing software could be violating data privacy regulations. In the EU, this could lead to a &euro;10 million fine or 2 percent of your annual revenue.&nbsp;
Aside from the legal ramifications, companies must treat sharing customer data as an issue of ethics and do everything they can to protect their customers.
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<h2>NDAs &amp; Data Privacy Agreements</h2>
NDAs (non-disclosure agreements) and data privacy agreements must be standard practice at any business employing contractors and freelancers. No data should ever be deemed "unimportant," and these documents should be discussed and signed even before conducting interviews.
<h3>NDAs for Freelancers</h3>
NDA stands for non-disclosure agreement and is a legally binding document where both parties agree to keep confidentiality for a defined period, sometimes indefinitely.
Breaking a non-disclosure agreement won't incur any criminal charges, but it does provide the opportunity to sue an individual who breaches the contract. It's important to note&ndash;if you're a US-based company in an NDA with a party outside of the US, your chances of enforcing that contract in court are almost zero.
Still, if you use Upwork, Freelancer, or Fiverr, you might take action against freelancers breaching an NDA by filing a complaint with the platform.
<h3>Data Privacy Agreement (DPA) for Freelancers</h3>
Many companies fail to use data privacy agreements when hiring freelancers, and they actually could be violating laws in the US and EU.
As part of the EU's <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/gdpr-was-it-really-a-big-deal">GDPR compliance</a>, DPAs must be signed by any party processing data on behalf of a company. Meaning, even if you share your Google Analytics account with a freelancer, they must sign a DPA.
Where NDAs serve little or no interest for courts, violating a DPA could lead to severe fines and penalties for both parties.
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<h2>Sharing Tools with Freelancers</h2>
It's often the case that companies need to share access to tools and apps with freelancers. As we have established, sharing login credentials should never be an option.
Here are three important reasons companies should use <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a> to manage sharing tools with freelancers:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Accessibility - TeamPassword features Chrome, Firefox, and Safari extensions so freelancers can access tools no matter their preferred device or browser. Allowing freelancers to work on a device they're most comfortable with is vital for productivity and efficiency.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Groups and Sharing - Creating groups is another powerful TeamPassword feature. This type of sharing enforces a robust "need to know" policy by providing access only to those who need it. With a simple mouse click, you can add and remove access for team members, perfect for after a freelancer has completed a task.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Activity and Logging - Keeping an eye on who accesses and shares login credentials is an essential part of maintaining secure remote data sharing. Managers can monitor team member's movements and note any suspicious activity or unauthorized access. They can also set up email notifications for access to highly sensitive tools and data.</li>
</ul>
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<h2>Sharing Sensitive Information with Freelancers</h2>
Unfortunately, sharing sensitive information with freelancers comes down to trust. For this reason, it's crucial to build long-term relationships with freelancers, only hire people who come highly recommended or have extensive experience in working with sensitive data on sites like Upwork or Fiverr.
Suppose you have carried out proper risk assessments and categorized your projects by security levels. In that case, you'll have procedures in place to minimize the amount of sensitive data you share with freelancers.
If you share information via free cloud storage platforms like Google Drive or Dropbox, always remove access immediately after a freelancer completes a task.&nbsp;
For highly sensitive information about your clients or business, always use a secure file-sharing provider which provides corporate-grade security like:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Data encryption</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Firewalls (prevents freelancers and employees sharing unauthorized access)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Advanced folder permissions</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">User usage controls (based on time, location, etc.)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Identity-verification tools</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Activity monitoring</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">File-expiration</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Data wiping</li>
</ul>
Some examples of secure file sharing tools include:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Egnyte</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">SugarSync</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Citrix ShareFile</li>
</ul>
Using a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager</a> with these secure file-sharing tools will significantly increase data sharing security with freelancers.
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>Sharing Press Releases and Product Releases with Freelancers</h2>
Sharing press releases and product releases with freelancers is problematic. Data leaks on these releases could cost you or your clients millions of dollars in lost revenue or ruin months or years of preparation.
One way to share information with freelancers before it's released to the public is by segmenting the work and hiring multiple freelancers to complete a single task.
Working this way could distort the full picture of the product and minimize the impact of a leak. Segmenting these tasks will also allow you to identify which freelancer leaked your information and, therefore, cannot be used for future projects.
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>Risks Involved with Sharing Passwords with Freelancers</h2>
Sharing raw usernames and passwords is extremely dangerous, exposing businesses and their clients to all sorts of security risks. If exposed credentials access a client's personal data, a company could be liable for prosecution in the EU or California.
<h3>Release of Sensitive Data</h3>
The biggest concern for companies sharing passwords with freelancers is the possibility of sensitive data being exposed. Exposing sensitive information isn't always malicious, so companies must also look at how accidental exposure might happen and find ways to mitigate those possibilities.
<h3>Exposes Companies &amp; its Clients to Attacks&nbsp;</h3>
Another massive concern for businesses sharing passwords with freelancers and contractors is exposing your company or clients to cyberattacks. Usernames and passwords are often stolen and sold on the dark web to criminals for use in all sorts of nefarious cybercrimes.
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>The RIGHT Way to Share Passwords with Freelancers</h2>
The safest way to share passwords with freelancers is by using a password manager like <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a>.&nbsp;
TeamPassword using Secure Encryption Technology, whereby sensitive information is hashed, salted, and encrypted locally on your computer and then transmitted to the server via an encrypted connection.
With TeamPassword, you never have to expose passwords to freelancers. Instead, freelancers can use TeamPassword's browser extensions to sign into tools and apps. When a task or project is complete, you can remove a freelance with a single click&mdash;no need to worry about changing login details for fear of stolen credentials.
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
Get started today by sharing passwords securely with freelancers today with a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">free TeamPassword trial</a>.

Freelancers are a great alternative to in-house employees. Due to them working on their own devices how much data should you share if any?

Freelancers are a great alternative to in-house employees. Due to them working on their own devices how much ...

Should I Share Data With Freelancers?

Password security is a serious challenge for agencies and other small businesses employing freelancers and temporary contractors. People often think hackers only gain access by hacking logins with complex viruses and trojans.
But the truth is, most <a href="https://www.teampassword.com/blog/the-biggest-data-breaches-of-2020">data breaches</a> happen because marketing or design agencies don't take enough care when creating and sharing passwords.&nbsp;
Agencies must be aware that they're more vulnerable to cybersecurity threats than they might think! In fact, 70% of all cyber-attacks target small businesses. Hackers will often target agencies in an attempt to gain access to larger organizations.&nbsp;
It's much easier to hack a small agency where employees are unaware of sophisticated phishing attacks than a large corporation with a dedicated team of cybersecurity experts. For this reason, agencies need to make sure they have robust password security policies in place.
For starters, using a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager like TeamPassword</a> is critical to minimize exposure to password security vulnerabilities.
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> and see how you can keep your data private
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">Increase in Security Breaches at Small Businesses in 2020</h2>
According to <a href="https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2021/06/08/unauthorized-access-breaches/">Help Net Security</a>, a leading news publication on information security, small businesses experienced a significant 50% increase in data breaches for 2020.
Unauthorized access, where attackers use a username and password to gain access, is still the number one cause of breaches, which saw a surge of 450%.&nbsp;
"Questionable yet common security practices, like sharing or reusing passwords, gave bad actors an easy path to gaining access to personally identifiable information..."
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<h2 dir="ltr">Common Small Business Cybersecurity Issues</h2>
So, what can small businesses and agencies do to combat cyber attacks? Firstly, let's look at some of the <a href="https://www.teampassword.com/blog/common-password-problems-faced-small-organizations">common cybersecurity issues for small businesses</a>.
<h3 dir="ltr">Unsecure Devices</h3>
Most agency employees use their own laptops, tablets, and other devices to sign into company and client accounts. If your agency uses contractors and freelancers, then you're open to more networks and vulnerabilities.
<h3 dir="ltr">Shared or Default Passwords</h3>
Another major cybersecurity vulnerability for agencies is the sharing of passwords and using an application's default password.&nbsp;
When setting up a new account login, users must immediately reset to a long (minimum 12 character) secure password, preferably using a <a href="https://www.teampassword.com/password-generator">password generator</a>.
To minimize password security issues, users must <a href="https://www.teampassword.com/blog/how-often-should-you-change-your-password-the-importance-of-password-safety">change passwords at least once a month</a> and never share passwords with colleagues or contractors.
<h3 dir="ltr">Reusing Passwords</h3>
Agencies must also be cautious of reusing passwords across various accounts. When you reuse passwords, you're essentially creating a "master key," making it easy to access multiple logins with just one password.&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">Inadequate Training</h3>
For many agencies, cybersecurity training is not a priority. Most small teams are already pushed to capacity, and just the thought of training staff about cybersecurity threats and password management seems disruptive and unproductive.
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<h2 dir="ltr">Is Your Agency at Risk?</h2>
Many agencies assume hackers have no interest in infiltrating their systems and accounts because they're a small business. But this assumption is incorrect.
Agencies often service large corporations, the "big fish" that hackers want to infiltrate. It's much easier for a hacker to get into an agency's systems to gain access to one of their corporate clients.
The gateway into most systems and accounts is through staff (permanent employees, temps, freelancers, contractors). Agencies must brief team members about phishing tactics and use a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager</a> to mitigate password security issues.
Here are some key factors to consider when assessing your agency's cybersecurity risk.
<h3 dir="ltr">Does your agency use freelancers?</h3>
If your agency uses freelancers, it's doubtful that you have the means to vet these individuals or conduct background checks effectively. In most cases, freelancers are hired to complete a few tasks and are gone within a few days or a week.
Freelancers will often require access to accounts like content management systems, email marketing software, marketing tools, and more.&nbsp;
Make sure your agency is using a password manager to allocate passwords to temporary staff and freelancers.
<h3 dir="ltr">Sharing Passwords with Team Members &amp; Clients</h3>
Even if your agency doesn't use outside team members, sharing passwords internally or with clients creates vulnerabilities.
Sharing passwords over email or via a spreadsheet is quick and easy, but it's also extremely risky. Even if it's not malicious, emails and spreadsheets are easily shared and therefore highly vulnerable.
TeamPassword allows you to <a href="https://www.teampassword.com/features">create groups to share passwords</a> with team members and clients. This way, you only give access to team members and clients involved in the project.
<h3 dir="ltr">What Happens When Employees Leave Your Agency?</h3>
When an employee leaves a small business or agency, they might still have passwords saved in their browsers, emails, or notes. For companies that experience high employee turnover, this could be as many as 10 to 20 people a year.
Changing every password your company has access to each time an employee leaves is impractical and could lead to errors. It's much easier to remove access for a single individual than changing all your passwords.
With a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager</a>, you can do both. You can easily remove any user from a group of passwords and, to be extra cautious, generate new passwords with just one click. The passwords will update for all your users, and work can continue without any downtime.
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<h2 dir="ltr">Mitigate Security Risks for Teams with TeamPassword</h2>
No matter how big or small your business might be, hopefully, this article has demonstrated that effective cybersecurity is critical.
With unauthorized access being the number one cause of breaches, agencies must mitigate security risks with a robust password manager like <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a>.
TeamPassword allows small businesses to create multiple password groups for their teams and only allow access to those who need it. TeamPassword's activity log lets you monitor account logins, login updates, and sharing access with new members.
TeamPassword also features a built-in unique password generator to make it easy for team members to effortlessly create long, secure passwords.
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Ready to start creating strong passwords? <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> and see how TeamPassword can help your agency's team and clients work securely and efficiently.

Password security is a challenge for small businesses employing freelancers. Learn about how to protect your business with TeamPassword.

Password security is a challenge for small businesses employing freelancers. Learn about how to protect your business with ...

Cybersecurity For Small Businesses

Team Password Blog | Category business | Page 7

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.

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

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

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

Top 5 Dangerous Ways to Store Your Passwords

Over the last decade, the gig economy boom has allowed professionals worldwide to switch to freelancing and build a network of international clients.&nbsp;
According to Upwork, 1 in 3 US workers engaged in freelance work during 2020. Some of the most successful freelancers earn hundreds of thousands of dollars per year through platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, and Toptal.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
Does your company hire freelancers? How do you <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/should-i-share-data-with-freelancers">share passwords with freelancers</a>? TeamPassword is an affordable password management solution for small businesses, startups, and agencies to share credentials securely with team members and freelancers. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> today.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
<h2>10 Successful Freelancers</h2>
Here are ten successful freelancers and what they do. These freelancers have earned their place as experts in their given field with excellent track records&mdash;many have worked with the biggest companies in the world!
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>1. Marcos Rezende - UX designer - Canada</h3>
Marcos Rezende is a UX Designer from Ontario, Canada, with more than 13 years of experience. Marcos has worked in over 30 industry sectors for multinational organizations in the United States, Canada, Germany, and Brazil.&nbsp;
Some of Marcos' notable projects include apps for Ontario's COVID-19 dashboard, Urban Master Planning collaboration platform, and Reaction (kid's e-learning app), to name a few.&nbsp;
Marcos loves sharing his industry expertise with aspiring UX designers and regularly writes for the popular UX publication Career Foundry. Total recognizes Marcos as part of its "Top 3%" of global freelancer talent&mdash;a title given to elite freelancers in their given field.
We don't have access to Marcos' rates, but the best UX designers on Upwork earn upwards of $100 per hour. As a Toptal Top 3% freelancer, Marcos likely charges $200-$300 per hour.
<a href="https://www.marcosrezende.com/">Marcos Rezende's website</a> was nominated for the prestigious <a href="https://www.awwwards.com/sites/ux-portfolio-marcos-rezende">awwwards.</a> in 2021.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>2. Kathy Edens - Marketing Consultant / Freelance Copywriter - United States</h3>
<a href="https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~016177d19f0624c1a7?viewMode=1">Kathy Edens is a Top Rated Upwork Freelancer</a> with over $300k platform earnings! Kathy has been self-employed as a marketing consultant and freelance copywriter for almost ten years from her home in Ohio, United States.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Professional Writing and Psychology from Oregon State University, which she says "...helps me understand how to reach your target audience with words."&nbsp;
Kathy has ghost-written several non-fiction books on various topics, including social entrepreneurship, healthcare, real estate investing, and the cannabis industry, to name a few.
Kathy also writes web content, sales pages, email marketing content, case studies, white papers, brochures, press releases, and more. Kathy's rates start at $86 per hour for her writing and marketing services.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
<h3>3. Koen van Oeveren - UX designer - Netherlands</h3>
Koen van Oeveren is a freelance UI &amp; UX designer from North Brabant, Netherlands, with almost ten years of experience. Koen works with several design agencies in the Netherlands, designing apps, websites, and eCommerce experiences for many international brands.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
Koen holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Communication and Multimedia Design from Avans University in the Netherlands. Koen's <a href="https://www.koenvo.com/index.html">portfolio website Koenvo</a> was nominated for a <a href="https://www.awwwards.com/sites/koenvo-ui-ux-portfolio">2021 awwwards. Award</a>.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
<h3>4. Pascal Strasche - Product / UX designer - Germany</h3>
Pascal Strasche is a product and UX designer with more than ten years of design experience from Germany. He holds a Master of Arts in Interaction Design and a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design, both from HAWK University of Applied Sciences and Arts.
For almost a year over 2020/2021, Pascal worked as the sole product designer to design Con Cubo's SaaS tool that helps complex organizations visualize and manage teams. He's also worked with German steel giant XOM Materials to find product solutions to digitalize&nbsp;Germany's steel industry.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
In 2019, Pascal founded Product Design Resources, a growing archive of 800+ design resources, weekly updated for the design community.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>5. Paul Hunkin - Developer - New Zealand</h3>
Paul Hunkin is a freelance software consultant and developer from Tauranga, New Zealand, but currently living in Portugal.&nbsp;
Paul has over ten years of experience as a software developer with an impressive work history, including Google, NASA, InfoSys, and the Chinese aerospace industry leader COMAC.
He's worked with several early-stage startups designing everything from high-performance big-data systems to complex web applications to 3D rendering engines. He's also built a lot of the foundational code for independent games on Android.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
Paul is a Top Rated Upwork Freelancer with over $400k in platform earnings. His rates start at $120 per hour for software development. <a href="https://paulh.consulting/">Check out Paul's website</a> for more about his impressive portfolio and work history.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>6. Jana Galat - Writer / Brand Strategist - Canada</h3>
Jana Galat is a freelance copywriter and brand strategist from Ontario, Canada. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Management and Organizational Studies from King's University College and an Honors in Business Administration from Western University.
Jana has extensive experience writing landing pages, email campaigns, social media ads, and print materials and says, "I am obsessed with creating copy that sells..."
After several years of professional work experience, Jana went freelance in 2019 and has quickly built a reputation as a <a href="https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~01bfa17a48301876dd">Top Rated Upwork Freelancer</a> with over $70k in platform earnings. Jana's rates start at $100 per hour for copywriting and brand consulting.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>7. Kate H. - Logo Designer / Branding Expert - United States</h3>
Kate is a freelance professional logo designer and branding expert from Maryland, United States. Kate&nbsp;ran her own green wedding brand which she sold to mywedding.com in 2014, allowing her to focus on helping small&nbsp;businesses figure out what they want (and who they are) and translate that into design.
She holds a Master's degree in Environmental Management from Yale School of The Environmental, and a J.D. in environmental law from Pace Law School.&nbsp;
Kate's skillset includes redesigning and updating material to make it easier to understand, building a consistent brand from a simple starting point like a logo, and creating unique logos that guarantee results.
Kate is a Top Rated Upwork Freelancer, and her rates start at $225 per hour. You can find out more about Kate on her <a href="https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~013ce73876c1c18126" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Upwork profile</a>.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>8. Xhensila Zemblaku - Art Director - Canada</h3>
Xhensila Zemblaku is a freelance art director, UX/UI designer, and illustrator from Markham, Canada. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Ryerson University with almost ten years of experience.
Xhensila has been a freelancer for most of her professional career and earned over <a href="https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~01a08d1fcc6ea8fbcb">$400k on Upwork</a>, completed over 150 jobs, and 4,663 hours!&nbsp;
Xhensila's work includes typography, print design, UX/UI design, web, and mobile design. She's a Top Rated Upwork Freelancer currently charging $200 per hour for various creative gigs.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>9. Tanya Litvinova - UX/UI Designer - United States</h3>
Tanya Litvinova is a freelance UX/UI designer from New York City, United States. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Advertising Design / Communication Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology.
Tanya specializes in product, mobile, and web design as well as user experience flow, research, and validation.
"I have a passion to make the complex simple, shape behavior, design, plan, and strategize. Aiming for the best user experience, all the while balancing the needs of business and technology to create engaging, habit-forming digital products."
Tanya has worked with Fortune 100 &amp; Fortune 500 companies and successfully delivered business-transforming data-driven analytics, responsive BI dashboards, enterprise web apps, and management systems. Some of Tanya's notable clients include KOCH Industries, BlackRock Financial, BCG Group, and FireEye, to name a few.
<a href="https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~0165035041b26e96df">Tanya is a Top Rated Upwork Freelancer</a> with more than $200k platform earnings. Her current rate starts at $162.50 per hour.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>10. Guangming Lang - Data Scientist - United States</h3>
Guangming Lang is a freelance data scientist from Michigan, United States. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from New College of Florida and a Master of Science in Biostatistics from the University of Michigan. Guangming has also completed several Coursera courses in data science and machine learning.
Guangming has been a freelancer since 2013 and has worked across several industries, including fintech, trading, medicine, biotech, advertising, and HR.&nbsp;
Guangming is a Top Rated Upwork Freelancer with over $400k in platform earnings. He's completed 216 jobs on Upwork totaling 3,805 hours! Guangming's current rates start at $200 per hour.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
<h2>Secure Freelancer Workflows With TeamPassword</h2>
No matter how talented or reputable the freelancers and contractors you hire, your company must use secure workflows to protect your digital assets.
Freelancers often need access to shared accounts and tools. Using a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager</a> is the first step to securing these accounts and platforms. You can also use a password manager to share credentials with employees, clients, and other stakeholders to ensure you never expose raw passwords via email, spreadsheets, chat apps, and other non-secure methods.
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a> lets you create groups to share access with only those who need it. When they're done, revoke access with a single click. No need to change passwords every time someone leaves the team.
If you do need to change a password, TeamPassword's built-in <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">password generator</a> lets you create secure passwords between 12-32 characters using numbers, letters (uppercase/lowercase), and symbols.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
Ready to onboard clients and freelancers securely with TeamPassword's robust <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password management solution</a>? <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a free trial</a> to secure your company's digital assets today!

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

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

10 extremely successful freelancers and what they do

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

TeamPassword Blog

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