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.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most businesses had to move some, if not all, of their operations to the cloud. Unfortunately, this move created new vulnerabilities for organizations that once relied on internal servers and intranets.&nbsp;
Right now, almost all businesses have their personal and proprietary information stored somewhere on the cloud, including passwords to various accounts. It is crucial to consider who can hack your passwords and gain access to business accounts.
Business passwords are a vital first line of defense against unauthorized entry. Getting passwords is the path of least resistance; that&rsquo;s why hackers often attempt it first. The best way to protect your business passwords from sophisticated attacks is to use a password manager. TeamPassword is a comprehensive password management tool for business, with random password generation, two-factor authentication, and secure password sharing for enterprises.
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sign up for a free trial today</a>&nbsp;to keep your business passwords safe from malicious actors.
<h2>Who Are Hackers and What Do They Do?</h2>
By now, you may be asking yourself, &ldquo;Who are hackers?&rdquo;&nbsp;
That&rsquo;s an interesting question. A hacker is a person who has a deep understanding of systems and software. They can use that knowledge to subvert various technologies and gain entry to places they should not access.&nbsp;
If a hacker uses their knowledge to steal data, money, or other valuable resources, they are called black-hat hackers. These are the ones likely to steal your organizational data, including password and login information. Black-hat hackers are also responsible for corporate espionage, reputation damage, ransomware attacks, and other cybersecurity attacks.&nbsp;
<h3>Who Can Hack Your Passwords?</h3>
When dealing with hacking and password theft, keep in mind that people rather than computers create computer threats. People use software resources to prey on innocent victims, so you should worry about the people behind the tools, not the tools themselves.
Black-hat hackers have been at the helm of some of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teampassword.com/blog/the-scariest-data-breaches-of-all-time" target="_blank" rel="noopener">biggest data breaches in modern history</a>. These are people who have deep technical knowledge, and they leverage the latest technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), for their attacks.
<h2>What Information Do Hackers Need to Hack You?</h2>
You become vulnerable to remote hacking attacks by simply using the internet. This is true for individuals and businesses. As you'll see, hackers can use various methods to attack their victims:
<ul>
<li>Phishing attacks&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;A hacker poses as someone you know and asks for personal information/passwords. They may use bogus websites, email, or even instant messaging services.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Malware&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;A hacker installs malicious software that combs your systems looking for passwords or personal information.</li>
<li>Brute force attacks&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;A hacker uses tools to make billions of guesses hoping to land on the right password.</li>
</ul>
If your business systems don&rsquo;t have firewalls, hackers can also directly access your computers to monitor conversations or check your databases. They can use bots that comb your personal or shared spaces for passwords and other valuable personal details. Alternatively, they can use the data they gather to impersonate a colleague and coax out even more of your private information.
Using a password manager like TeamPassword is the best way to safeguard business passwords and prevent unauthorized access to your systems.&nbsp;<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Register for a free trial today</a>&nbsp;to learn how TeamPassword gives you next-level protection against someone who can hack your passwords.&nbsp;
<h2>How to Know When You Have Been Hacked</h2>
Now that you know who can hack you, you should&nbsp;learn the signs of a possible hacking attack. Always check for&nbsp;the following:
<ul>
<li>Unusual activity&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;You may see logins to accounts from unusual locations, mass emails or IMs from your account, etc.</li>
<li>Security emails&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;Account providers usually email when someone logs in to your account from an unrecognized device, or for failed login attempts or password changes.</li>
<li>Performance changes&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;Your device, websites, or apps are slower than usual.</li>
<li>Password changes&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;You can&rsquo;t log in to your accounts using your regular credentials.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
There are many other&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teampassword.com/blog/have-i-been-hacked-how-to-know-for-sure" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signs that you may have been hacked</a>. If you notice any of the above, including unsuccessful attempts, always change your passwords immediately and notify your IT security team for further action.&nbsp;Someone who can hack your passwords the first time may do so again if given the opportunity.
<h2>How to Protect Your Business Passwords from Hackers</h2>
Hackers use various methods to attack your passwords, so it is crucial to take proactive steps to minimize their chances of success.
<h3>Don&rsquo;t Store or Share Passwords on Unsecure Platforms</h3>
Just like a burglar will first try to break the door before looking for another entry point, hackers target much of their energy to retrieving passwords when attacking a business. With the password in tow, they can easily get into your systems again and again to get the information they want.
All your teams should share and store usernames and passwords through a password manager,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teampassword.com/blog/top-5-dangerous-ways-to-store-your-passwords" target="_blank" rel="noopener">never on IM chats, email, or through written notes</a>.&nbsp;
<h3>Avoid Weak and Duplicate Passwords</h3>
The newest security standards encourage people to use longer and random password strings and to change them regularly. Avoid using passwords that are easy to guess from looking at your social profiles or security questions, and instead, use a password manager to generate random passwords for all your accounts. Never use the same password for more than one account.
In the business environment, you can use the same password manager to share passwords with colleagues and third-party vendors who need shared accounts for any reason. TeamPassword can help you remain safe without the stress of remembering various passwords.&nbsp;
A hacker with a low-level graphic card can run up to 420 billion password combinations per minute&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;that&rsquo;s your adversary.
<h2>TeamPassword Secure Password Sharing and Password Management</h2>
All businesses must step up their efforts to secure their online environment and prevent unauthorized access. Remember that a single weak password is all a hacker needs to access your business data/information, and 80 percent of cyberattacks began with a single weak password.
Team Password is a password management tool made for the present and future online environment. With access to a host of security features, you can generate long and truly random passwords for all employee accounts and share passwords to shared accounts in a secure environment.
Don&rsquo;t put your business data at risk from someone who can hack your passwords. To stay safe, avoid employing last-decade techniques in the face of next-decade cyber-attacks.&nbsp;<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sign up for a free trial</a>&nbsp;with TeamPassword today.

Who can hack your passwords? Find out who hackers are and what they do, including how you can keep your business passwords safe.

Who can hack your passwords? Find out who hackers are and what they do, including how you can ...

Who Can Hack Your Business Passwords?

Amazon Alexa simply referred to as "Alexa," is a popular virtual assistant AI that provides modern digital users with quick access to remote devices. Users may deploy the Alexa program in smart home and office settings. However, the frequent use of Alexa services may raise user concerns, specifically recorded Alexa passwords and the broader question of security standards in an open wireless network.&nbsp;
Cyber threats remain a recurring problem in the digital age, and users must consider top safety precautions in every connected channel. TeamPassword&rsquo;s advanced password manager encrypts confidential passwords and keeps them in a single storage to give users more control over their Alexa devices. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sign up for a </a><a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">trial </a>to elevate your password security.&nbsp;

<h2>Understanding Alexa Security</h2>
Alexa is a listening AI that operates with smartphones, smart switches, and other connected devices such as Amazon Echo speakers. While users may <a href="https://www.teampassword.com/blog/7-tips-to-secure-your-smart-home-and-iot-devices" target="_blank" rel="noopener">optimize the security settings for personal devices</a> (i.e., tablets and laptops), they may forget about the risks exposed with Amazon Echo installations.&nbsp;
By default, Google stores every recorded Alexa conversation (to improve AI accuracy, such as language perception) in their cloud, unless users make specific changes accordingly.&nbsp;
Any external party with access to these files may acquire sensitive information, such as Alexa passwords. Therefore, an Alexa password manager might prove counterintuitive for a smart setting with highly confidential data.&nbsp;
Google or Amazon representatives would never request passwords from the Alexa app due to the lack of encryption and vulnerability of the program. However, there remains an underlying risk of malicious third parties (e.g., app developers) utilizing Alexa to phish out confidential data from uninformed users.&nbsp;
Alexa users can enhance their account security by tweaking the settings of their connected devices. The steps involve accessing Alexa privacy settings, reviewing the data of recordings, and checking boxes to delete specific files.&nbsp;
<h3>Regular Housekeeping of Alexa Recordings</h3>
Alexa users have long considered the risks involved with frequent audio records. The trending view led to Amazon&rsquo;s introduction of the Echo Show 5 device, enabling users to delete audio data from a specific date quickly. Users can access the enhanced security feature by verbally commanding the AI to delete specific conversations.&nbsp;
Daily log deletions can significantly reduce the risks of unauthorized access from third parties who may rummage for confidential information like Alexa passwords.&nbsp;
<h3>Switch Off Camera and Mic Functions in Idle</h3>
Malicious parties may tune in to a recording feed of unsuspecting users. Therefore, it is essential to turn off the camera and mic functions of the Alexa device when not in use. Users may do so by manually toggling system device settings or via direct voice commands. Deactivated recording reduces the risks of unwanted parties spectating private conversations, which could greatly&nbsp;compromise digital security and Alexa passwords.&nbsp;
<h3>Change Alexa's Wake Word</h3>
Alexa's default wake word (&ldquo;Alexa&rdquo;) may expose devices to risks from opportunistic parties. As an additional precaution, users may access device settings to apply wake word alternatives such as "Amazon,&rdquo; "computer," or "echo.&rdquo; The process minimizes the chances of external parties manipulating Alexa devices from a distance.&nbsp;
Alternatively, users may make the changes with the command "Alexa, change the wake word."

<h2>Optimize Amazon Passwords</h2>
External parties may access Alexa recordings by stealing a user&rsquo;s Amazon password. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure the <a href="https://www.teampassword.com/blog/how-often-should-you-change-your-password-the-importance-of-password-safety" target="_blank" rel="noopener">highest safety precautions in password management</a>. Some common considerations include frequent password changes, the use of two-factor authentication, and dedicated password managers to help record complex combinations without the risk of log-outs.&nbsp;
TeamPassword&rsquo;s specialized software works seamlessly across desktop and mobile devices, offering secure password access from anywhere. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sign up for</a><a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> a trial </a>to start enjoying the advantages of optimized password protection.&nbsp;

<h2>Enhance Wi-Fi Network Protection</h2>
Secure Wi-Fi networks prevent malicious actors from applying a hacking method known as wardriving, where they travel through random districts searching for vulnerable, unprotected wireless networks.&nbsp;
Alexa users can raise the security of their Wi-Fi networks by applying a complex Wi-Fi password (and performing regular changes) and encrypting network connections where possible. Encryption provides Wi-Fi with an additional security feature that deters unauthorized access.&nbsp;

<h2>Delete Cached Wi-Fi Passwords</h2>
In addition to setting up and managing complex Wi-Fi passwords, users should avoid saving their Wi-Fi passwords to Amazon servers. Amazon provides password-saving features to give users a seamless experience across all IoT devices. However, cached passwords on the cloud remain vulnerable to outside parties.
While Amazon has introduced additional measures for password security (i.e., device authentication and encryption), users should prioritize using reliable password management software for comprehensive protection.&nbsp;

<h2>Avoid Alexa Password Logs</h2>
While users may utilize the convenience of personalized Alexa services, they should avoid using the program for password storage. The AI-supported system might run on unprotected user endpoints where recorded Alexa passwords may risk exposure to unauthorized parties.&nbsp;

<h2>TeamPassword&rsquo;s Leading Solution</h2>
TeamPassword&rsquo;s password management solution enables users to access and sort user accounts with a few simple clicks. Through intuitive group sharing features, users can add and remove passwords according to specific requirements.&nbsp;
Additionally, the software offers <a href="https://www.teampassword.com/blog/one-time-passwords-vs-two-factor-authentication" target="_blank" rel="noopener">two-step authentication codes</a> to strengthen the privacy settings of logged passwords. If necessary, first-time users may apply the program&rsquo;s built-in password generator to create a strong combination before registering it on the app.&nbsp;
TeamPassword offers complete control over password management, driving improved security for smart settings and IoT devices for the safest and most fulfilling user experience.<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Sign up for a trial today</a> to optimize your cybersecurity systems.

learn how users should assess the dangers of Alexa passwords and why a dedicated password manager should be a top priority. | TeamPassword

learn how users should assess the dangers of Alexa passwords and why a dedicated password manager should be ...

Alexa Passwords – What All Users Should Know

Password theft remains a constant concern among organizations in the digital world. External malicious actors have stolen passwords through<a href="https://www.teampassword.com/blog/the-scariest-data-breaches-of-all-time" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> sophisticated cyber attacks</a> that involve social engineering and phishing tactics. However, at times,&nbsp;the threat of cyber theft may stem from within an organization - dissatisfied former employees with malicious intentions.&nbsp;
The consequences of data breaches from ex-employees can be devastating to the organization. Some examples include the loss of corporate secrets, service disruptions, and compromised customer data. To avoid insider threats, organizations should implement reliable password management software and safety procedures to safeguard their networks.&nbsp;
TeamPassword&rsquo;s advanced password management features, such as multi-factor authentication, and random password generation, can help teams ward off an internal password theft attack.<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Sign up for a trial</a> to protect your precious company assets.&nbsp;

<h2>1) Systematic Password Handovers&nbsp;</h2>
The first and most direct step involves obtaining all account passwords from employees before they leave the company. Additionally, organizations should change the passwords or reset them before entrusting accounts to the next position holder. By doing so, organizations can reduce the risks of former employees remotely accessing workplace accounts.&nbsp;
Additionally, employers should revoke all access privileges from ex-employees immediately. For greater assurance, organizations should implement a real-time monitoring system that tracks the permissions granted to each user within each component of the organizational network.&nbsp;
An advanced monitor system enables administrators to maintain surveillance over user interactions and identify unusual behaviour, suggesting a sign of a data breach. These include a spike in user activity, large file transfers, and the access of rarely accessed documents.&nbsp;

<h2>2) Consider Professional Shredding Services</h2>
In some cases, organizations may consider hiring the services of a professional digital shredder. Like conventional office shredders on paper documents, professional digital shredders render digital information unreadable and prevent the risks of unauthorized access. The method works best for obsolete documents that may contain highly confidential information - such as workplace passwords.&nbsp;

<h2>3) Password Protection Training&nbsp;</h2>
Regular password protection training can help current and future employees safeguard their credentials, especially in unprotected online conversations with former colleagues. Employees will also learn the importance of setting up complex passwords and <a href="https://www.teampassword.com/blog/top-five-mistakes-when-sharing-passwords-with-your-team" target="_blank" rel="noopener">avoiding easily hacked combinations</a> (i.e., repeated letters or birthdates).&nbsp;
Through specialized training, employees will also learn how to spot the signs of password theft and avoid sharing confidential information in personal communication apps and other high-risk peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing applications.&nbsp;

<h2>4) Deploy Encryption</h2>
Encryption provides confidential information with an additional layer of protection. By encrypting communication channels and account logins, organizations prevent former employees from accessing and using unauthorized information without the required key.&nbsp;
TeamPassword&rsquo;s password manager offers built-in encryption that protects valuable credentials from unauthorized parties. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Begin with a trial </a>to start benefitting from improved password protection.&nbsp;

<h2>5) Remove Unused Accounts</h2>
Resourceful ex-employees may resort to locating and accessing idle/inactive organizational accounts as a backdoor into the network. As such, employers should perform regular audits to detect and deactivate unused accounts that may potentially serve as a medium for stealing passwords. 
Typically, organizations should consider enforcing&nbsp;a security protocol that eliminates accounts that have been inactive for more than three months.&nbsp;

<h2>6) Enforce Principle of Least Privilege&nbsp;</h2>
The principle of least privilege (POLP) is an information security policy that restricts employee accounts to the minimum permissions required to perform their routine tasks and roles.&nbsp;
While POLP does not prevent data theft, it reduces the impact of password theft and compromised accounts. Organizations should consider enforcing&nbsp;POLP in addition to password protection initiatives to optimize their network security.&nbsp;

<h2>7) Implement Anti-theft Surveillance&nbsp;</h2>
Organizations should apply constant surveillance at workstations to prevent opportunistic physical access and theft of hard drives, laptops, and other portable devices. BYOD practices may lead to increased vulnerabilities, with employees storing passwords on personal devices.&nbsp;
Therefore, employees should provide constant reminders on the importance of password protection beyond the workplace. Alternatively, employers may consider adopting employee policies that ban the storage of corporate passwords in personal devices (because of limited surveillance and higher risks of a compromise).&nbsp;

<h2>8) Adopt Strict Data Policies</h2>
A clear and systematic series of employee policies will help deter password theft in the long term. For example, companies may exclude employees from administrator roles/groups containing a wide range of permissions that have devastating consequences if compromised. Data classification and retention policies identify all data generated within an organizational system and how long it stays.&nbsp;
Well-defined data policies enable more reliable tracking and management of data end-points and user access to minimize the risks of password theft.&nbsp;

<h2>9) Apply a Trusted Password Manager&nbsp;</h2>
TeamPassword&rsquo;s reliable password manager application enables teams to conveniently store and access their respective passwords while keeping them encrypted and secure. The advanced program works from desktops, laptops, and other mobile devices. The software syncs in real-time, providing unmatched accountability by logging the activities of each user.&nbsp;
Teams may look forward to <a href="https://www.teampassword.com/blog/the-most-secure-way-to-share-passwords" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sharing their passwords with peace of mind</a> with TeamPassword&rsquo;s intuitive solution. With a few simple clicks, organizations can provide users with access or remove them from a group. Whether it is a collaboration within the departments and internal teams or with external coordinators, TeamPassword makes password management safe and effortless.&nbsp;
With TeamPassword, you can reduce the risks of internal threats and.<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Start a free trial today</a> to optimize your organization&rsquo;s password management practices.&nbsp;

Password theft may occur at times from ex-employees with bad intentions. Companies can prevent threats by adopting these safety measures.

Password theft may occur at times from ex-employees with bad intentions. Companies can prevent threats by adopting these ...

Prevent Password Theft From Ex-Employees

If you&rsquo;re like most Americans, you spend a huge part of your life online. You probably use your phone or your laptop to socialize, shop, and even make medical appointments. That means website and databases are storing a lot of your personal information, so it's important for you to protect yourself from data breaches that could leave you exposed to hackers.
What&rsquo;s a data breach? It&rsquo;s the name for a massive online theft of personal information. Hackers can target corporations or even branches of the government, breaking in and stealing all the information stored on their sites. Major data breaches can affect millions or even billions of people. 
Curious about what a big data breach looks like? This article describes some of the biggest data breaches in recent history. You&rsquo;ll also learn how to protect yourself the next time there&rsquo;s a breach.
With 2-step authentication, random password generation, and other security features, TeamPassword is the No.1 password management solution for teams that want to prevent a data breach. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Register for a free trial</a> today. 
<h2>The Facebook Breach</h2>
In 2019, about 540 million Facebook users had their personal information suddenly exposed. This time, it didn&rsquo;t even happen because of hackers. Instead, it turned out that Facebook was simply failing to protect many of its databases in any significant way. Passwords or any form of encryption did not protect the databases, meaning that just about anyone could Google around and find other people&rsquo;s data.
Since Facebook stores a vast amount of private data, this should set off alarm bells for many people. If hackers steal your Facebook password, they will immediately start testing to see whether you use that same password for other sites. 
One way around that problem is to use <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TeamPassword</a> to generate new passwords for every site you visit. This way, you&rsquo;ll never have to worry about hackers accessing your private financial and medical data just because they broke into your social media page.
Read more: <a href="https://www.teampassword.com/blog/how-often-should-you-change-your-password-the-importance-of-password-safety" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How Often Should You Change Your Password? The Importance of Password Safety.</a>
<h2>The eBay Breach</h2>
In May 2014, eBay announced it had been the victim of a major cyberattack. The online auction house had 145 million users, and all of their data became exposed during the attack. That meant users' names, addresses, dates of birth, and passwords were all visible to the hackers who broke into eBay. 
The customers&rsquo; financial information was not exposed, since it was stored separately. However, this kind of&nbsp;data breach was (and is) massively dangerous. That&rsquo;s because many people re-use the same password from one website to another. 
In other words, there was a good chance that eBay customers were using the same passwords for their eBay accounts as for, say, their online bank accounts. If a hacker stole their eBay passwords, that hacker might get access to their other accounts.
<h2>The Capital One Breach</h2>
In 2019, a hacker gained access to private data belonging to about 100 million Capital One customers. That data included the customers&rsquo; accounts and their credit card applications. The company said that customers&rsquo; credit card numbers were not exposed, and neither were their bank account numbers.
This wasn&rsquo;t the first time that hackers targeted Capital One. In July 2013, cybercriminals attacked the financial corporation, exposing personal information belonging to about 106 million people. Here, customers&rsquo; credit card information was exposed. So were their social security numbers and their bank account numbers.
<h2>The Equifax Breach</h2>
In June 2017, Equifax announced that there had been a major data breach, exposing an estimated 147.9 million of the credit bureau&rsquo;s customers. This time, hackers gained access to customers&rsquo; dates of birth, social security numbers, and addresses. In some cases, the cybercriminals also gained access to customers&rsquo; credit history information.
Not only was private information stolen, but the hackers got enough data to make an educated guess about the Equifax customers&rsquo; other passwords. After all, many people use their dates of birth, or even part of their social security numbers, to create passwords. By getting access to that information, the cybercriminals may have gained access to valuable other passwords.
<h2>The Heartland Payment Systems Breach</h2>
In March 2008, hackers broke into the Heartland Payment systems database, exposing information from 134 million people. Eventually, authorities caught the team behind the cyberattack. But customers&rsquo; credit card information, along with other personal data, had already been exposed.
When hackers steal data, one of their first moves is to try to&nbsp;discover customers&rsquo; passwords to other lucrative sites&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;like their bank accounts. If you&rsquo;ve been using the same password for all your sign-ins, know that a data breach could seriously expose you. However, if you&rsquo;ve been using <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TeamPassword</a> to generate random, hacker-defying passwords, you should&nbsp;be safe!
Read more: <a href="https://www.teampassword.com/blog/the-biggest-data-breaches-of-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Biggest Data Breaches of 2020</a>
<h2>The Adobe Breach</h2>
In 2013, Adobe reported that records belonging to about 153 million people had been exposed in a cyberattack. It&rsquo;s worth noting that Adobe tried hard to downplay the attack. The company first claimed that only 3 million of its customers were impacted. Later, they admitted that the number was at least 150 million.
Why does that matter? Customers may not have even been aware that their data was compromised when Adobe first announced the breach. Unless they were paying close attention, customers may not have known to take action until well after the attack took place.
<h2>The LinkedIn Breach</h2>
There have been at least two major breaches at LinkedIn in the past decade. The first happened in 2012, and the second happened in 2016.
Why is the social networking site such a popular target for hackers? In part, it may be that it&rsquo;s such a data-rich website. LinkedIn users store all kinds of personal data on the site, from their dates of birth and address to their employment history and lists of contacts.
Besides that, hackers target LinkedIn for the passwords. Cybercriminals appear to have targeted LinkedIn for lists of emails and passwords belonging to millions of users.
<h2>The&nbsp;MyFitnessPal Breach</h2>
In February 2018, data belonging to 150 million people became exposed when MyFitnessPal was the victim of a major cyberattack. Hackers stole customers&rsquo; usernames, email address, and passwords in the breach and&nbsp;put them up for sale.
Why did cybercriminals want those passwords? Undoubtedly, so they could try to use them to break into people&rsquo;s other accounts. Customers who re-use passwords from one account to the next can easily become victims and have their medical or financial data stolen as soon as one of their passwords is exposed. That&rsquo;s why it&rsquo;s always a good idea to take precautions.
<h2>The Yahoo Breach</h2>
Back in 2014, hackers forced their way into the Yahoo network and stole information belonging to an estimated 500 million users. The cybercriminals stole names, <a href="https://respona.com/blog/how-to-find-someones-email-address/" rel="follow">email addresses</a>, and dates of birth.
What&rsquo;s so frightening about this attack? Besides the massive scale, it&rsquo;s the fact that the attack went unreported for years. Yahoo did not announce the data breach until 2016&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;two years after the attack. Yahoo has, similarly, waited for years before announcing a data breach from 2013 that also exposed the data of hundreds of millions of users.
<h2>The Cam4 Breach</h2>
In March 2020, adult video streaming site Cam4 revealed that&nbsp;cybercriminals&nbsp;had attacked its server. The massive data breach left more than 10 million personal records exposed.
Because of the nature of&nbsp;Cam4&rsquo;s business, the data stolen was particularly&nbsp;sensitive. Customers stored information on the site that included customers' actual names, email addresses, sexual orientation, and records of their chats on the site.
Some people expressed concerns that Cam4 customers could become exposed to blackmail because of the information hackers had accessed.
<h2>The Danger of Password Theft</h2>
Data breaches are dangerous and damaging. They can cost businesses millions of dollars, and they can leave customers vulnerable to having their private information exposed online.
One way that breaches are so damaging involves password theft. Once hackers steal your password from one site, they will input it into all of your other accounts, hoping&nbsp;you use the same password on other sites. 
If they find out you use the same password, they can get into your bank account and transfer your funds to their own account. They can steal your credit cards or even your social security number and sell it on the dark web. Or, they can access private information from other sites and use it to blackmail you. There&rsquo;s no limit to what cybercriminals can do once they access your data.
Read more: <a href="https://www.teampassword.com/blog/why-you-need-a-free-google-chrome-browser-extension-for-password-management-now" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Why You Need a Free Google Chrome Browser Extension for Password Management Now</a>
<h2>Protecting Yourself and Your Passwords</h2>
All too often, people reuse passwords because they can&rsquo;t keep track of the passwords they use for all the websites they visit. After all, every time you shop for clothes, you need one password&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;then you might order groceries, and use a different password&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;and then you might make an appointment with your doctor, and need still another password.
It gets difficult to remember all these passwords. It&rsquo;s natural to want to simplify things by using one password for all your websites. But that can leave you exposed to a very serious attack whenever hackers gain access to any of the sites you visit.
<h2>How TeamPassword Helps</h2>
TeamPassword is the all-in-one password management solution for teams like yours. With features like 2-step verification, easy password sharing, and a secure unique password generator, you can protect yourself from data breaches like the ones on this list. 
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sign up today to get a free trial</a> and find out how TeamPassword keeps you safe even with a data breach.

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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. ...

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