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

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

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

10 extremely successful freelancers and what they do

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

States and governments are constantly introducing privacy laws that mirror the notable <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/gdpr-was-it-really-a-big-deal">European GDPR</a> and California's CCPA. Security and privacy must be a high priority for agencies handling data (like client social media passwords).&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
Not only to comply with laws and respect people's privacy but also as a business strategy.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
If your company earns a reputation for password mismanagement and causing leaks or <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/category/data-breaches">data breaches</a>, you'll battle to find anyone who wants to work with you!
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Secure password management doesn't have to be expensive or disrupt workflows. TeamPassword is an <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">affordable password manager</a> designed for small businesses, startups, and agencies. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> to experience the ease and efficiency of robust password security with TeamPassword.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<h2>The Importance of Onboarding Clients Safely</h2>
Firstly, violating GDPR, CCPA, and other State regulations could result in hefty fines. In Europe, under GDPR, the maximum penalty is &pound;20 million or 4% of annual turnover. Google, British Airways, H&amp;M, and Marriot have all learned this the hard way&mdash;each receiving fines over &euro;10,000,000.
CCPA punishes California-based organizations similarly to GDPR and can take action against companies outside of California and the United States for data violations against its citizens. Virginia, New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, and Hawaii are working on similar data privacy laws with severe fines and penalties.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
While most agencies don't operate anywhere near the turnover of the multinationals mentioned above, a relative fine will still hurt cash flow and your brand's reputation.&nbsp;
A secure and professional onboarding experience will not only ensure you comply with legislation, but it'll impress your clients and build trust. If your customers know they're in safe hands, then they're less likely to look elsewhere.
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<h2>Examples of Poor Onboarding Practices &amp; Associated Risks</h2>
When agencies onboard new clients, they typically require access to social media accounts and any tools&mdash;social media management, analytics, research, etc. This access means clients need to share their passwords with your company.
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Here are some of the ways agencies onboard clients, the associated risks, and why you should avoid using them.
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<h3>Email</h3>
Email is a common way for clients and agencies to share passwords. It's also one of the most dangerous!&nbsp;
If someone breaches an employee or client's device, all they have to do is search your email using keywords like "password" or "Instagram password," and the relevant emails will appear. Even if you delete the emails, they usually stay in your deleted folder for 30 days.&nbsp;
It's also very easy to share emails, and you have no control over where employees, contractors, or freelancers forward these passwords&mdash;even if it's a mistake!
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<h3>Spreadsheets</h3>
Like email, spreadsheets are easy to copy and share. They're also simple for hackers to find when they breach a device.&nbsp;
Spreadsheets are particularly bad for sharing passwords because you generally store multiple credentials in one place&mdash;making it easy to steal an entire asset list. Worse still, if you keep all your client's credentials in one spreadsheet under multiple tabs!&nbsp;
The biggest issue with spreadsheets is that you can't segment access without creating multiple spreadsheets, which can become confusing if you deal with many clients and teams.
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<h3>Text &amp; Messaging Apps</h3>
Another common way people share passwords is via text or messaging apps like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Slack, and others. This method exposes similar vulnerabilities to email and spreadsheets where you have no control over unauthorized sharing. You also have to worry about team members losing their devices!&nbsp;
Many of these apps store your messages on a server, which means they're vulnerable to <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/category/data-breaches">data breaches</a>&mdash;which happen more often than you think!
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<h3>Forms</h3>
Another way agencies onboard clients and capture data like passwords is by using forms. A little more secure than other methods, but where do those submissions go? And how do you store and share the passwords once you receive them?&nbsp;
Form submissions often end up in email inboxes, which defeats the point of "securely transferring" data from your clients.&nbsp;
The most significant risk with these four onboarding methods is that employees use and share raw credentials. If you're <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/should-i-share-data-with-freelancers">sharing passwords with freelancers</a>, then that's even more problematic!
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<h2>How to Build Trust and Onboard Clients Securely</h2>
So, how do you receive data like client social media passwords securely? And how do your store and share credentials with coworkers safely?&nbsp;
With <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a>, you can capture client social media passwords and share those credentials with your teams. Here's how...
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First, create a TeamPassword group for your client.
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">If you haven't already, <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">sign up for a TeamPassword account</a>. It's free to try for 14 days&mdash;no credit card required.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Navigate to your account profile under Manage Teams.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Click Groups and Add a Group.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Use your client's name for the group and click Save Changes.</li>
</ol>
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Now, to onboard your client and ask them to enter their passwords directly into TeamPassword's password manager. It's like filling out a form, and TeamPassword's minimalist UI makes it easy to navigate and enter the required information.
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<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Under People, click Invite Your Team.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Enter your client's email address, set the Permission level to Member. Under Add to groups (optional): check the box next to your client's name and click Send Invitation.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Your client will receive an invite to join your TeamPassword account. They accept the invite by following the email link and creating a username and password. TeamPassword also allows people to sign in using Google.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">On the dashboard, your client clicks the blue and white + button to add a new password.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Under Name, they enter an obvious identifier, like Acme Co - Twitter, if the password is for their Twitter account.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Login URL: the URL where you log in. If they're not sure, ask them to enter the site's URL, for example, twitter.com&mdash;one of your team can correct this later.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">The Username and Password fields should be self-explanatory. Tell your client not to click Generate as this will create a new password!</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Notes: they can use this field to add any additional instructions.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Share with: your client should check your company name (not Only Me (Private))</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">When they click your company name, a second box will appear where your client needs to check their name and not Everyone at (Your Company).</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Lastly, they click Save, the password saves to your account and immediately appears on your TeamPassword dashboard.</li>
</ol>
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Your client repeats steps 4 to 11 for all of their passwords, and you have securely captured their data without exposing credentials.&nbsp;&nbsp;
As the account owner, you can edit your client's credentials to correct any onboarding errors.&nbsp;
We highly recommend resetting all of your client's passwords to ensure they're strong and every account has unique credentials. Your client can view the new credentials and use TeamPassword's browser extensions or mobile app to continue to log in to their accounts.&nbsp;
It's a good idea to share an instructional video (using Loom or similar) or provide live onboarding to guide them through the process.
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If your client isn't using a password manager, encourage them to <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">sign up for TeamPassword</a> to securely store and share all of their company credentials.
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<h2>Common Password Security Risks</h2>
Here are the top five <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/top-five-mistakes-when-sharing-passwords-with-your-team">mistakes companies make when sharing passwords</a> with teams.
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Creating Weak Passwords: weak passwords make it easy for attackers to breach your digital assets. Never use your company/platform (like Instagram or Twitter) name, sequential numbers (123), and other easy-to-guess personal/company information. TeamPassword features a built-in <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">password generator</a>, so teams always create strong, random passwords with uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Storing Passwords in Plaintext: plaintext includes emails, digital note pads, spreadsheets, messaging apps. <a href="https://teampassword.com/security">TeamPassword uses AES 256-Bit encryption</a> to store your passwords. We hash, salt, and encrypt data locally on your computer before uploading them to our servers. Not even TeamPassword employees can view your passwords!</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Reusing Passwords: reusing passwords exposes you to <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/five-most-common-password-attacks">credential stuffing attacks</a> where hackers use the same credentials to access other accounts using the same username and password combination. With TeamPassword's password generator, you can create unique credentials for every account.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Memorable Passwords: we often create passwords using memorable words or phrases, like pets/family names, street addresses, mobile numbers, etc. Hackers know this! With some social media research, criminals can gather "keywords" about your life and add them to password-cracking algorithms to perform what's called a <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/five-most-common-password-attacks">dictionary attack</a>&mdash;a highly focused brute force attack where algorithms try username and password combinations until they find a match.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Changing Passwords Frequently: if you're not using a password manager or password generator, changing passwords too frequently could expose vulnerabilities. Employees tend to develop password-creation patterns which hackers can use to guess your credentials or refine algorithms for a dictionary attack.</li>
</ol>
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When you're working with high-value clients, these sorts of password attacks are not out of the realm of possibility! Make sure you always <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">use a password manager</a> to keep your client's social media passwords and other digital assets safe from attack!
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<h2>Try TeamPassword for Free</h2>
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a free TeamPassword trial</a> to test our password manager with your team and clients. Stop using poor onboarding practices and provide peace of mind for your clients with <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a>.

Make sure you always use a password manager to keep your client's social media passwords and other digital assets safe from attack!

Make sure you always use a password manager to keep your client's social media passwords and other digital ...

How to store client social media passwords correctly

Adobe is at the heart of most businesses, especially creative agencies running on apps like Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, and Premiere Pro, to name a few.&nbsp;
The problem with Adobe is that it's expensive, especially if you're a cash-strapped startup and you have to purchase multiple subscriptions. When added to the other tools and expenses, subscription fees devour cash flow.
Small businesses get around purchasing multiple subscriptions by sharing Adobe cloud credentials with teammates to save costs. Agencies might also have to provide freelancers and contractors temporary access to Adobe services they don't have.
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If you are sharing Adobe Cloud account credentials, using a password manager can mitigate the risk of unauthorized sharing and access. TeamPassword is an affordable password management solution for teams to share company credentials securely and efficiently. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> today!
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<h2>Important Disclaimer</h2>
It's important to note that sharing Adobe credentials is against the company's terms of use, so there is no feature within the Adobe suite to share a single account with coworkers.
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Adobe's terms of terms state under section 6.2 (C):
You must not misuse the Services or Software. For example, you must not: enable or allow others to use the Services or Software using your account information;
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However, we understand there are circumstances where you need to share an Adobe account, so this article demonstrates how to do this securely.
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<h2>Adobe Services That Agencies Use Regularly</h2>
Adobe has a massive suite of creative tools and software, but most agencies often use five core products.&nbsp;
Instead of purchasing each separately, it's cheaper to subscribe to the All Apps Business package and share access with teammates. You'll need to calculate how many packages you need for internal teams and possibly an extra one for freelancers to use.
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<h3>Adobe Acrobat</h3>
Adobe Acrobat allows agencies to create, edit, share and sign PDF documents. Adobe Acrobat is essential for sending client proposals, reports and requesting e-signatures for service agreements.
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<h3>Photoshop</h3>
Photoshop is one of Adobe's most popular products because it allows creatives to work with many pixel-based designs, including images, webpages, logos, proposals, and more.
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<h3>Illustrator</h3>
Illustrator is arguably one of the most popular and widely-used vector-based design programs. Creatives use Illustrator to design logos and other graphics.
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<h3>Premiere Pro</h3>
Premiere Pro is an advanced video editing suite agencies often use to create professional video content. Agencies sometimes use Premiere Pro with After Effects to enhance VFX and motion graphics.
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<h3>XD</h3>
Adobe XD is a popular UI/UX design software agencies often use to design websites, applications, and other digital products.&nbsp;&nbsp;
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<h3>The Challenges of Sharing an Adobe Account</h3>
<h3>Two Device Limit</h3>
Adobe allows you to sign in to Creative Cloud on two devices. So, effectively you can share a single Adobe account with two teammates.&nbsp;
If you sign into a third device, Adobe will forward you to a webpage displaying your three devices and prompt you to sign out of one.
It might be easier to manage the two-device limit if you're working with remote teams spread across different time zones since employees work at different times.
But, if you're working in the same office, using the same Adobe credentials might require some communication to prevent overlap.
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<h3>Sharing Adobe Credentials Safely</h3>
Adobe Cloud accounts often contain sensitive client and company data. You must protect this information by ensuring that you <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-safely-share-passwords-with-coworkers">share passwords safely with coworkers</a>!
Sharing Adobe credentials (or any passwords for that matter) via email, spreadsheets, messaging apps, or digital notepads can expose your company to cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
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<h2>How to Share an Adobe Account Safely</h2>
While we can't help with Adobe's two-device limit, we can provide a solution for sharing credentials safely, including with freelancers.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
A <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager</a> is the best way to share passwords safely with coworkers. TeamPassword offers a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">14-day free trial</a> for you to try-before-you-buy!
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Once you have signed up for a TeamPassword account, you can follow these step-by-step instructions:
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Invite your teams to TeamPassword, so everyone has a separate login.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Add the Adobe Creative Cloud account(s) you want to share to TeamPassword.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Create groups for each Adobe account to share credentials. You can put all the Adobe accounts into one group, but this might cause confusion.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">If you have two employees per Adobe account, you can pair teammates to share access to a single set of credentials.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Team members can log into Adobe Cloud using one of TeamPassword's browser extensions.</li>
</ol>
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
You can also create a separate TeamPassword account and group to <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/should-i-share-data-with-freelancers">share passwords with freelancers</a>.
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<h2>What is TeamPassword &amp; How Does it Work?</h2>
Companies can use TeamPassword to store and share all of your company's passwords. Team members can also use the <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager</a> to save individual credentials for email, Slack, cloud services, and other personal logins.
Keeping all of your company's passwords in one secure password manager allows you to mitigate password attacks and other <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/what-is-a-security-audit-and-does-my-business-need-one">security vulnerabilities</a>.
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<h3>Built for Teams Startups, Small Businesses, &amp; Agencies</h3>
Most enterprise <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/what-is-password-vaulting">password vaults</a> are simply too expensive, with many features small businesses don't need.&nbsp;
We designed TeamPassword because we recognized that many startups, <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-manage-your-small-business-passwords">small businesses, and marketing agencies often share passwords</a> among coworkers using unsecure methods.
Rather than provide you with services you don't need, TeamPassword focuses on simple, secure, and efficient credential sharing. Our minimalist UI means you can onboard new team members in minutes, maximizing your team's productivity.
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Here's how TeamPassword increases security and productivity with a robust password management solution for small businesses, startups, and agencies.
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<h3>Sharing Access via Groups</h3>
Create groups to share access with coworkers in TeamPassword. You can set these groups up however you like, by department, project, client, etc. You can also create separate groups for different teams with access to the same credentials&mdash;like employees, clients, and contractors.
If someone or an entire group no longer needs access, you can remove them with a single click!
Employees can also use TeamPassword for their other company passwords that they don't need to share. When you create new credentials, TeamPassword gives you two Share with options:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Only Me (Private)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Choose one of your groups</li>
</ul>
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<h3>Login From Any Device</h3>
Instead of manually entering a username and password, team members use TeamPassword's browser extensions (Firefox, Chrome, Safari) or mobile app (iOS &amp; Android).
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<h3>Stronger Passwords</h3>
Reusing credentials and weak passwords are two password mistakes small businesses often make. TeamPassword's built-in <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">password generator</a> lets you create strong, unique credentials for every account&mdash;mitigating several security vulnerabilities!&nbsp;
Generate passwords from 12-32 characters using letters (uppercase &amp; lowercase), numbers, and symbols. You can also use our password generator to create <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/best-types-of-usernames-username-ideas-to-make-your-logins-more-secure">unique usernames</a>, enhancing your credential security!
When you reset passwords, TeamPassword automatically updates the credentials for all users so employees can keep working without disruptions.
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<h3>Two-Factor Authentication</h3>
TeamPassword's two-factor authentication (2FA) requires a six-digital Google Authenticator code before a team member can log in. Each employee can also generate security codes so they're never locked out of their TeamPassword account.
If someone manages to steal an employee's TeamPassword credentials, 2FA prevents attackers from a full breach.
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<h3>Activity Log &amp; Email Notifications</h3>
TeamPassword keeps track of every user's action with a date and time log. You can also set up email notifications for instant alerts to sensitive TeamPassword actions, groups, or credentials.
The activity log is also helpful for investigating data breaches, unauthorized access, and sharing.
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<h2>Why You Should Use a Password Manager to Share Credentials</h2>
Most data breaches happen as a result of password attacks and poor credential management policies. Using a password manager reduces the risk of exposing passwords to attackers while giving companies control over sharing and access.
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Here are 5 most common password attacks that a password manager can help prevent:
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Phishing is a social engineering attack and one of the most common methods criminals use to steal employee credentials. Hackers use spoofed communication to trick employees into sharing their credentials or sensitive information.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Hackers use automated bots on login pages during a brute force attack to try username and password combinations until one works. Most applications use Google reCAPTCHA and 2FA to minimize these attacks, but using random usernames and passwords significantly reduces the likelihood of a brute force attack.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">If your company reuses passwords, you're exposing yourself to a credential stuffing attack where hackers use stolen credentials to log into other applications and services using the same username and password combination.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">A dictionary attack is why you should not rely on team members to create passwords! Most people use familiar password phrases like pets, children, street names, etc. Criminals can research this information through employee bios and social media accounts, building a "dictionary" of information on victims. They add these terms to algorithms that effectively use a more focused brute force attack.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">A man-in-the-middle-attack (MitM) is where hackers intercept data (including passwords) as it's sent from one system to another. Common MitM attack methods include unencrypted WiFi networks or HTTP websites.</li>
</ol>
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
By using <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword's password manager</a>, companies can significantly reduce the risk of these common attacks.
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<h2>Try TeamPassword for Free</h2>
Ready to test TeamPassword with your team? <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> to experience the security and efficiency of working with TeamPassword!

Adobe Cloud often contain sensitive client and company data. Experience security and efficiency by using TeamPassword's password manager.

Adobe Cloud accounts often contain sensitive client and company data. By using TeamPassword's password manager, companies can significantly ...

Sharing Adobe Cloud credentials with teammates

Adobe Cloud accounts often contain sensitive client and company data. By using TeamPassword's password manager, companies can significantly reduce the risk of common attacks.

Social media is the core of modern marketing strategy. It's an opportunity for brands to engage with their target market while driving traffic to products and services.
Many social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest only allow a single account login&mdash;meaning team members have to share credentials.
If you're not securely sharing social media credentials with teammates, you could expose your company, clients, and customers to attacks and data leaks.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
TeamPassword is a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager</a> designed to help small businesses and agencies <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-safely-share-passwords-with-coworkers">share credentials with coworkers safely</a> and efficiently. Try TeamPassword for your company with a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">14-day free trial</a>.
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<h2>Security Risks of Managing Social Media Accounts</h2>
Social media accounts are usually a high-risk digital asset to manage because multiple team members share a single login.&nbsp;
Reckless and unsafe password sharing methods, like spreadsheets, emails, or text messages, increase your vulnerability to attack&mdash;even by mistake!
For example, someone could accidentally share access to a spreadsheet containing your social media accounts' credentials. Emails and text messages are also easy to share.
You also have to worry about sharing these credentials with freelancers and contractors; who has access to their devices or who they share your accounts with!
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<h3>What Happens if Your Passwords end up in the Wrong Hands?</h3>
Several things could happen if your social media passwords end up in the wrong hands:
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Attackers could change your email and password, locking you out and holding the account ransom.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Post content to scam users out of money&mdash;one of the fallouts from the <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/what-happened-during-the-twitter-spear-phishing-attack">2020 Twitter spear-phishing attack</a>.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Steal customer data from direct messages.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">If you use the same credentials for other social media accounts, hackers could log into those too&mdash;also known as credential stuffing!</li>
</ol>
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<h3>What if you Forget Your Passwords?</h3>
In most cases, you can reset your password very easily using your email address. But there are instances where you might forget your password and no longer have access to the email address&mdash;something that's very possible at a company where the person who set up the social media account has left the company!
If you've forgotten your Facebook password, you have several recovery options, but other social media platforms only allow a standard password reset.&nbsp;
Recovering a social media account without access to an email address is near impossible. Just getting customer support to help you is a monumental challenge. Ever tried to contact customer support at a social media company? They rarely ever reply or offer any meaningful support!
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>The Responsibility of Clients' Social Media Assets</h3>
Marketing agencies also need to consider the risk of losing their clients' social media accounts to hackers&mdash;which could be disastrous for a client's brand and your contract!
Not only do you have to worry about the social media accounts themselves, but hackers using the profile's contact details (like mobile number and email) for spear phishing attacks on your clients.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
You can manage these social media risks with one easy and affordable <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password management solution from TeamPassword</a>.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<h2>Using a Password Manager for Social Media Credentials</h2>
A password manager lets you store and <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/keeping-data-secure-when-working-with-freelancers">share credentials with freelancers</a> and employees. We designed TeamPassword for small businesses and agencies to share credentials with internal and external team members securely.
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With TeamPassword, you never have to worry about forgetting your passwords or getting locked out of accounts because team members store passwords in a single <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager</a>.
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<h3>Sharing Social Media Credentials Through Groups</h3>
Create groups for your social media accounts in TeamPassword and invite team members who need access. When someone leaves the team, simply revoke their access with a single click.
TeamPassword lets you connect multiple groups to the same credentials so that you can separate access by internal teams, freelancers, and clients, for example. This separation makes it easier to manage an entire group or set different rules for each team.
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<h3>Logging in Using TeamPassword</h3>
Instead of using a username and password to log in to social media accounts, team members can use TeamPassword's browser extensions or our mobile app.
TeamPassword has browser extensions for Firefox, Chrome, and Safari so that team members can access accounts no matter their preferred operating system.&nbsp;
When a team member logs into a social media platform, TeamPassword's browser extension shows the available accounts. There's also a search function to quickly find the credentials. Select the one you need, and TeamPassword populates the username and password fields for you to log in&mdash;easy!
Teams can also use TeamPassword's app (iOS and Android) to log into mobile-only applications. They can search for the credentials in TeamPassword, then copy/paste the username and password to log in.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
<h3>Robust Usernames and Passwords</h3>
Create robust passwords for every social media account with TeamPassword's built-in <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">password generator</a>. You can also <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/best-types-of-usernames-username-ideas-to-make-your-logins-more-secure">generate usernames</a> to make credentials extra secure!
TeamPassword's password generator lets you create passwords from 12-32 characters with numbers, uppercase, lowercase, and symbols. When you reset a password in TeamPassword, it updates the new credentials for all team members so work can continue without disruptions.
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<h3>Securing TeamPassword With Two-Step Authentication</h3>
What happens if attackers steal someone's TeamPassword credentials? Every <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/password-manager-with-2fa">TeamPassword account has 2FA</a> so that team members can create a second authentication step using the Google Authenticator app (iOS &amp; Android).
So, if attackers steal a team member's TeamPassword account, they can't log in without the six-digital Google Authenticator code. Employees can also generate backup codes, so they never get locked out of their TeamPassword account.
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<h3>Tracking Activity</h3>
TeamPassword's activity log lets you track team members' actions like logins, sharing, password resets, new team members, and more. The activity log also helps investigate unauthorized sharing and access.
You can also set up email notifications for all TeamPassword actions to get instant alerts to sensitive accounts.
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Why not try TeamPassword with your social media team? We offer a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">14-day free trial</a> for companies to test our features&mdash;no credit card required!
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<h2>Other Tools to Manage Social Media Securely</h2>
Social media management tools not only help manage accounts but also limit access to social media accounts. Teams can do a lot of social media tasks through these apps, minimizing the necessity to log into the actual social media platform.
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Here are some of our five top social media tools for 2021.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
<h3>Buffer</h3>
Buffer is a popular social media management and analytics platform. You can schedule, publish, and engage with followers, so team members can do most of the work from Buffer rather than logging into the social media account.
You have to pay per social media account and double for the team pack add-on, so it might be best to get the single user and share access through TeamPassword.
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<h3>Hootsuite</h3>
Hootsuite is one of the largest and most comprehensive social media management tools available. They also have a fantastic resources section and Hootsuite Academy to learn about social media strategies and getting the most out of the tool.
Hootsuite is slightly cheaper than Buffer, but you still pay more for additional users, so we recommend using a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager</a> and sharing credentials.
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<h3>Sprout Social</h3>
Sprout Social is another social media management application, but with excellent monitoring and analysis tools. The UI makes it easy to generate reports and insights into hashtags, trends, engagement, user data, and more!
At $99 per month per user, Sprout Social is expensive, so you might want to consider sharing access rather than having a separate login for every person.
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<h3>BuzzSumo</h3>
BuzzSumo is an excellent tool for discovering the most shared blog content on social media. You can also find influencers in your niche that are likely to share or promote your content.
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<h3>MeetEdgar</h3>
MeetEdgar is the social media management tool for small businesses and startups. The app automates many mundane social media tasks and will even recycle old content on the days you forget to schedule something!
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<h2>Managing ALL Your Tools and Digital Assets With TeamPassword</h2>
TeamPassword's password manager is not just for social media accounts but all your company's digital assets.
Each team member can also store their private credentials (Slack, email, LinkedIn, etc.) in TeamPassword, so no company passwords are ever exposed!
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<h3>Is TeamPassword Safe?</h3>
TeamPassword uses <a href="https://teampassword.com/security">state-of-the-art encryption technology</a> to store your company's passwords. We hash, salt, and encrypt passwords locally on your computer before uploading them to our servers&mdash;not even TeamPassword employees can view your passwords!
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Our developers follow strict security protocols when deploying code and updates and carry out frequent vulnerability sweeps to scan our systems for viruses and ensure no backdoors lead to your sensitive data.
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<h3>Getting Started With TeamPassword</h3>
How your company can get started sharing passwords safely in five easy steps:
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a free 14-day trial</a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Add your company's shared credentials to TeamPassword</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Invite team members to create their TeamPassword account&mdash;make sure you instruct everyone to set up 2FA and security codes before they start using their account</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Create groups and share access with relevant team members</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Team members use TeamPassword's browser extensions or mobile app to log into accounts</li>
</ol>
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
Secure your company's social media accounts and other digital assets with TeamPassword's robust password management solution today!

Secure your company's social media accounts and other digital assets with TeamPassword's robust password management solution today!

Sharing Social media credentials with teammates

Password attacks are usually the primary cause of most <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/category/data-breaches">data breaches</a>. Criminals are constantly searching for password vulnerabilities to access organizations' devices, systems, and networks.&nbsp;
Once attackers breach your company's network, it's extremely difficult to remove them. In some instances, it can take months to remove hackers from a network completely.&nbsp;
With a password manager, businesses can prevent most password attacks. Password managers allow companies to store their credentials in an encrypted platform, preventing hackers from accessing or stealing passwords in the event of a breach.
We designed TeamPassword specifically for small businesses and startups to store and <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-safely-share-passwords-with-coworkers">share passwords safely with coworkers</a>. TeamPassword is the most affordable password manager using state-of-the-art encryption technology to secure your data.
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<h2>How TeamPassword Prevents Password Attacks</h2>
Most password attacks happen as a result of poor credential management and a lack of employee training. TeamPassword improves your company's password security, mitigating the five common password attacks listed below.
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<h3>Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)</h3>
2FA adds an extra step to each employee's TeamPassword account. If cybercriminals steal an employee's credentials through a successful password attack, 2FA prevents a full breach.
TeamPassword uses Google Authenticator, which is available for iOS and Android devices. Employees need to enter their password and the six-digit TeamPassword code to log into their account.
Team members can also create backup codes, so they're never locked out of their TeamPassword account&mdash;even if they lose their Google Authenticator device.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>Create Secure Passwords for Every Account</h3>
Weak and reused passwords expose a company to many password vulnerabilities. TeamPassword's built-in <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">password generator</a> ensures you create robust credentials for every account and never reuse the same password.
The password generator lets you create passwords 12-32 characters long using letters (uppercase/lowercase), symbols, and numbers. You can also use our password generator to <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/username-generator-why-you-need-one">create unique usernames</a>, increasing the strength of your company's credentials.
With all your credentials stored inside TeamPassword, you never have to remember usernames and passwords!
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<h3>Activity Logging and Email Notifications</h3>
TeamPassword's activity log records every action team members perform inside the password manager. You can also set up email notifications for sensitive actions or accounts so that you can get ahead of any suspicious activity.
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<h3>Share Passwords Safely</h3>
Password attacks often happen as a result of human error and careless credential management.&nbsp;
TeamPassword allows teams to share passwords securely through the password manager, so you never have to worry about exposing raw credentials through emails, chat apps, spreadsheets, and other unsecure methods.
Instead of entering a username and password, teams use TeamPassword's browser extensions (Firefox, Chrome, Safari) to log into your company's tools, applications, and other accounts.
TeamPassword also has a mobile app for logging in to mobile-only applications. Employees simply copy/paste the credentials they need and log in!
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
Get started with a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">14-day free trial</a> and protect your company's digital assets with <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword's robust password manager</a>.
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<h2>5 Most Common Password Attacks</h2>
These are the five most common password attacks criminals use to steal your employee's credentials. Using a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager</a> can minimize or eliminate these types of attacks.
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<h3>1 - Social Engineering (Phishing)</h3>
Social engineering is an umbrella term for many psychological manipulation attacks. Essentially, social engineering attacks con team members into sharing sensitive information or installing malicious software.
Social engineering is often complicated for employees to identify, and many well-educated professionals from government agencies and multinational corporations fall for these scams.
Criminals often use email to launch phishing attacks but can use text (smishing), social media, phone calls (vishing), and other communication methods. Attackers might also impersonate someone to trick employees into revealing sensitive data&mdash;which is how a 17-year-old managed to <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/what-happened-during-the-twitter-spear-phishing-attack">breach Twitter's networks in 2020</a>.
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Aside from phishing, social engineering attacks also include:
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Spear-phishing - a targeted attack on a specific group or individual where criminals reveal enough data that victims believe they are communicating with a legitimate source.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Watering hole attack - criminals target a website or platform frequented by a specific group of professionals&mdash;like a chat room for accountants. Attackers look for vulnerabilities in the website to install malicious code. When victims visit the infected website, they simultaneously download malware and trojans, giving attackers remote access to their device and eventually the company's network.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Baiting - hackers leave an infected storage device (USB drive, CD, external hard drive) lying near a target's location. In a bid to find out what's on the drive, victims insert it into their PC, which immediately installs a malicious package, giving hackers remote access.</li>
</ol>
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To prevent social engineering, companies must educate employees and use an effective password management strategy.
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<h3>2 - Man-in-the-Middle-Attack</h3>
A Man-in-the-middle (MitM) attack is where hackers intercept data (passwords included) as it's passed from one system to another. The hackers might relay this information uninterrupted and steal data or manipulate it, so the receiver gets false information.
MitM attacks can happen wherever data passes through a network or from one system to another. For example, if an employee uses an unencrypted public WiFi network, hackers can intercept the data they send and receive&mdash;stealing passwords and other sensitive information.
MitM attacks often happen when websites or servers don't use secure HTTPS encryption. Attackers install malicious code on these websites, allowing them to intercept any data passed through forms&mdash;including usernames and passwords!
In 2017, Equifax had to pull its mobile apps from the Apple App Store and Google Play because it had security flaws vulnerable to MitM attacks with traffic passing through HTTP instead of HTTPS servers.
TeamPassword prevents MitM by hashing, salting, and encrypting your passwords locally on your computer before uploading them to our servers. If attackers manage to intercept data, they're unable to read or decode it!
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<h3>3 - Brute Force Attack</h3>
Hackers use automated tools to crawl websites, trying username and password combinations until they find a match. With tools like Google reCaptcha and two-step authentication, these brute force attacks are less successful than they were ten years ago, but hackers continue to try!
If your company uses the WordFence WordPress plugin, you'll notice bots bombard your website with these sorts of brute force attacks all day, every day.
Brute force attacks are highly effective for hacking accounts where victims use a weak username and password combination. For example, using the company's name or an employee gives attackers half of your credentials.
Creating unique, <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/best-types-of-usernames-username-ideas-to-make-your-logins-more-secure">random usernames</a> paired with a strong password minimizes the chance of falling victim to brute force attacks.
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<h3>4 - Credential Stuffing Attack</h3>
Credential stuffing attacks are similar to brute force attacks and common fallouts from data breaches. Hackers use credentials stolen during a data breach to access other websites and applications where victims might use the same username and password combination.
Criminals auction these stolen credentials on the dark web, often selling the same database to multiple buyers, resulting in attacks from numerous unscrupulous individuals.
Credential stuffing is a fully automated attack system where criminals use bots to visit websites and platforms to find a match.
Credential stuffing attacks are relatively common, and criminals have breached big corporations like Superdrug (UK retailer) and Uber.&nbsp;
In 2016, criminals used stolen credentials from a previous data breach to access one of Uber's private GitHub repositories for the UK and Europe. The 12 Uber employees hadn't activated two-factor authentication, so hackers were able to easily login. The attackers also gained access to Uber's AWS datastore, making off with more than 32 million Uber driver records!
There is an easy solution to eliminate the risk of credential stuffing&mdash;never use the same password more than once! Users should also use two-factor authentication, which will prevent both brute force and credential stuffing attacks.
TeamPassword's <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/password-manager-with-2fa">password manager uses two-factor authentication</a> to prevent attackers from accessing your account, even if they steal an employee's credentials. You can also create backup codes so employees are never locked out of their TeamPassword account.
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<h3>5 - Dictionary Attack</h3>
A dictionary attack is similar to a brute force attack, except criminals narrow down a list of possible passwords. These words or phrases might include an individual's pets, kids, address information, company details, date of births, the platform's name, and other commonly used passwords.
Criminals create an algorithm that cycles through these "dictionary words" until they find a match. How do hackers get this information?
It's freely available on company/personal websites and social media. With less than an hour's research, hackers can learn your pet's and family members' names, when you celebrate birthdays, where you live, work, and go to the gym. They can enter all of these keywords into their algorithm and let bots do the rest.
With TeamPassword's password generator, you never create familiar or recognizable passwords&mdash;eliminating any risk of your company falling victim to dictionary attacks.
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<h2>Try TeamPassword to Protect Your Passwords</h2>
The biggest takeaway from this article is:
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Never reuse passwords</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Don't create weak passwords or use familiar phrases</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Always use two-factor authentication when it's available</li>
</ol>
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Protect your company from password attacks with TeamPassword's secure password management solution. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Try TeamPassword for 14 days</a> to test sharing passwords safely with your team.

Learn the five most common password attacks criminals use, and how using a password manager can minimize your vulnerability.

Learn the five most common password attacks criminals use, and how using a password manager can minimize your ...

5 most common password attacks

Five most common password attacks

Password vaulting is the practice of storing passwords in a password manager (or vault) and using that vault to sign in to other accounts, applications, and websites. It&rsquo;s an essential <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/10-easy-cybersecurity-strategies-for-small-businesses">cybersecurity strategy</a> every business must consider.&nbsp;
Password vaults provide small businesses with a secure way to manage company and employee credentials without the cost of enterprise SSO (Single Sign-On) solutions.
The idea behind password vaulting is that you only sign into one application (the vault) and use that app to provide authentication to all your other accounts.
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a> is essentially a password vault. A company and its team members store all their credentials in TeamPassword and use browser extensions or a mobile app to log in to other accounts.
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TeamPassword is designed to make sharing credentials with team members safe and easy! <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for TeamPassword's 14-day free trial</a> to explore our security features with your team today!
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<h2>Why is Password Vaulting Necessary?</h2>
Password vaulting solves many cybersecurity vulnerabilities that arise from storing and sharing credentials.
For example, it's not uncommon for companies to share passwords via email, chat, or spreadsheets. The problem with these methods is that they're not secure methods for storing and sharing passwords. In some states or countries, this practice may even be illegal!
With a password vault, team members use an encrypted app to share credentials. All company credentials stay inside the vault, mitigating unauthorized sharing and access.
Password vaulting also mitigates the need for employees to remember multiple credentials&mdash;often leading to team members reusing passwords or creating weak passwords in an attempt to remember them all!
With a password vault, you only need to remember one set of credentials&mdash;your <a href="https://www.teampassword.com/blog/master-password-what-is-it-and-do-i-need-one">master password</a>. The password vault then authenticates you for every other account. So, businesses and employees can <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/tips-and-tricks-to-create-a-strong-password">create strong passwords</a> and never reuse credentials.
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<h2>What is SSO?</h2>
SSO (Single Sign-On) is an authentication management solution where team members use one set of credentials to sign into an organization's identity and access management (IAM) system. The system works in the background, providing access to all of the organization's apps, tools, networks, and other platforms.
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IAM solutions usually require <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/one-time-passwords-vs-two-factor-authentication">multifactor authentication</a>, which may include one or more of the following:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">OTP - one-time password (via text or email)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">App-based authentication - Google Authenticator or custom solution</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Biometrics - fingerprint, facial recognition</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">USB password key</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Location/IP-based sign in - can only sign in from a particular location or IP address </li>
</ul>
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<h3>SSO vs. Password Vaulting</h3>
The main difference between SSO and password vaulting is that users must still sign into accounts using a vault, whereas they only sign in once with SSO.
Password vaulting is about protecting passwords, but SSO manages many authentication aspects to ensure the correct user is accessing the system.
SSO is significantly more expensive than password vaulting because many apps and platforms require custom integrations for authentication or only work with enterprise subscription plans&mdash;which can cost thousands, hundreds of thousands, or even millions of dollars per month!
For small businesses and agencies, password vaulting or a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager</a> is a sufficient credential management solution.
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<h2>When to Upgrade From Password Vaulting to SSO?</h2>
In most instances, upgrading from password vaulting to SSO will align with growth. Password managers work well for small businesses, but take strain as a company and its team grows.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
Here are four reasons why companies upgrade from password vaulting to SSO.
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<h3>Your Organization Requires More Security</h3>
One of the main reasons companies upgrade from password vaulting to SSO is to improve security. If a company manages large amounts of user data, then an enterprise authentication solution like SSO is essential to protect the company and its users from breaches.
Companies only have to protect one entry point with SSO, as team members cannot log in to individual applications or accounts, making it easier to manage security and thwart attacks.
SSO also comes with advanced session monitoring capability allowing IT and security teams to identify suspicious activity.
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<h3>Improve Efficiency</h3>
As a company scales, the number of apps, tools, accounts, and plugins increases. According to the global software giant Pegasystems, its clients' employees switch "job-critical" applications around 1,100 times per day!
If employees have to use a password manager to sign into every account, authentication could take up a lot of time, decreasing daily productivity.
Companies must assess how much time they're losing to authentication using password vaulting vs. the cost of an SSO to determine when to upgrade for productivity reasons.
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<h3>Growth Exceeds Password Vaulting Efficiency</h3>
All password vaults must make server requests to provide authentication to team members. As teams grow, server requests increase exponentially. Multiple requests decrease server speed, which could delay authentication by several seconds. If you have too many people trying to log into the same application, authentication might fail for some users.
It's essential to keep track of these delays and failures, as this is a good indication that you have outgrown password vaulting and must upgrade to SSO.
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<h3>Using Multiple Environments</h3>
If your team only works on a single environment, like Windows or Linux, password vaulting will provide sufficient security. But, if your team switches between multiple environments and systems, SSO is crucial for reducing sign-ins and increasing security.
Admins might also need to set up different access and account privileges for each user or user group, which is easier to achieve with SSO than password vaulting.
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<h2>Secure Password Vaulting From TeamPassword</h2>
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword's password manager</a> is a secure password vaulting solution for small businesses and agencies managing multiple company and client accounts.
The average TeamPassword client shares around 150 passwords, including content management systems, social media accounts, websites, marketing tools, and email marketing software, to name a few&mdash;this excludes employee credentials for individual logins like Slack, email, Asana, etc.
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<h3>Group and Individual Password Management</h3>
Team members can use TeamPassword for shared and individual accounts, so all your credentials are in one place!&nbsp;
When a team member creates a new password, they check Share with to Only Me (Private) to set up private credentials. From the dashboard, team members can also see the groups where they have shared access.
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<h3>Sharing Credentials in TeamPassword</h3>
Once you sign up for TeamPassword, you can create groups for the accounts you need to share&mdash;by department, project, client, team, etc.
You then invite your team members and share passwords through these groups. Instead of using raw credentials, employees use TeamPassword's browser extensions (Firefox, Chrome, Safari) to log into shared applications. TeamPassword also has an app for teams that need to log in to mobile-only applications.
When someone no longer needs access, simply remove them from a TeamPassword group with a single click&mdash;no more changing credentials when employees leave the company or a team.
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<h3>Stronger Passwords</h3>
TeamPassword's built-in <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">password generator</a> allows you to create robust, unique credentials for every account. You can create passwords from 12-32 characters using symbols, uppercase, lowercase, and numbers.
Once you save a new password, TeamPassword updates the credentials for all team members. So you don't lose time notifying and sharing new password updates&mdash;work continues as usual!
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<h3>Activity Logging and Email Notifications</h3>
A good password management solution allows you to not only protect company passwords, but monitor activity. TeamPassword's activity tracker lets you monitor all TeamPassword actions, including new passwords, sharing, logins, new groups, deleting credentials, and more.
You can also set up email notifications for each group to monitor sensitive data or critical TeamPassword actions.
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<h3>Two-Factor Authentication</h3>
Each team member can set up two-factor authentication (2FA) for their TeamPassword account using Google Authenticator (iOS and Android).
Many platforms, including Facebook, crypto wallets, and banks, trust Google Authenticator for 2FA. With 2FA, attackers must steal an employee's password and the device with Google Authenticator to hack their TeamPassword account.
You can also create backup codes, so you're never locked out of your TeamPassword account!
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<h3>How Safe is TeamPassword?</h3>
TeamPassword is a secure hosting provider with multiple international accreditations. We encrypt your data using state-of-the-art AES 256-bit encryption technology&mdash;trusted by US government agencies and multinational corporations worldwide!
TeamPassword hashes, salts, and encrypts passwords locally on your computer before uploading them to our servers, thus preventing attackers from intercepting your data. With 256-bit encryption, your passwords stay hidden, even from TeamPassword staff!
We follow strict security protocols when deploying code and updates while carrying out frequent vulnerability sweeps to scan our systems for viruses and ensure no backdoors lead to your sensitive data.
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<h2>Get Started With TeamPassword for Free</h2>
Ready to get the affordable password vaulting solution for your business? 
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Try TeamPassword for free for 14-days</a> to test our security features with your team&mdash;no obligation, no credit card details required!
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<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a free trial today!</a>

This article explores password vaulting and SSO, the differences, and which password management solution is right for your business.

This article explores password vaulting and SSO, the differences, and which password management solution is right for your ...

What is Password Vaulting?

Google's password manager provides the convenience to create, store, and use our many account credentials. You can preview these credentials in your Google password list, allowing you to log in to accounts on other browsers or devices.
We'll show you how to find your Google password list, demonstrate why you'd want to avoid <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-save-passwords-in-chrome-and-alternatives">saving passwords to Chrome</a> and recommend a more secure password management solution.
TeamPassword is a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">secure password manager</a> that offers better security and convenience than Google Chrome or other browsers. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> to explore our robust password manager with your team!
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<h2>What is a Google Password List?</h2>
A Google password list is where Chrome saves all of your account credentials. You can scroll through every saved password, preview passwords, edit or delete credentials.
Most people use the Google password list to preview passwords to log into accounts using another browser or device. For example, if you reset your Facebook password using Chrome, the browser will save the new credentials for you&mdash;that's assuming you have Chrome's Offer to save passwords feature activated.
If you need to log into Facebook on your phone(but don't remember the new credentials), you'll need to go to your Google password list to find the new password you saved.
<h3>How to Enable Google's Password Manager and View My Google Password List?</h3>
Here is a step-by-step guide to finding your Google password list and enabling Chrome to save your passwords using the browser's built-in password manager.&nbsp;
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Make sure you sign into the Chrome browser using your Google account to start.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Click the menu icon (three vertical dots) to the right of your profile pic and select Settings.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Click Passwords in the menu&mdash;you are now in your Google password list, where you can preview, edit, and delete passwords.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">If you want to enable Google's password manager, make sure the toggle is on (illuminated blue) for Offer to save passwords.</li>
</ol>
You can read more about <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-save-passwords-in-chrome-and-alternatives">saving passwords to Chrome here</a>.
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<h2>The Risks of Saving Passwords in the Browser</h2>
Saving passwords to the browser is easy and convenient. But, many people don't fully understand the cybersecurity risks these "password managers" pose.
Firstly, browser password managers are unencrypted. In the event of a <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/category/data-breaches">data breach</a>, hackers can preview and steal your passwords. A dedicated password manager features advanced <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/what-is-password-encryption-and-how-much-is-enough">password encryption</a> mitigating the risks of a data breach.
While convenient, Google's password list poses a significant cybersecurity risk&mdash;you can export your entire password list with a couple of clicks.
If a criminal hacks or steals your device, they can export all of your passwords. In fact, anyone can download your Google password list to a USB drive while you're away or distracted from your PC in a coffee shop, coworking office, or other public space.
Browsers also limit passwords to a maximum of 12-15 characters. A <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager</a> allows you to create passwords from 12-32 characters, meaning more robust credential capability. You can also choose the character types you want&mdash;uppercase, lowercase, symbols, and numbers.
You can see the risk this poses to your company if an employee saves passwords in a browser!
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<h2>How is a Password Manager Browser Extension Different?</h2>
Most password managers use browser extensions, but how is this different from saving passwords to a browser?
Firstly, a password manager doesn't save your passwords in the browser; it simply uses the browser extension like a key to authenticate you. For example, TeamPassword saves your encrypted credentials on a secure server, not in its browser extension!
A password manager browser extension requires a separate sign-in. If someone hacks your browser (or Google account), they'll need different credentials to sign in to the password manager.&nbsp;
<a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/password-manager-with-2fa">TeamPassword features two-factor authentication</a> (2FA), so even if someone steals your credentials, the second authentication method prevents them from logging in!
Lastly, browser password managers don't provide secure credential sharing functionality (in fact, many of the <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/the-5-best-password-managers-for-2021">best password managers</a> don't have this capability), so you can't share <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-safely-share-passwords-with-coworkers">passwords safely with team members</a>.
If you're a freelancer or small business looking for better password security, then you'll need a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager like TeamPassword</a>.
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<h2>Secure Password Management With TeamPassword</h2>
We built <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a> as a secure and affordable password management solution for small businesses and agencies to share passwords safely.
Many agencies still use browser password managers, spreadsheets, chat, or email to store and share passwords. All of these methods are insecure and pose massive cybersecurity risks.
We highly recommend you conduct a thorough <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/what-is-a-security-audit-and-does-my-business-need-one">security audit</a> for a clear picture of your company's cybersecurity vulnerabilities. A security audit will identify password issues and how to fix them.
If your company isn't using a password manager, then we highly recommend you start! You only have to read about the latest <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/category/data-breaches">data breaches</a> to learn that most cyberattacks happen due to poor credential practices.
Here's how TeamPassword's security features can help secure your company's digital assets.
<h3>Secure Credential Sharing &amp; Authentication</h3>
TeamPassword's strongest feature is its ability to share passwords securely. Something your browser cannot do!
Set up groups for different departments, accounts, clients, or teams, for example. Instead of sharing raw passwords, you invite team members to your TeamPassword groups so they can access credentials and log in.
Each team member can also save private credentials in TeamPassword that they don't need to share&mdash;like Slack, email, Asana, etc. Passwords they would usually save in the browser!
You can also share access with freelancers and contractors in TeamPassword. Add these individuals to the groups or accounts where they need access, and remove them when the job is done. No need to change credentials every time someone leaves the team!
<h3>TeamPassword's Secure Browser Extensions &amp; App</h3>
Your employees can log into shared accounts using one of TeamPassword's browser extensions (Chrome, Firefox, Safari) or our mobile app (iOS &amp; Android).
When a team member visits one of your websites or apps, the browser extension will provide the credentials to log in. If you have multiple accounts, you simply click the one you need.&nbsp;
For example, if your company manages multiple Twitter accounts when a team member lands on the Twitter login, TeamPassword will show a list of available credentials.
Employees can also use the TeamPassword app to log into mobile applications. They open TeamPassword, find the credentials they need, and copy/paste the username and password to log in.
<h3>Built-In Password Manager</h3>
TeamPassword's built-in <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">password generator</a> lets you create secure, unique passwords with a single click. Copy this new password to the application's password field and save!
TeamPassword will automatically update any new passwords for all users so team members can continue working without disruption.
You can also use TeamPassword's password generator to create <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/best-types-of-usernames-username-ideas-to-make-your-logins-more-secure">unique usernames</a>, adding an extra layer of security to your credentials!
<h3>Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)</h3>
TeamPassword uses Google Authenticator (iOS &amp; Android) to provide two-factor authentication for each team member's account. 2FA provides a second authentication step, so even if a criminal steals an employee's TeamPassword credentials, they won't get past the second step!
TeamPassword also allows each team member to create backup codes, so they're never locked out of their account&mdash;even in the event of a complete system breach!
<h3>Keeping Track of TeamPassword Activity</h3>
An activity log is another feature browser password managers don't possess. TeamPassword's activity log tracks every action (logins, sharing, new passwords, etc.) so you can monitor or review unauthorized sharing and access.
Additionally, you can set up email notifications for your most sensitive data and accounts. With instant alerts, you can get ahead of security breaches!
<h3>How Safe is TeamPassword's Password Manager?</h3>
TeamPassword <a href="https://teampassword.com/security">uses state-of-the-art encryption technology</a> to store your company's passwords. We hash, salt, and encrypt data locally on your PC before uploading passwords to our servers.
TeamPassword uses 256-bit AES encryption, trusted by government agencies (including the United States) and global multinational corporations. With this sort of encryption, not even TeamPassword can view your credentials!
Here is a list of TeamPassword's internationally recognized security accreditations:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">ISO 27001</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">SOC 1 and SOC 2/SSAE 16/ISAE 3402 (Previously SAS 70 Type II)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">PCI Level 1</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">FISMA Moderate</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX)</li>
</ul>
TeamPassword also conducts regular security audits and vulnerability sweeps to ensure our systems are malware and virus-free!
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<h2>Getting Started With TeamPassword</h2>
Try TeamPassword for free for 14 days to see if our password manager meets your company's needs. Here's how to get started in five easy steps:
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a free TeamPassword trial</a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Create groups for your different teams</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Invite team members (including clients and freelancers) to TeamPassword</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Add your company's credentials (you can also bulk import a CSV file or copy/paste using TeamPassword's importer.)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Team members install the TeamPassword browser of their choice and log in to your company accounts&mdash;EASY!</li>
</ol>
Stop employees from saving passwords in the browser and switch to a secure password manager. Create stronger passwords and <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">share credentials securely with TeamPassword</a>!

How to find your Google Password List, and why using a password manager like TeamPassword is much safer than saving passwords in Chrome.

How to find your Google Password List, and why using a password manager like TeamPassword is much safer ...

How to Find my Google Password List

Team Password Blog | Category password-management | Page 5

Usernames are essential for security and anonymity online. But some people come up with username ideas to stand out or align with a brand. Usernames can also help gain followers or build a social media following.
With so many possibilities, coming up with username ideas can be challenging! Luckily, there are plenty of tools and methods to create unique usernames.
Whether you're aiming for fame or privacy, we have username ideas to help you create unique usernames easily!
Using unique credentials (including passwords and usernames) can mitigate many cybersecurity vulnerabilities. When paired with a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager like TeamPassword</a>, strong usernames and passwords can protect you against attacks. Sign up for a 14-day free TeamPassword trial today!
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
<h2>Why You Need to Use Unique Usernames</h2>
There are several reasons people want unique usernames ideas:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Security</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Anonymity</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Popularity</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Humor</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Business name ideas</li>
</ul>
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
<h3>Unique Usernames for Security</h3>
Many people don't know about the importance of using unique or secure usernames for online security. Reusing usernames can be just as troublesome as <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/colonial-pipeline-ransomware-attack-dont-reuse-passwords">reusing passwords</a>.
If criminals steal your credentials from a <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/category/data-breaches">data breach</a>, they can use your username to figure out where else you have accounts and deploy spear-phishing attacks using fake correspondence to steal your credentials.
For example, hackers sending you a "password reset" from Instagram because they "suspect suspicious activity!" If you use unique usernames for every account, the attackers won't find your Instagram profile!
Don't think that you won't fall for these ploys! Many individuals with regular cybersecurity training fall victim to phishing attacks.
In effect, unique usernames act as a second password, preventing anyone from finding your accounts with a single username.
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
<h3>Unique Usernames for Anonymity</h3>
Aligned with security is anonymity. Maintaining anonymity online can protect you from cyberattacks and prevent work colleagues, clients, and other companies or individuals from finding you online.
Many people want to separate their professional profiles from their personal ones while maintaining an online presence. Using unique usernames can hide the profiles you prefer to keep private.
&nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>Unique Usernames for Fame, Popularity, Attention</h3>
A good Instagram username can help you stand out and boost your online presence. If your username is unique or obscure, it could lead to more profile clicks and followers.
A good example is French Connection UK or @FCUK. At first glance, the username looks like an expletive, drawing people's attention to the brand.
People often use made-up words, obscure combinations, and other naming conventions to grab attention online.
&nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>Unique Usernames for Humor</h3>
Humor is another reason people often want unique username ideas. For example, @PickledElephantTusk is sure to get people's attention and perhaps a chuckle at the ridiculousness.
Funny usernames are great for social media profiles, but you might want to avoid these if you're trying to aim for security or anonymity!
&nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>Business Name Ideas</h3>
Most startups want a unique brand name, including URL and social media usernames. Startups can ensure that every digital touchpoint is unique to their brand by choosing an available unique username first.
While using the same username is necessary for branding on social media channels, companies should always choose different, unidentifiable usernames for non-public accounts&mdash;email marketing apps, keyword research tools, productivity tools, accounting apps, etc.
&nbsp; &nbsp;
<h2>How Can You Get Unique Usernames Ideas?</h2>
There are many places you go for unique username ideas. Here are a few of our best sources for inspiration:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Pinterest</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Username generators</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Google Search - type a word and look through the autocompletes. This is also an excellent way to find trending usernames</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Instagram hashtags</li>
</ul>
&nbsp; &nbsp;
<h2>Here are a Couple of Methods for Thinking of Great Usernames Ideas</h2>
If you're looking for inspiration, here are three methods for coming up with great username ideas. We've included processes for creativity, speed, and security.
<h3>Creating Your Own Unique Usernames</h3>
The best way to create unique username ideas is by combining two or three mismatched words with a number. First, come up with two or three categories, and then pick a word from each.
For example, let&rsquo;s choose the two categories fish, and US State:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">US State: Idaho</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Fish: Pufferfish</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Number: 13</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">@IdahoPufferfish13</li>
</ul>
You can come up with funny and cute usernames using this method. It's also a fantastic creative exercise some people might find entertaining.
&nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>Use a Username Generator</h3>
If you don't want to waste time coming up with usernames yourself, a username generator is a fantastic option to create unique usernames fast!
Some username generator tools will let you add a prefix, suffix, or number and randomize the rest. This method works well if you're trying to find unique username ideas for a specific industry, like fitness, health, tech, etc.
Some username generators even provide a social media search function to see if your unique username is available on the relevant platforms&mdash;providing you speed and efficiency!
Random username generators are also excellent for security because you avoid familiarity, making it less likely for attackers to find you.
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
<h3>Use a Password Generator</h3>
Password generators are great for creating unique username ideas. Password generators produce random strings with letters and numbers, significantly reducing the possibility of someone identifying you.
Try creating a username with TeamPassword's password generator:
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Visit our <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">free password generator</a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Deselect symbols (most platforms don't allow symbols in the username. Keep this selected if your platform does allow it!)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Our password generator only allows a minimum of 12 characters. If you need a shorter user name, drop the characters you don't need</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Copy/paste your random username to use when signing up for a new account</li>
</ol>
Remember to use our password generator with uppercase, lowercase, symbols, and numbers to create a secure unique password.&nbsp;
TeamPassword's password manager features a built-in password generator that suggests and pastes a strong password into forms during signup or resets. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a free 14-day free trial</a> to start managing your usernames and passwords securely.
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
<h2>How You Can Secure Your Accounts Using a Password Manager</h2>
Usernames and passwords are the keys to your individual and company accounts. These credentials prevent attackers from breaching your devices, networks, social media, apps, financial services, and more.
Most companies have hundreds of accounts requiring authentication daily. Often team members need to share access, especially for social media, research tools, productivity apps, store accounts, and marketing tools, to name a few.
<a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/secure-password-sharing">Sharing credentials</a> over email, chat, or via spreadsheets exposes your company, clients, employees, and users to many cybersecurity risks. In some states and countries, sharing passwords this way is illegal!
Using a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager</a> is a secure and efficient way to store and share your company's credentials.
Here are five reasons to choose TeamPassword for your company:
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Affordable - Enterprise-grade password managers are often expensive. TeamPassword provides small businesses, agencies, and startups with an affordable password management solution.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Secure - TeamPassword is an <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/what-is-password-encryption-and-how-much-is-enough">accredited secure hosting provider</a> using state-of-the-art encryption technology. We store your passwords using AES-256, trusted by US government agencies and many other organizations globally.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Efficient - Share and revoke access in TeamPassword with a single click. Quickly create passwords using our built-in <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">secure password generator</a>.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Scalable - TeamPassword's plans scale with your business. Start with as few as five members and upgrade your plan as your workforce expands.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Flexible - Employees can sign into accounts using TeamPassword's Chrome, Firefox, or Safari browser extensions&mdash;catering to both Apple and Windows users.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
&nbsp; &nbsp;
<h2>Password Management With TeamPassword</h2>
TeamPassword makes it easy and secure to share credentials with employees, clients, freelancers, and contractors. Everyone gets a separate TeamPassword login to manage access and monitor activity.
TeamPassword encrypts your passwords, making it impossible for employees (or even TeamPassword staff) to preview raw credentials.
&nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>Sharing Access With Groups</h3>
Add your team to TeamPassword and create groups to share access to your various accounts. If an employee, contractor, or freelancer leaves the team, simply remove them from the group&mdash;no need to worry about changing passwords!
If you're an agency working with multiple clients and accounts, one TeamPassword account is all you need! Just increase your plan accordingly.
&nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>Activity Logging</h3>
Keep track of TeamPassword activity, just like an enterprise password manager does. Monitor logins, password changes, credential sharing, and more to spot suspicious activity.
TeamPassword also lets you set up email notifications&mdash;helpful in monitoring sensitive accounts or specific actions, like sharing or adding new users.
&nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)</h3>
Enabling 2FA on your TeamPassword account prevents attackers from gaining access, even if they steal your employee's username and password.
TeamPassword uses the Google Authenticator app (iOS &amp; Android), requiring a six-digital randomly generated code as the second authentication step. Without the employee's device, hackers can't complete TeamPassword authentication.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<h2>Start With a Free Trial</h2>
Coming up with unique username ideas isn't enough to protect your company's digital assets from attack. Protect your company's usernames and passwords with <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a>.
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> to test our robust and efficient sharing features with your team today!

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Password encryption is essential to store user credentials stored in a database securely. Without password encryption, anyone accessing a user database on a company's servers (including hackers) could easily view any stored passwords.
Even a strong 32-character password created using a <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">secure password generator</a> is useless without password-encryption! If someone can read your password on a server, they can use it simply by copy/pasting it&mdash;no matter how long or complicated the password might be!
Encryption scrambles your password before saving it on the server. So, if someone hacks the server, instead of finding password123, they find a random series of letters and numbers.
In this article, we're going to explore the world of password encryption, why <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/tips-and-tricks-to-create-a-strong-password">strong passwords matter</a>, and how you can practice better password management!
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a> is the password management solution for small businesses! Create, store, and share login credentials safely with employees, contractors, and clients. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> today!
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>Understanding Password Encryption</h2>
To explain password encryption effectively, we must first grasp the language. Several terms might be unfamiliar, so here is a quick intro to password encryption terminology.
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Key: Used to lock and unlock passwords using a random string of bits. You get private and public keys that crypt and decrypt data differently, but we won't get too deep in the weeds with keys!</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Bits: A logical state with one of two possible values, including 1/0, true/false, yes/no, or on/off as typical examples.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Block (block cipher): A deterministic algorithm operating on fixed-length groups of bits, called blocks.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Hash function: The algorithm that uses the key to create password encryption and decryption. A hash function is essentially a piece of code that runs every time someone saves a password or logs into an application.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Hash: A random series of numbers and letters representing your password. The hash function uses your hash instead of the raw password for authentication.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Salt: Additional letters and numbers appended to the hash</li>
</ul>
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>How Does Password Encryption Work?</h2>
When you save a new password, a hash function creates a hash version and saves that on the server.&nbsp;
Every time you log in using your password, the hash function recreates the hash to see if it matches what's stored. If the hashes match, the algorithm passes the authentication and logs you in.&nbsp;
For example:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Original password: Pa$$w0rd123</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Hashed password: 6AF1CE202340FE71BDB914AD5357E33A6982A63B</li>
</ul>
While this might seem secure, simple hashed passwords aren't hack-proof.
The hash function only creates a unique hash for each password, not each user. So, if multiple users have the password, Pa$$w0rd123, the hash will be exactly the same.
To overcome this encryption vulnerability, engineers salt passwords so each hash is unique, even if the passwords are identical.
<h3>How Salt Works</h3>
A salt appends a unique value of 8 bytes (16 characters) to the password before the hash function creates a hash. This way, even identical passwords are unique before the hash function.
For example:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Two identical passwords: Pa$$w0rd123</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Salt value one: E1F53135E559C253</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Salt value two: 84B03D034B409D4E</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Password one before hash: Pa$$w0rd123E1F53135E559C253</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Password two before hash: Pa$$w0rd12384B03D034B409D4E</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Password one hashed value (SHA256): 72AE25495A7981C40622D49F9A52E4F1565C90F048F59027BD9C8C8900D5C3D8</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Password two hashed value (SHA256): B4B6603ABC670967E99C7E7F1389E40CD16E78AD38EB1468EC2AA1E62B8BED3A</li>
</ul>
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>5 Common Password Encryption Methods</h2>
<h3>1. Data Encryption Standard (DES)</h3>
While applications no longer use Data Encryption Standard (DES), it's important to mention this password encryption method because of its history and influence on more secure modern standards.
IBM developed DES as a 56-bit encryption technology in the early 1970s. The NSA adopted and improved DES before it was approved worldwide as the encryption standard.
However, since the late 70s, hackers have been able to break DES encrypted passwords. In 1999, ethical hackers managed to break a DES key in under 24 hours.&nbsp;
To make DES more secure, engineers created Triple DES and later Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), which we still use today.
<h3>2. Triple DES</h3>
Triple DES uses three 56-bit keys (blocks) to create 168-bit encryption (some security experts argue that Triple DES is only 112 bits strong). Although Triple-DES is slowly being phased out, many financial institutions still use it to encrypt ATM PINs.
<h3>3. Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)</h3>
AES is the new encryption standard&mdash;trusted by the United States Government and many other prominent organizations globally. At 128 bits, AES is sufficiently secure, but most organizations prefer heavy-duty 256-bit encryption.
At <a href="https://teampassword.com/security">TeamPassword</a>, we use 256-bit encryption to store passwords, ensuring the highest levels of security for our clients. We're also a <a href="https://teampassword.com/security">secure hosting provider</a> holding multiple security accreditations.
Hackers can only break an AES encrypted password through a brute-force attack&mdash;trying password combinations to find the right one.
To counter brute-force attacks, applications will lock an account after a certain number of attempts or use tools like Google's reCAPTURE.
<h3>4. Blowfish</h3>
American cryptographer, Bruce Schneier, designed Blowfish in 1993 as an antidote to the weak DES encryption. Blowfish uses a 64-bit block and variable key length of 32 to 448 bits.
Although Blowfish is more robust than its DES predecessor, the 64-bit block is still vulnerable to attacks, most commonly birthday attacks&mdash;a cryptographic attack that exploits the mathematics behind the algorithm.
To solve Blowfish vulnerabilities, engineers created Twofish in 1998 (128-bit blocks with 256-bit keys) and Threefish in 2008 (256, 516, 1024-bit blocks with 256, 516, 1024-bit keys).
<h3>5. Rivest-Shamir-Adleman (RSA)</h3>
RSA is one of the oldest and widely used to transfer data securely. The encryption works with two keys, two large prime numbers, and an additional auxiliary value.
Due to the complicated encrypting and decrypting process, there is no known method for breaking RSA encryption.&nbsp;
Although widely used for transferring data, RSA is slow and not suitable for password encryption.
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>Why Strong Passwords Matter</h2>
Password encryption can only prevent criminals from viewing saved credentials stored on a server&mdash;but cannot prevent hackers from guessing weak/commonly used passwords. If you <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/colonial-pipeline-ransomware-attack-dont-reuse-passwords">reuse the same password for multiple accounts</a>, this also puts you at risk!
Encryption is most effective when users create robust, unique passwords for every account. For example, a random 32-character password with letters, numbers, and special characters hashed and salted is near impossible to guess or decode, even using a computer!
In another scenario, let's assume you have a strong 32-character password, but you use it for every account. If hackers manage to steal that password, they have access to every account using the same credentials! Your strong password is effectively useless.
<h3>Improving Your Password Management</h3>
Now that you understand password encryption and the associated vulnerabilities, you can see why strong passwords are essential.
Effective password management is crucial to protect yourself against cyberattacks or in the highly likely event of a data breach where hackers steal your credentials.
Criminals are after the low-hanging fruit&mdash;people who use weak passwords!
5 tips for creating stronger passwords:
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Create strong passwords for every account. The easiest way to do this is using a password generator. <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">TeamPassword has a free password generator</a> anyone can use to create passwords from 12-32 characters using uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and special characters. We recommend creating passwords as long as the application will allow.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Never create passwords shorter than eight characters, with 12 being our recommended minimum.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Never reuse the same password for multiple accounts.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Never create passwords with your name, family member's names, or pet's names. With social media, this information is freely available. Criminals can add those names to algorithms for brute-force attacks.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Don't store passwords in digital notepads or spreadsheets. We recommend using a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager like TeamPassword</a> to create and store your credentials.</li>
</ol>
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>Why You Need a Password Manager like TeamPassword</h2>
We have so many accounts these days; it's almost impossible to create unique, memorable, secure passwords for each one. A password manager solves this problem.
Instead of remembering the credentials for every account, you only need to memorize the one to log into your password manager.&nbsp;
TeamPassword keeps all of your credentials safely stored and encrypted, so you never have to memorize a password again. Instead of entering your credentials, you use one of TeamPassword's browser extensions (Chrome, Firefox, and Safari) to log into accounts.
<h3>Built for Teams</h3>
TeamPassword's best feature is its ability to share credentials with team members securely. Instead of sharing passwords, you provide access through TeamPassword.&nbsp;
Employees <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">use TeamPassword</a> to log in, meaning you never share raw passwords&mdash;no more worrying about unauthorized access or sharing.
You can create groups in TeamPassword to share access with employees, clients, contractors, and freelancers. When someone no longer needs access, remove them from the group with a single click. No need to change passwords every time someone leaves a project!
<h3>Built-In Password Generator</h3>
TeamPassword features a built-in secure password manager so you can create robust passwords for every account. TeamPassword also ensures you never reuse the same credentials so that you won't fall victim to credential stuffing attacks!
With a built-in password generator, you can change passwords regularly, and TeamPassword will update the new credentials for all users!
<h3>Monitor Login Activity</h3>
TeamPassword's activity log keeps track of every action across all of your accounts&mdash;logins, password changes, new team members, sharing access, and more.
You can also set up email notifications for all TeamPassword actions so that you can react fast to any suspicious activity.
<h3>Get Your Free TeamPassword Trial</h3>
Password encryption is not enough to protect your business from password vulnerabilities! You need a robust password manager like TeamPassword to create, store, and share credentials securely.
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> and let TeamPassword secure your company's digital assets.

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

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

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