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

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

What To Do If You Forgot Your Old Facebook Login

What To Do If You Forgot Your Old Facebook Login | TeamPassword

Imagine that you receive an email from your work email provider requesting that you log in to review recent activity. You click on the button in the email and try to login to your account. The first login attempt oddly fails, but the second attempt works just fine and you&rsquo;re into your account.
You must have mistyped your password the first time, right?
The reality is that you may have just had your password stolen. The attacker sent an authentic-looking phishing email and the website that you initially reached as a fake. After you submitted your password, the attackers simply redirected you to the actual website to try again without knowing any better.
With these credentials in hand, the attacker can easily read through all of your work emails, reset passwords for other accounts, and wreak havoc on an enterprise network.
In this post, we will take a look at how to avoid these kinds of risks using a password manager and other best practices.
<h2 id="why-passwords-are-important">Why passwords are important</h2>
Passwords are still the default authentication mechanism for the web. Biometrics (e.g. fingerprints and facial recognition) have replaced some passwords and two-factor authentication has enhanced security, but almost every web application and most devices still require a password.
More than 80 percent of data breaches were caused by weak or stolen passwords, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ictsecuritymagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2017-Data-Breach-Investigations-Report.pdf">Verizon</a>. With a valid password in hand, attackers can leverage the user&rsquo;s account to gain access to their other accounts or even protected network resources. Passwords are often the weakest link in enterprise security.
Despite the importance of passwords, most people fail to develop secure passwords or even use different passwords for different accounts. Nearly one-fifth of Internet users create the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/763091/us-use-of-same-online-passwords/">same password</a>&nbsp;for most of their accounts, while the average password was&nbsp;<a href="https://resources.infosecinstitute.com/beyond-password-length-complexity/">less than 10 characters</a>&nbsp;long.
<h2 id="what-makes-a-password-secure">What makes a password secure?</h2>
The difference between a weak password and a strong password comes down to the number and predictability of characters.
<hr />
<a href="https://mailchi.mp/jungledisk.com/guide-to-training-employees-on-cybersecurity" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Download our free guide to training employees on cybersecurity best practices, including password management.</a>
<hr />
The amount of time that it takes to break a password with a brute force attack depends exclusively on the number of possible combinations (e.g. password length). The password &ldquo;my awesome car is on fire&rdquo; is exponentially more difficult to crack than the password &ldquo;@y23k3!34&rdquo; for a computer.
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/FLmMkxpaTfyxH4DwMq7u" alt="xckd-comic.png" />
Source: XKCD
Of course, some attackers attempt to guess passwords rather than crack them with software. They might look for public information, such as a pet&rsquo;s name, and guess the password. You shouldn&rsquo;t use passwords that contain pet&rsquo;s names, sports teams or predictable sequences for these reasons.
The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.passwordrandom.com/most-popular-passwords">most common passwords</a>&nbsp;tend to violate both of these rules &mdash; they are short and easy to guess. For example, some of the top 100 passwords include &ldquo;password&rdquo;, &ldquo;123456&rdquo;, &ldquo;qwerty&rdquo;, &ldquo;letmein&rdquo;, &ldquo;baseball&rdquo;, &ldquo;mustang&rdquo;, &ldquo;abc123&rdquo; and &ldquo;trustno1.&rdquo;
The most secure passwords are both lengthy and random &mdash; and that often means a password manager is necessary.
<h2 id="how-to-manage-your-passwords">How to manage your passwords</h2>
The problem with long random passwords is that they are difficult to remember. Even worse, the average person has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/josephbernstein/survey-says-people-have-way-too-many-passwords-to-remember">nearly 30</a>&nbsp;discrete online logins. That&rsquo;s a lot of passwords to remember &mdash; especially if you don&rsquo;t use the same password multiple times!
Apple recognized these issues and built a password manager into its Keychain for iOS and MacOS devices, as well as an auto-suggest feature for passwords into Safari. Google Chrome introduced a similar password suggestion feature, and there are ways to store credentials securely in Windows.
The problem is that these passwords only exist in personal accounts. Many companies need to share passwords with multiple users and devices. Some password managers solve these issues by sharing passwords, but it&rsquo;s important to evaluate their features and security before choosing one.
Independent Security Evaluators (ISE)&nbsp;<a href="https://www.zdnet.com/article/critical-vulnerabilities-uncovered-in-popular-password-managers/">recently published</a>&nbsp;a scathing password manager assessment that found major vulnerabilities. In one case, the master password used to access a password manager was stored in PC RAM in plaintext, making it easily accessible to attackers!
<h2 id="how-teampassword-can-help">How TeamPassword can help</h2>
Most password managers are built for individuals. In some cases, password managers have expanded to target businesses, but few began with an initial focus on businesses. This means that they lack many of the features that businesses need on a day-to-day basis, such as the ability to manage access.
<a href="https://www.jungledisk.com/password-manager/">TeamPassword</a>&nbsp;was developed from the ground up with a focus on small business password management. Over the past several years, we&rsquo;ve talked with business customers to find out exactly what they need and built a solution that&rsquo;s ideal for them &mdash; all with AES 256-bit encryption.
Some core features include:
<ul>
<li>
Secure password generator:&nbsp;The built-in strong password generator creates secure, randomized passwords on-the-fly for private or shared logins.
</li>
<li>
Two-factor authentication:&nbsp;Google Authenticator provides a second layer of security to access stored passwords, while backup codes ensure you&rsquo;ll never get locked out.
</li>
<li>
Group management:&nbsp;Groups lets you quickly share logins and passwords with subsets of team members, external collaborators, or the entire team.
</li>
<li>
Browser extensions:&nbsp;Chrome, Firefox, and Safari extensions make it easy to access passwords in a quick and convenient way without having to retype them.
</li>
<li>
Account logging:&nbsp;TeamPassword&rsquo;s activity logs enable administrators to see who&rsquo;s using what passwords and when shared passwords are updated.
</li>
</ul>
If you&rsquo;re interested in trying TeamPassword,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jungledisk.com/password-manager/">sign up</a>&nbsp;here!
<h2 id="how-to-train-employees">How to train employees</h2>
Password managers are just one step of ensuring password security. After all, they don&rsquo;t prevent a compromised password from being used to access protected resources. It&rsquo;s equally important to implement the right best practices and ensure that employees are properly trained.
<hr />
<a href="https://mailchi.mp/jungledisk.com/guide-to-training-employees-on-cybersecurity" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Don&rsquo;t forget to download our free guide to training employees on cybersecurity best practices, including password management.</a>
<hr />
Some best practices include:
<ul>
<li>
Train new users:&nbsp;Employees should be trained on how to properly use password managers. With TeamPassword, we automate a lot of the onboarding by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jungledisk.com/blog/2018/08/24/teampassword-onboarding-new-employees/">walking them through</a>&nbsp;each step of the process.
</li>
<li>
Expire passwords:&nbsp;Passwords should be periodically changed in case they were unknowingly compromised. With TeamPassword, the process is a breeze since the new password can be updated organization-wide with a few clicks.
</li>
<li>
Other measures:&nbsp;All employee devices should have the proper antivirus and anti-malware installed to avoid attackers from gaining access to their computer, and therefore, the password manager.
</li>
</ul>
Employees should also be trained on how to spot and avoid viruses, malware and phishing attempts.
<h2 id="the-bottom-line">The Bottom Line</h2>
Passwords are a critical part of any company&rsquo;s cybersecurity plan. With more than 80 percent of data breaches arising from password issues, companies should invest in a password manager that both ensures that passwords are protected and makes it easy for employees to use them.
In addition, it&rsquo;s important to set up the proper protocols and training procedures to avoid common password attack vectors, such as phishing emails or malware.
If you&rsquo;re interested in trying TeamPassword with a 14-day free trial,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teampassword.com/">sign up</a>&nbsp;here!

Imagine that you receive an email from your work email provider requesting that you log in to review recent activity. You click on the butto

Imagine that you receive an email from your work email provider requesting that you log in to review ...

How to Manage Your Small Business’ Passwords

Imagine that you receive an email from your work email provider requesting that you log in to review recent activity. You click on the button in the email and try to login to your account. The first login attempt oddly fails, but the second attempt works just fine and you’re ...

If you&rsquo;ve been keeping up with the news, you are more than aware that the internet is essentially the Wild West right now. Hackers and career criminals make a fortune exploiting computer users, and extort them for ransom, paid in bitcoin. Just like in the real world, criminals can attack at any time. But also just like in the real world, you can become more streetwise, gain some spacial awareness and make yourself safe when surfing and working on the web.
For most average people,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jungledisk.com/blog/2018/04/23/what-makes-a-password-strong/">the weakest link in their security is simply their password</a>. In 2018, the phrase &ldquo;password&rdquo; is even a bit of a misnomer. It&rsquo;s much better and much safer to use passphrases. There are a few strategies to write good passphrases that I recommend. Start by choosing a few of your favorite things. For example, I will start with my favorite band, Guided by Voices. I will also use one of my favorite songs from them, like &ldquo;Echos Myron.&rdquo; Take some words from each of your sources, and mix it up with maybe some meaningful numbers to you.
Let&rsquo;s give it a shot:
VoicesJMY6ASMyron7988Liberty
This password is constructed of the third word from the name of the band, a license plate number for a car, the second word from the song title, part of a phone number, and a standout word from the song. Since you built this phrase yourself, you should be able to remember it easily, and you now have a 28-character password! Passphrases can be super powerful because it makes it very easy to remember a long string of characters that would make very little sense to anyone else but you. If you build all of your passphrases like this, your passwords will be nearly impossible for another human to guess. You can take it another step further by substituting letters or numbers for symbols. For example in the password above, you can replace all the &lsquo;i&rsquo; characters with the &lsquo;!&rsquo; symbol. This will break most of the dictionary words in your password making it even more impenetrable, while being just as easy to remember!
Also, our new password manager,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jungledisk.com/blog/2018/03/06/jungle-disk-acquires-teampassword/">TeamPassword</a>, offers a password generation tool with options to specify password length and character sets. This makes it easy to generate and save secure passwords for any service you use. Additionally,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jungledisk.com/blog/2018/07/11/did-you-meet-teampassword/">TeamPassword</a>&nbsp;encrypts all passwords with a master key that you set before sending them to their servers, so no one is able to read them unless they have your master key.
See how well that works? And it&rsquo;s easy. Go have some fun updating your passwords, and remember to change them frequently!

For most average people, the weakest link in their security is simply their password. It’s much better and much safer to use passphrases.

For most average people, the weakest link in their security is simply their password. In 2018, the phrase “password” ...

Let’s Talk About Password Complexity

For most average people, the weakest link in their security is simply their password. In 2018, the phrase “password” is even a bit of a misnomer. It’s much better and much safer to use passphrases.

With the ever-changing landscape of internet-based accounts, creating and managing passwords has become a tedious task that no one enjoys undertaking. You&rsquo;ll spend minutes thinking of a unique password that no one will guess, yet you&rsquo;ll immediately be able to recall it when needed. Minutes go by and you&rsquo;ve done it. You&rsquo;ve created a password that includes four alpha characters, three numbers in the 0-9 range&nbsp;and&nbsp;a special character. You&rsquo;re free to update your account passwords now, right? Let&rsquo;s play a game&hellip;
Which password is hard to crack? &ldquo;Password&rdquo; or &ldquo;P@55w0rd&rdquo;?
The answer: neither.
Both of these passwords can be cracked in a few seconds (if even that long) using your average computer. It&rsquo;s not just about complexity when it comes to building a secure password. The longevity of your passwords also helps develop its strength, ergo increasing the amount of time it&rsquo;ll take to crack it.
<h2>Password Managers</h2>
Password managers such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teampassword.com/">Team Password</a>, LastPass and 1Password take care of the hard work for you. You supply these managers with your password requirements and they can generate and save a random password for you. You can create longer, more complex passwords without needing to remember them.
The good and the bad with regard to password managers is that you only need to remember one password; the one you use to authenticate in the password manager.
<h2>Creating your password</h2>
When using a password manager, you&rsquo;re asked to create a master password, which is the only password that you will need to commit to memory. Opt for a passphrase versus a password. Passphrases are just as easy to remember, but are typically longer which help strengthen it. An example of a passphrase would be &ldquo;This!sMySupperL0ngP@asswordTh@tN013lseh4s&rdquo; (don&rsquo;t use this; this is just an example). Do not reuse this password for any other account that you have. Also, be sure to enable multifactor&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jungledisk.com/blog/2016/11/08/identity-authentication-beyondcorp-cyber-talk-radio-episode-7/">authentication</a>. This adds a layer of security and makes it even more difficult for someone to obtain unauthorized access to your account.
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
Password complexity isn&rsquo;t the only factor when creating a strong password. Ensure your complex passwords are 12 characters or longer. Using a password manager allows you to take advantage of stretching the password length as well as randomly generating more complex passwords.

Which password is hard to crack? “Password” or “P@55w0rd”? Neither.

With the ever-changing landscape of internet-based accounts, creating and managing passwords has become a tedious task that no ...

Password or P@55w0rd?

With the ever-changing landscape of internet-based accounts, creating and managing passwords has become a tedious task that no one enjoys undertaking. You’ll spend minutes thinking of a unique password that no one will guess, yet you’ll immediately be able to recall it when needed.

In our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jungledisk.com/blog/2016/12/21/importance-of-good-password-management/">last blog post</a>, we wrote about the importance of having strong passwords to make it more difficult for cyber thieves to access your personal information. Today, I will focus on why you should use a &ldquo;Password Management Software&rdquo; tool such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lastpass.com/">LastPass</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dashlane.com/">Dashlane</a>&nbsp;just to name a few.
It is often said that we should have&nbsp;different&nbsp;passwords for each website or account that we use. If that is the case, how many of us really take the time to have multiple passwords (each with different password requirements)? The challenge of trying to memorize those passwords can be daunting especially if it is recommended to change your passwords every 30 - 180 days. Unfortunately, even changing passwords does not completely mitigate hackers from stealing your login information. In fact, how many of us reuse the same password for multiple websites and a leak in one site could give access to more than one account?
Long story short, wouldn&rsquo;t it be great not to have to worry about memorizing &ldquo;passwords&rdquo; for all of your frequently used accounts? You can simplify and protect your passwords by installing a Password Management Software that manages your passwords with a Primary Account that encrypts your database of your usernames and passwords.&nbsp;You only need to remember the ONE master password!
<h4 id="key-benefits-of-using-a-password-management-tool">Key benefits of using a password management tool:</h4>
<ol>
<li>Store unlimited number of passwords (Encrypted)</li>
<li>No need to remember &ldquo;all&rdquo; your usernames and passwords</li>
<li>Auto-login (Some of the password management tools also allow you to sync your passwords across all of your devices or even share a log-in)</li>
<li>A few of the tools are free</li>
<li>User friendly</li>
</ol>
As you install and utilize a password management tool, keep in mind some best practices like not sending &ldquo;cleartext&rdquo; to an authentication site, do not store in &ldquo;cleartext&rdquo; in case password file is compromised and lock accounts after pre-determined fails to prevent brute force attacks on accounts.
Hope these tips simplify your digital life and help you maintain a secure password management posture!
In fact, how many of us reuse the same password for multiple websites and a leak in one site could give access to more than one account?
Long story short, wouldn&rsquo;t it be great not to have to worry about memorizing &ldquo;passwords&rdquo; for all of your frequently used accounts? You can simplify and protect your passwords by installing a Password Management Software that manages your passwords with a Primary Account that encrypts your database of your usernames and passwords.&nbsp;You only need to remember the ONE master password!
<h4 id="key-benefits-of-using-a-password-management-tool">Key benefits of using a password management tool:</h4>
<ol>
<li>Store unlimited number of passwords (Encrypted)</li>
<li>No need to remember &ldquo;all&rdquo; your usernames and passwords</li>
<li>Auto-login (Some of the password management tools also allow you to sync your passwords across all of your devices or even share a log-in)</li>
<li>A few of the tools are free</li>
<li>User friendly</li>
</ol>
As you install and utilize a password management tool, keep in mind some best practices like not sending &ldquo;cleartext&rdquo; to an authentication site, do not store in &ldquo;cleartext&rdquo; in case password file is compromised and lock accounts after pre-determined fails to prevent brute force attacks on accounts.
Hope these tips simplify your digital life and help you maintain a secure password management posture!

Learn about the key benefits to using a password management tool.

It is often said that we should have different passwords for each website or account that we use. If that ...

Simplifying Password Management to Keep Your Data Secure

It is often said that we should have different passwords for each website or account that we use. If that is the case, how many of us really take the time to have multiple passwords (each with different password requirements)? The challenge of trying to memorize those passwords can be daunting especially if it is recommended to change your passwords every 30 - 180 days. Unfortunately, even changing passwords does not completely mitigate hackers from stealing your login information. In fact, how many of us reuse the same password for multiple websites and a leak in one site could give access to more than one account?

Did you know that the average person spends up to 11 hours a day online?
We are either online checking our email accounts, banking, shopping or on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. When it comes to protecting these accounts, most people do not have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jungledisk.com/blog/2016/10/07/top-3-security-tips-for-national-cyber-security-awareness-month/">strong passwords</a>&nbsp;which can leave an opportunity for cyber thieves to hack your accounts and access your personal information.
This year, Mark Zuckerberg (CEO Facebook) told an audience that the average person spends 50 minutes per day on Facebook, Instagram and Messenger platforms.&nbsp;Did you know that Facebook accounts are hacked 600,000 times daily during user&rsquo;s log-in?&nbsp;In fact, Facebook records 1 billion logins each day and .06% of those logins are compromised. This was first reported by a UK-based computer security firm, Sophos. That being said, how many of us have the same password for Facebook and all of our other accounts such as financial services, email account, etc?
The above stats show that we need to have strong passwords to prevent or at least make it more difficult for cyber thieves to access your personal information. Today, cyber thieves use software programs that can generate password combinations of personal information, addresses, middle names and phone numbers. These programs are capable of thousands of login attempts per hour to gain access to your personal information and data. Yes, these thieves are using more advanced technology to steal your information or they can simply guess.
Always protect your personal information and data by creating a solid layer of defense by having strong passwords(change every 90 days) and utilize a password management tool such as LastPass or 1Password. If available, you can also use two-factor authentication. Below are some interesting stats and tips when creating a strong password.
<h2>Top 5 common passwords to avoid:</h2>
<ol>
<li>Numeric passwords such as 12345678.</li>
<li>Numeric passwords with numeric repeated digits such as 1111, 00000 or 202020.</li>
<li>Using the word password or variations such as&nbsp;p@ssword&nbsp;or passw0rd.</li>
<li>Using the word, Qwerty. It&rsquo;s the first keys from the left on the top row of your keyboard.</li>
<li>Sports names such as football, baseball, yankees, spurs and anything related to sports</li>
</ol>
<h2>How to create strong passwords?</h2>
<ol>
<li>Use 12 characters or more.</li>
<li>Include a combination of numbers, symbols, capital letters and lower-case letters.</li>
<li>Avoid dictionary words or combination of dictionary words. Example, &ldquo;house&rdquo; or &ldquo;red house.&rdquo;</li>
<li>Don&rsquo;t rely on obvious substitutions such as &ldquo;H0use.&rdquo; This isn&rsquo;t strong because you&rsquo;ve simply replaced with the o with a 0.</li>
</ol>
<h2>Some interesting stats:</h2>
<ul>
<li>Ninety percent of passwords generated by users are vulnerable to hacking.</li>
<li>One Billion Yahoo email accounts was compromised(hacked) in August of 2013. This does not include the breach that occurred and affected 500 million users in 2014.</li>
<li>Five Million Gmail passwords were hacked and released online in 2014.</li>
<li>Hackers stole 77 million Sony Playstation Network passwords in 2011.</li>
<li>The 2016 Identity Fraud Study released by Javelin Strategy &amp; Research, found that $15 billion were stolen from 13.1 million U.S. consumers in 2015 compared to $16 billion and 12.7 million victims a year earlier. In the past six years, cyber thieves have stolen $112 billion.</li>
</ul>
<h4 id="please-keep-your-data-safe-by-creating-strong-passwords">Please keep your data safe by creating STRONG passwords!</h4>

The average person spends up to 11 hours a day online, but a lack of strong passwords endangers accounts and personal information.

Did you know that the average person spends up to 11 hours a day online? We are either ...

Importance of Good Password Management

Did you know that the average person spends up to 11 hours a day online? We are either online checking our email accounts, banking, shopping or on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. But when it comes to protecting these accounts, most people do not have strong passwords.

We all have bad habits--letting emails pile up in the inbox, getting fast food for lunch, leaving dishes in the sink. We all do it. The typical bad habit isn't normally a big deal, but when it comes to managing your passwords, getting into a bad pattern can cost you serious time and money. We all know the hassle of forgetting a password and having to reset it, but that's nothing compared what you'll go through if your accounts are compromised because you managed your passwords poorly. We all know the hassle of forgetting a password and having to reset it, but that's nothing compared to what you'll go through if your accounts are compromised because you managed your passwords poorly. It's the age-old story of a company that uses the same password for everything, one unimportant site gets hacked, and the attacker proceeds to log into all of their sites. Luckily, with the right strategies and tools, building good password habits is easy. Read on to learn about bad password management habits and how you can fix them.


<h2>1. Don't use the same password everywhere.</h2>
Also known as, the Password Golden Rule. It's only a matter of time before one of the websites or apps you use gets hacked or has a security lapse. See Dropbox, Adobe, and the Heartbleed bug that affected several websites. Once a hacker gets one of your passwords, it's easy for them to try that password on countless other websites. For example, if you use the same password for Instagram as you do for online banking, a lapse in Instagram's security can result in an empty bank account. Using the same password is one of the riskiest things you can do online; it's asking for trouble.
<h3>Fix it</h3>
Stop using the same password! Stop it right now. Instead, use a password management service (like <a href="https://www.teampassword.com" rel="follow">TeamPassword.com</a>) for randomly generating and storing your passwords so that you can have unique passwords for different services without having to remember all of them.

<h2>2. Don't keep the same password for eternity.</h2>
Passwords, like the oil in your car, should be changed regularly. Many breaches happen over the course of weeks and months before an attacker will act on the data that they've captured. If you update your password, it's tough luck for the hacker. Don't make it easy for hackers and malicious users--just change your password on a regular basis.
<h3>Fix it</h3>
Set up a system that reminds you how old your passwords are. TeamPassword shows the last time you updated the password every time you use the account--shaming you every time you see "Last Updated: 5 years ago."

<h2>3. Don't store passwords in your browser.</h2>
Storing passwords in your browser is quick and easy, but if you lend your computer to a colleague, friend, or family member, they'll have easy access to all of your accounts. We've all seen those "Brian left his Facebook open!" posts made by someone's friend (and that's the polite version.) Imagine the kind of mischief--or trouble--someone could get into with access to, say, your bank account. Plus, if your passwords are stored in your browser, and only in your browser, when you're traveling, or if you're on a different computer for whatever reason, you'll be up a creek without a paddle. For example, you might think you won't need your passwords while you're traveling in Morocco--until you realize you forgot to schedule your car loan payment or you get a text message about suspicious activity on that credit card you hardly use.
<h3>Fix it</h3>
Use a logic management service that requires authentication to get to your passwords so that you can access them everywhere (and so that your friend Jessica can't be a jerk on your Facebook - or bank - account when she borrows your computer.)

<h2>4. Don't share your passwords too liberally.</h2>
We all need to share passwords from time to time, whether you're giving the WiFi password to a guest, or collaborating to update a Twitter account for a business. The problem is sharing too many passwords. Because bad habits often come in pairs or small groups, chances are you may be using that same password on other services, which exposes you to greater risks. Think of passwords like they're the keys to your house. You're not going to give that up to just anybody. Further, it's likely that you're going to forget who you shared your passwords with. It might not seem like a big problem now, but let's be honest, do you really want your crazy ex (or vindictive former employee) having access to any of your online accounts?
<h3>Fix it</h3>
Use a team password manager that helps you share passwords and lets you know who has access. That way, it's easy to add or remove password access as needed. Plus, you'll know quickly which passwords you need to change if you've parted ways with someone.

<h2>5. Don't share passwords via email</h2>
Email is an inherently insecure means of communication. You don't need to be Sony to be a target of an email hack. Never use email to send sensitive information. Plus, who wants to comb through old emails to find a password?
<h3>Fix it</h3>
Use a password storage service with strong security practices to share that sensitive information.

<h2>Bottom Line</h2>
If you have any of these bad habits, you need to stop doing them now, before one of the apps you use gets hacked. Your money, time, and even your identity can be stolen if you have bad password practices. We started TeamPassword to help teams avoid these password bad habits and the losses that come with poor password management. Try it out with our free <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup">14-day trial</a>. Secure your passwords, then work on putting the dishes away.

We all have bad habits--nothing compares to what happens if your accounts are compromised because you managed your passwords poorly.

We all have bad habits--letting emails pile up in the inbox, getting fast food for lunch, leaving dishes ...

5 Bad Password Habits to Break Immediately

We all have bad habits--letting emails pile up in the inbox, getting fast food for lunch, leaving dishes in the sink. We all do it. The typical bad habit isn't normally a big deal, but when it comes to managing your passwords, getting into a bad pattern can cost you serious time and money. We all know the hassle of forgetting a password and having to reset it, but that's nothing compared what you'll go through if your accounts are compromised because you managed your passwords poorly.

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://teampassword.com/blog/the-best-ways-to-store-passwords-2023" target="_blank" rel="follow 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://teampassword.com/blog/best-password-managers-for-teams" target="_blank" rel="follow noopener">password manager for teams</a> features a selection of security features, including password encryption and two-step verification. Sign up for a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/signup" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">free trial</a> today.&nbsp;
[Table of Contents]
<ul>
<li><a href="#email" rel="follow">Email</a></li>
<li><a href="#Documents" rel="follow">Online Documents</a></li>
<li><a href="#instantmessaging" rel="follow">Instant Messaging Service</a></li>
<li><a href="#onlinenotetaker" rel="follow">Online Note-taker</a></li>
<li><a href="#nonpasswordprotecteddevice" rel="follow">On a Non-Password-Protected Device</a></li>
</ul>

<h2 id="email">1. Email</h2>
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/efPCc2QZQ7C0OT1KeoKe" alt="" width="655" height="88">
We've all been there: struggling to remember a new password and considering emailing it to ourselves for safekeeping. While it might seem convenient, emailing passwords is a terrible security practice with far-reaching consequences. Here's why:
<ul>
<li data-sourcepos="7:3-7:245">Unencrypted Transmission: Emails often travel in plain text, like postcards. Anyone with access to the data stream &ndash; hackers, scammers, or even compromised servers &ndash; could easily intercept the email and steal your password in its entirety.</li>
<li data-sourcepos="9:3-9:33">Multiple Vulnerable Points: Even if the email itself is encrypted, your password is exposed at several stages. It's stored on your device before sending, sits unencrypted on email servers during transit, and resides in your sent folder &ndash; all potential points of entry for attackers.</li>
<li data-sourcepos="11:3-11:248">Local Storage Risks: Many email platforms store data locally on your devices. If your computer, phone, or tablet is stolen or infected with malware, even deleted emails containing passwords might be recoverable, putting your accounts at risk.</li>
</ul>
The ease with which cybercriminals can exploit these vulnerabilities makes emailing passwords a high-stakes gamble. A stolen password could grant them access to your bank accounts, social media profiles, email itself, and more. The <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/cybersecurity-complete-guide" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">damage can be immense</a>, so why risk it for a temporary convenience?

<h2 id="Documents">2. Online Documents</h2>
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/Hh6oH8AzTMSnQFUaPHR9" alt="" width="216" height="235">
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 id="instantmessaging">3. Instant Messaging Service</h2>
Instant messaging (IM) services like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Snapchat offer a convenient way to communicate, but they are not designed for securely storing passwords. While some IM platforms offer end-to-end encryption for message content, they lack crucial security features necessary for password management.
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.
Here's why storing passwords on IM apps is a security risk:
<ul data-sourcepos="9:1-9:155">
<li data-sourcepos="9:1-9:155">Accessibility on Unlocked Devices: IM apps are designed to run in the background on unlocked devices. This means anyone with physical access to your unlocked phone or computer could potentially view your unencrypted passwords.</li>
<li data-sourcepos="10:1-10:164">Accidental Sharing: A single inadvertent tap or screenshot could send your password to someone unintended, compromising the security of your online accounts.</li>
<li data-sourcepos="11:1-12:0">Limited Security Features: Unlike dedicated password managers, IM applications typically lack features like secure password generation, two-factor authentication, and strong encryption specifically designed to protect passwords.</li>
</ul>
Dedicated password management applications offer robust security features like encryption, secure storage, and auto-fill functionality for logins.
<h2 id="onlinenotetaker">4. Online Note-taker</h2>
While online note-taking applications like Apple Notes offer a convenient platform for managing everyday tasks and reminders, they are demonstrably unsuitable for storing sensitive information, particularly passwords. These platforms, designed for general purpose note-taking, lack the robust security features essential for safeguarding confidential credentials.
Here's why online note-taking apps pose a significant security risk for passwords:
<ul>
<li data-sourcepos="9:3-9:314">Absence of Multi-Factor Authentication: Unlike dedicated password managers, these applications typically do not offer multi-factor authentication (MFA). MFA adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second verification step beyond a simple password, significantly hindering unauthorized access attempts.</li>
<li data-sourcepos="11:3-11:322">Limited Encryption Capabilities: While some note-taking applications may offer basic encryption features, they often fall short of the robust encryption protocols employed by dedicated password management solutions. This weaker encryption leaves sensitive data vulnerable to potential decryption by malicious actors.</li>
<li data-sourcepos="13:3-13:97">Accessibility on Unlocked Devices: Online note-taking apps are designed for ease of use and accessibility. This ease of access translates to a vulnerability. If a user's device remains unlocked and unattended, a perpetrator would only need to access the specific application to view unencrypted passwords.</li>
</ul>
In a world of increasingly sophisticated cyber threats, it is critical to prioritize robust security practices. Online note-taking applications simply do not provide the necessary safeguards for password management. Users are strongly advised to consider secure alternatives, such as dedicated password managers or offline password vaults, to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of their login credentials.
<h2 id="nonpasswordprotecteddevice">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 data-sourcepos="7:1-7:6">Control Your Security and Choose Convenience with TeamPassword</h2>
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/0gCOt5oQBCE1vxckmRZC" alt="The TeamPassword Extension for Chrome lets you sign into any account in seconds" width="828" height="466">
Our digital vault safeguards your passwords with industry-leading AES 256-bit encryption and ironclad two-step authentication. Stop wasting time remembering &ndash; TeamPassword empowers you with secure, one-click logins across all your devices.
<ul>
<li data-sourcepos="9:1-9:157">Divide passwords into groups to share with appropriate team members</li>
<li data-sourcepos="9:1-9:157">Enforce 2FA for all users</li>
<li data-sourcepos="9:1-9:157">View activity logs for all of your records</li>
<li data-sourcepos="9:1-9:157">Use the TeamPassword browser extensions and mobile apps for lightning-fast access everywhere</li>
<li data-sourcepos="9:1-9:157">Save money with affordable plans configured for YOU</li>
</ul>
Don't settle for password purgatory. Take control with TeamPassword. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/signup" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Sign up for your FREE trial today</a> and experience the power of effortless security!

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

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

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