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

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

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

Top 5 Dangerous Ways to Store Your Passwords

If you've ever given in to the temptation of Microsoft Edge's "save this password" prompt, you're not alone. If you're concerned about the security and privacy risks associated with Edge's built-in password manager or already have a dedicated password manager, this article will guide you through disabling it.
<a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/5-tips-to-increase-security-for-your-remote-workforce" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Security concerns</a> often drive the decision to disable Microsoft Edge's built-in password manager. Storing and syncing passwords within your Microsoft account can pose a significant risk. If a cybercriminal gains access to your Microsoft account, they could potentially breach all your other accounts. Disabling the password manager can help mitigate this risk.
Instead, we highly recommend utilizing a dedicated third-party password manager. These applications offer enhanced security features, compatibility across various platforms, and additional functionalities such as customizable password generators and secure sharing. By disabling the browser's password manager, you can fully rely on your preferred third-party solution for comprehensive password management.
By following the steps outlined in this article to disable Microsoft Edge's password manager and transitioning to a trusted third-party alternative, you can ensure heightened security and alleviate the annoyance of constant popups. Say goodbye to the frustrations and safeguard your passwords effectively.
[Table of Contents]
<ul>
<li><a href="#isedgesafe" rel="follow">Is Microsoft Edge Password Manager Safe?</a></li>
<li><a href="#howtodisableedge" rel="follow">How to Disable Microsoft Edge Password Manager</a></li>
<li><a href="#howtodeleteedgepasswords" rel="follow">How to Delete Saved Passwords in Microsoft Edge Password Manager</a></li>
<li><a href="#howtodisableotherbrowser" rel="follow">How to disable other browser password managers</a></li>
</ul>
<h2 id="isedgesafe">Is Microsoft Edge Password Manager Safe?</h2>
Microsoft Edge's built-in password manager offers some level of security, but it's not as robust as dedicated password managers. Here are a few factors to consider when evaluating its safety:
<ol style="list-style-type: decimal;">
<li>
Microsoft Edge Password Manager stores passwords using strong encryption techniques. It encrypts your saved passwords and stores them locally on your device or optionally syncs them to your Microsoft account. This provides a certain level of protection against unauthorized access.
</li>
<li>
Limited platform support: One limitation of Microsoft Edge Password Manager is its limited platform support. It primarily works within the Microsoft Edge browser, which means your passwords are not easily accessible on other browsers or platforms. This lack of cross-platform functionality is a drawback for users who frequently switch devices or use different browsers.
</li>
<li>
Feature set: Dedicated password managers often offer a more extensive set of features focused on password security. They include features like advanced two-factor authentication, password auditing, password generators, and secure password sharing. These additional features enhance the overall security of your passwords and provide a more comprehensive solution.
</li>
<li>
Third-party audits: Dedicated password managers often undergo regular third-party security audits to ensure the highest standards of security and privacy. These audits are conducted by independent security firms to identify potential vulnerabilities and provide recommendations for improvement. While it's not clear whether Microsoft Edge Password Manager undergoes similar audits, dedicated password managers generally have a stronger track record in this area.
</li>
</ol>
In conclusion, while Microsoft Edge Password Manager offers basic password management functionality and employs encryption measures, it may not provide the same level of security and feature-rich experience as dedicated password managers.&nbsp;
We recommend using a dedicated third-party tool that works on all your devices and browsers and protects your data with military-grade AES 256-bit encryption and advanced 2FA options.
<h2 id="howtodisableedge">How to Disable Microsoft Edge Password Manager</h2>
For Edge users on Windows and Mac:
<ol>
<li>Click the three dot menu in the top right and click Settings.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Under the Profiles section, click Passwords.</li>
<li>Turn off Offer to save passwords. Go back, and do the same for Personal info and Payment info.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/Tprk6L5VQqyxoVeNkvLF" alt="undefined" width="799" height="527">
For Edge users on iOS:
<ol>
<li>Tap Settings.</li>
<li>Tap Privacy.</li>
<li>Turn off Offer to save passwords and Automatically save passwords.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
For Edge users on Android:
<ol>
<li>Tap the hamburger Menu icon in the bottom left and tap Settings.</li>
<li>Tap Account, then&nbsp;Passwords.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Turn off&nbsp;Save passwords. Tap the back arrow do the same for Addresses and more and Payment info. &nbsp;</li>
</ol>
<h2 id="howtodeleteedgepasswords">How to Delete Saved Passwords in Microsoft Edge Password Manager</h2>
To delete saved passwords from Edge Password Manager, follow these 3 steps:
<ol>
<li>Click the three dot menu in the top right and click Settings.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Under the Profiles section, click Passwords.</li>
<li>Check the box next to the password you want to delete, and click Delete. You can also check the box next to Website to select all your passwords.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
You may want to first export your passwords from Microsoft Edge.&nbsp;
<ol>
<li>Click the three dots to the right of Add Password, and click Export.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
This exports all your passwords into a CSV file - so be careful with it!
<h3 id="howtodisableotherbrowser">Do you frequently use other browsers?&nbsp;</h3>
Are you wondering how to disable the password managers on other browsers you use? These articles might help:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-disable-firefox-password-manager" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">How to Disable Firefox Password Manager</a></li>
<li><a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-disable-google-chrome-password-manager" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">How to Disable Google Chrome Password Manager</a></li>
<li><a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-disable-safari-password-manager" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">How to Disable Safari Password Manager</a></li>
</ul>
<h2>How TeamPassword Can Help</h2>
<a href="https://teampassword.com/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">TeamPassword</a> is a fast, safe, and easy solution for storing and managing your passwords that doesn't leave you vulnerable to Edge password security issues. It lets you create and customize strong passwords on any browser or device, and you can access them whenever and wherever you need. With TeamPassword, your passwords remain secure even if your device ends up in the wrong hands.
Using a dedicated password manager like TeamPassword adds an extra layer of protection. It requires you to log in with a separate "master" password and automatically locks your passwords after a specific time. While slightly less convenient than Edge's built-in features, password managers are significantly more secure.
TeamPassword offers an Edge extension that autofills most websites and displays record information in a convenient dropdown, eliminating the need to visit a separate page. It also includes extensive features for safe credential sharing, something Edge's password feature lacks entirely. Passwords are organized into Groups, and team members can be given access as needed. Removing members and editing records is just as easy.
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/0gCOt5oQBCE1vxckmRZC" alt="TP extension in action GIF (video) (1..." width="820" height="461">
With TeamPassword, you can enjoy the convenience of password management while keeping your information secure. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Try it for free</a> today!

Keeping track of passwords has gotten out of hand. Edge offers a built-in solution, which might not be right for you. Learn how to disable it!

Keeping track of passwords has gotten out of hand. Edge offers a built-in solution, which might not be ...

How to Disable Microsoft Edge Password Manager in 3 Steps

How to Disable Microsoft Edge Manager in 3 Steps

If you're tired of the constant "save this password" popup from Safari or concerned about the security and privacy risks of its built-in password manager, this article is for you. We'll guide you through the quick steps to disable it and explore better alternatives.
The main reasons to disable Safari's built-in password manager are security and compatibility. By storing and syncing passwords within your Apple account, you run the risk of a cybercriminal gaining access and compromising all your other accounts. And if you use non-Apple devices, and thus need a different solution to manage passwords there, you're left managing the security of multiple fronts. Disabling Safari's password manager minimizes this vulnerability.
Instead, we recommend using a dedicated third-party password manager. These applications offer stronger security features, compatibility across multiple platforms, and additional functionalities like customizable password generators and secure sharing. By disabling Safari's password manager, you can exclusively rely on your preferred third-party solution for efficient password management.
By following the steps to disable Safari's password manager and switching to a trusted third-party alternative, you can enjoy improved security and a more personalized password management experience. Say goodbye to the constant popups and ensure your passwords are in safe hands.
[Table of Contents]
<ul>
<li><a href="#issafarisafe" rel="follow">Is Safari Password Manager (iCloud Keychain) Safe?</a></li>
<li><a href="#howtodisablesafari" rel="follow">How to Disable Safari Password Manager</a></li>
<li><a href="#howtodeletesafaripasswords" rel="follow">How to Delete Saved Passwords in Safari Password Manager</a></li>
<li><a href="#howtodisableotherbrowser" rel="follow">How to disable other browser password managers</a></li>
</ul>
<h2 id="issafarisafe">Is Safari Password Manager (iCloud Keychain) Safe?</h2>
The Safari password manager is closely connected to Apple's iCloud Keychain, which we've written about <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/what-are-icloud-keychains-and-why-are-they-better-than-passwords" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">here</a>. When Safari offers to save a password, it saves it to Keychain; you can choose whether to sync that data between devices, however.&nbsp;
If you're fully committed to the Apple ecosystem - that is, you own iPhones, iPads, Macbooks, and pretty much only use Safari - then using the iCloud keychain is convenient and relatively safe. If you have non-Apple devices or use other browsers, then using Safari's password manager is probably just a security hazard. It's one more place where your passwords are stored, and if someone gains access to your device password, they can view all the passwords you have saved in Safari.&nbsp;
Additionally, the Safari password manager won't cut it if you need to share passwords with colleagues or family members. While you can airdrop passwords to Apple devices, this is a bit clunky and limiting.&nbsp;
Most people are better off with a dedicated third-party password manager that works on all your devices and browsers, protects your data with advanced encryption and 2FA, and offers additional features like secure sharing.&nbsp;
<h2 id="howtodisablesafari">How to Disable Safari Password Manager</h2>
For Safari users on Mac:
<ol>
<li>Click the Safari menu at the top bar.</li>
<li>Click Settings.</li>
<li>Click the Autofill icon.</li>
<li>Uncheck all settings in Autofill.</li>
</ol>
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/KMgVTphzQwmKzPtYhv5P" alt="undefined" width="687" height="194">
For Safari users on iOS:
<ol>
<li>Tap Settings</li>
<li>Head to Passwords and Accounts</li>
<li>Tap AutoFill Passwords&nbsp;</li>
<li>Turn off iCloud KeyChain.</li>
</ol>
Pro-tip: Don't forget to delete all cached passwords and auto-fill passwords before using a third-party password manager!
<h2 id="howtodeletesafaripasswords">How to Delete Saved Passwords in Safari Password Manager</h2>
<ol>
<li>Click the Safari menu at the top bar.</li>
<li>Click Settings.</li>
<li>Select Passwords</li>
<li>Right-click the password you wish to delete, and select delete. You'll be asked if you're sure you want to delete the password.&nbsp;</li>
<li>To delete all passwords, hit Cmd+A, then right-click and select delete.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
<h3 id="howtodisableotherbrowser">Do you frequently use other browsers?&nbsp;</h3>
Are you wondering how to disable the password managers on other browsers you use? These articles might help:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-disable-firefox-password-manager" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">How to Disable Firefox Password Manager</a></li>
<li><a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-disable-microsoft-edge-password-manager" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">How to Disable Microsoft Edge Password Manager</a></li>
<li><a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-disable-google-chrome-password-manager" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">How to Disable Google Chrome Password Manager</a></li>
</ul>
<h2>How TeamPassword Can Help</h2>
<a href="https://teampassword.com/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">TeamPassword</a> is a fast, safe, and easy solution for storing and managing passwords with greater compatibility than Safari and Keychain. You can create and customize strong passwords on any browser or device and access them whenever and wherever you need. With TeamPassword, your passwords stay secure, even if your device falls into the wrong hands.
Using a dedicated password manager like TeamPassword adds an extra layer of protection. It requires a separate "master" password for login and automatically locks your passwords after a specific time. While not as convenient as Safari's built-in features, password managers offer significantly enhanced security.
With TeamPassword's Safari extension, you can enjoy autofill capabilities on most websites and view record information conveniently in a dropdown, eliminating the need to navigate to separate pages. Moreover, TeamPassword offers extensive features for secure credential sharing, a feature that Safari's password management lacks, particularly for users without Apple devices. Passwords are organized into Groups, and access can be granted to team members as needed. Managing member access and editing records is just as simple.
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/0gCOt5oQBCE1vxckmRZC" alt="TP extension in action GIF (video) (1..." width="862" height="485">
With TeamPassword, you can enjoy the convenience of password management while keeping your information secure. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Try it for free</a> today!

Keeping track of passwords has gotten out of hand. Safari's built-in solution might not be right for you. Learn how to disable it!

Keeping track of passwords has gotten out of hand. Safari's built-in solution might not be right for you. ...

How to Disable Safari's Manager in 3 Steps

How to Disable Safari Password Manager in 4 Steps

If you've made the switch to a dedicated password manager or are tired of Firefox's prompt to "save this password," you've come to the right place.&nbsp;
While the Firefox built-in password manager is a decent choice if you exclusively use the Firefox browser for personal use, its shortcomings are apparent when used in a business setting or even if you use multiple browsers and need to save various kinds of data securely.&nbsp;
Many prefer (and we recommend) using a dedicated third-party password manager. These applications provide more robust security features, cross-platform compatibility, and additional functionalities like customizable password generators and sharing. Disabling Firefox password manager allows users to rely solely on their preferred third-party solution.
[Table of Contents]
<ul>
<li><a href="#isfirefoxsafe" rel="follow">Is Firefox Password Manager Safe?</a></li>
<li><a href="#howtodisablefirefox" rel="follow">How to Disable Firefox Password Manager</a></li>
<li><a href="#howtodeletefirefoxpasswords" rel="follow">How to Delete Saved Passwords in Firefox Password Manager</a></li>
<li><a href="#howtodisableotherbrowser" rel="follow">How to disable other browser password managers</a></li>
</ul>
<h2 id="isfirefoxsafe">Is Firefox Password Manager Safe?</h2>
Does Firefox password manager keep your passwords safe? It depends on how you use it. By default, your passwords are synced across devices using your Firefox account. If you leave your Firefox account logged in on a device that someone else can access or your Firefox account gets hacked, your passwords are vulnerable. Firefox does not have a safe way to share passwords, nor the ability to store notes or documents.&nbsp;
However, Firefox does offer the option to create a Primary Password that locks your Firefox passwords. This primary password is set locally, meaning you'll need a&nbsp;different one for every device or profile where you use Firefox password manager. It is more secure than no primary password, but lacks the convenience of a dedicated password vault available anywhere and encrypted with one master password.&nbsp;
Firefox checks your saved websites against a database of breached websites to alert you if your logins may be vulnerable.&nbsp;
In summary, Firefox is a fine option if you set a Primary Password on each device and exclusively use the Firefox browser. But if you need to safely share passwords or want greater protection such as 2FA, Firefox doesn't cut it. We recommend using a&nbsp;dedicated third-party tool that works on all&nbsp;your devices and browsers and encrypts your data with military-grade AES 256-bit encryption and advanced 2FA options.&nbsp;
<h2 id="howtodisablefirefox">How to Disable Firefox Password Manager</h2>
For Firefox users on Windows:
<ol>
<li>Click the Menu button in the top right of your browser and click Settings</li>
<li>Click&nbsp;Privacy and Security on the left</li>
<li>Scroll down to the&nbsp;Logins and Passwords section</li>
<li>Uncheck Ask to save logins and passwords for websites.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/7HK1k8EpQkG9KNfoYXxX" alt="undefined" width="687" height="308">
For Firefox users on Mac:
<ol>
<li>In the Menu bar at the top of the screen, click Firefox and select Preferences.</li>
<li>Click&nbsp;Privacy and Security on the left</li>
<li>Scroll down to the Logins and Passwords section.</li>
<li>Uncheck Ask to save logins and passwords for websites.</li>
</ol>
For Firefox users on iOS:
<ol>
<li>Tap Menu.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Tap Passwords - you may have to use Touch ID or enter a password</li>
<li>Turn off Save Logins.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
For Firefox users on Android:
<ol>
<li>Tap the three dots Menu and tap Settings</li>
<li>Tap Logins and passwords, then Save Logins and passwords. Select Never save.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Tap the back arrow twice, then choose Autofill from the selections. Unselect Save and autofill addresses and Save and autofill cards</li>
</ol>
<h2 id="howtodeletefirefoxpasswords">How to Delete Saved Passwords in Firefox Password Manager</h2>
To delete saved passwords from Firefox password manager, follow these 2 steps:
<ol>
<li>Click the Menu button in the top right of your browser and click Passwords.</li>
<li>Here, you can either select the password you wish to delete and click&nbsp;Remove, or click the three dots in the top right and select&nbsp;Remove All Logins...</li>
</ol>
Beware that the latter will permanently delete your saved logins and cannot be undone.
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/ilx1jODQT9u9sy9gn77t" alt="undefined" width="901" height="217">
If switching to a dedicated password manager, you may want to export your passwords from Firefox.&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Firefox Menu &gt; Passwords &gt; three dots on the top right &gt; Export Logins...&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
This exports all your passwords into a CSV file - so be careful with it!
<h3 id="howtodisableotherbrowser">Do you frequently use other browsers?&nbsp;</h3>
Are you wondering how to disable the password managers on other browsers you use? These articles might help:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-disable-google-chrome-password-manager" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">How to Disable Google Chrome Password Manager</a></li>
<li><a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-disable-microsoft-edge-password-manager" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">How to Disable Microsoft Edge Password Manager</a></li>
<li><a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-disable-safari-password-manager" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">How to Disable Safari Password Manager</a></li>
</ul>
<h2>How TeamPassword Can Help</h2>
<a href="https://teampassword.com/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">TeamPassword</a> is a fast, safe, and easy solution for storing and managing your passwords that doesn't leave you vulnerable to Firefox password security issues. It lets you create and customize strong passwords on any browser or device, and you can access them whenever and wherever you need. With TeamPassword, your passwords remain secure even if your device ends up in the wrong hands.
Using a dedicated password manager like TeamPassword adds an extra layer of protection. It requires you to log in with a separate "master" password and automatically locks your passwords after a specific time. While slightly less convenient than Firefox's built-in features, password managers are significantly more secure.
TeamPassword offers a Firefox extension that autofills most websites and displays record information in a convenient dropdown, eliminating the need to visit a separate page. It also includes extensive features for safe credential sharing, something Firefox's password feature lacks entirely. Passwords are organized into Groups, and team members can be given access as needed. Removing members and editing records is just as easy.
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/0gCOt5oQBCE1vxckmRZC" alt="TP extension in action GIF (video) (1..." width="764" height="430">
With TeamPassword, you can enjoy the convenience of password management while keeping your information secure. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Try it for free</a> today!

Keeping track of passwords is tough. Firefox offers a built-in solution, which might not be right for you. Learn how to disable it!

Keeping track of passwords is tough. Firefox offers a built-in solution, which might not be right for you. ...

How to Disable Firefox Password Manager in 4 Steps

We've all succumbed to the pressure of Google Chrome's offer to "save this password". If you're concerned about the security or privacy risks of Chrome's password manager or already use a dedicated password manager and are annoyed by Chrome's popup every time you create an account, this article will show you how to disable it quickly.
<a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/5-tips-to-increase-security-for-your-remote-workforce" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Security concerns</a> are often the main reason to disable Google Chrome's built-in password manager. If a cybercriminal hacks the Google account where these passwords are saved and synced, they can go on to breach all your other accounts. Disabling the password manager can reduce this risk.
Many prefer (and we recommend) using a dedicated third-party password manager. These applications provide more robust security features, cross-platform compatibility, and additional functionalities like customizable password generators and sharing. Disabling the browser's password manager allows users to rely solely on their preferred third-party solution.
[Table of Contents]
<ul>
<li><a href="#ischromesafe" rel="follow">Is Google Chrome Password Manager Safe?</a></li>
<li><a href="#howtodisablegooglechrome" rel="follow">How to Disable Google Chrome Password Manager</a></li>
<li><a href="#howtodeletechromepassword" rel="follow">How to Delete Saved Passwords in Google Chrome Password Manager</a></li>
<li><a href="#howtodisableotherbrowser" rel="follow">How to disable other browser password managers</a></li>
</ul>
<h2 id="ischromesafe">Is Google Chrome Password Manager Safe?</h2>
As <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/are-chrome-passwords-safe" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">we've written before</a>, Chrome wasn't built to be a password manager.
If someone steals your device at a coffee shop or hacks your Google account, they may have access to all of your passwords. Chrome doesn't automatically log you out at an interval of your choosing or when you close the browser. That would be inconvenient! In a nutshell, Google Chrome's password manager is not as safe as a dedicated password manager.&nbsp;
Chrome's solution focuses on convenience, and if you keep track of which devices you're signed into, lock your devices securely, and don't share passwords, credentials, or devices with anyone, the Google Chrome password manager may be safe enough. Even if you have all that covered, Chrome's password manager lacks support for document storage, other browsers, or non-browser uses, which means you'll need another password manager for those applications.&nbsp;
What if you use Safari on your iPhone or Mac? In that scenario, Chrome's password manager won't help you at all. That's why we recommend using a dedicated third-party tool that works on all&nbsp;your devices and browsers and encrypts your data with military-grade AES 256-bit encryption and advanced 2FA options.&nbsp;
<h2 id="howtodisablegooglechrome">How to Disable Google Chrome Password Manager</h2>
For Chrome users on Windows and Mac:
<ol>
<li>Click the three dots in the top right corner of your browser window.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Head to Settings and choose Passwords (under the Autofill tab).&nbsp;</li>
<li>Turn off Offer To Save Passwords.</li>
</ol>
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/mF1Zu3KTQu2QcOEJGlb6" alt="undefined" width="897" height="317">
For Chrome users on iOS and Android:
<ol>
<li>Tap the three dots in the top right corner of your browser window.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Head to Settings and tap Password Manager under Basics.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Tab the gear icon in the top right corner of the password manager</li>
<li>Turn off Offer to Save Password".&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/MZxHVVkQvacZTUDVMuPX" alt="undefined" width="392" height="378">
<h2 id="howtodeletechromepasswords">How to Delete Saved Passwords in Google Chrome Password Manager</h2>
To delete saved passwords from Chrome Password Manager, follow these 4 steps:
<ol>
<li>Click the three dots in the top right corner of your browser window.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Head to Settings and choose Passwords (under the Autofill tab).&nbsp;</li>
<li>Click the small arrow to the right of the password you wish to delete</li>
<li>Click Delete</li>
</ol>
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/kzRTLxRXGiVtd9u9o3Bg" alt="undefined" width="549" height="243">
You may want to first Export your passwords from Chrome. 
<ol>
<li>Click the three dots to the right of Add, and click Export.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
This exports all your passwords into a CSV file - so be careful with it!
<h3 id="howtodisableotherbrowser">Do you frequently use other browsers?&nbsp;</h3>
Are you wondering how to disable the password managers on other browsers you use? These articles might help:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-disable-firefox-password-manager" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">How to Disable Firefox Password Manager</a></li>
<li><a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-disable-microsoft-edge-password-manager" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">How to Disable Microsoft Edge Password Manager</a></li>
<li><a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-disable-safari-password-manager" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">How to Disable Safari Password Manager</a></li>
</ul>
<h2>How TeamPassword Can Help</h2>
<a href="https://teampassword.com/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">TeamPassword</a> is a fast, safe, and easy solution for storing and managing your passwords that doesn't leave you vulnerable to Chrome password security issues. It lets you create and customize strong passwords on any browser or device, and you can access them whenever and wherever you need. With TeamPassword, your passwords remain secure even if your device ends up in the wrong hands.
Using a dedicated password manager like TeamPassword adds an extra layer of protection. It requires you to log in with a separate "master" password and automatically locks your passwords after a specific time. While slightly less convenient than Chrome's built-in features, password managers are significantly more secure.
TeamPassword offers a Chrome extension that autofills most websites and displays record information in a convenient dropdown, eliminating the need to visit a separate page. It also includes extensive features for safe credential sharing, something Chrome's password feature lacks entirely. Passwords are organized into Groups, and team members can be given access as needed. Removing members and editing records is just as easy.
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/0gCOt5oQBCE1vxckmRZC" alt="TP extension in action GIF (video) (1..." width="831" height="467">
With TeamPassword, you can enjoy the convenience of password management while keeping your information secure. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Try it for free</a> today!

Keeping track of passwords has gotten out of hand. Chrome offers a built-in solution, which might not be right for you. Learn how to disable it!

Keeping track of passwords has gotten out of hand. Chrome offers a built-in solution, which might not be ...

How to Disable Chrome's Password Manager in 3 Steps

How to Disable Google Chrome's Password Manager in 3 Steps

From 2019 to 2021, there was a significant increase in the percentage of individuals working primarily from home in the United States. Data from the 2021 American Community Survey released by the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that the number of remote workers <a href="https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2022/people-working-from-home.html" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">more than tripled</a>, rising from approximately 9 million people to 27.6 million people during this time.
As more organizations embrace <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/remote-workforce-3-cybersecurity-things-to-remember" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">remote and hybrid work models,</a> the BYOD (bring your own device) policy phenomenon has taken center stage. In this article, we'll dive into six major cybersecurity risks associated with using personal devices for work and offer practical tips to help you avoid potential pitfalls.&nbsp;
<h2>The Top Cybersecurity Risks of Bring Your Own Device Policies</h2>
In this new world of remote and hybrid work, many of us have traded in our office desks for cozy kitchen tables and swapped suits for sweatpants. The convenience of smartphones, tablets, and laptops has revolutionized how we work, allowing us to access emails, systems, and files anytime, anywhere.&nbsp;
While the ability to seamlessly switch between devices is undeniably alluring, BYOD practices <a href="https://goabacus.com/how-a-byod-policy-might-be-putting-your-companys-network-at-risk/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">can expose businesses</a> to a host of cybersecurity threats, making it essential for IT teams to adopt proactive measures that help keep these risks at bay.&nbsp;
<h3>1. Data Leakage</h3>
Data leakage occurs when sensitive information, such as company files or personal information, is unintentionally exposed or shared. This risk is particularly high with personal devices as they are often used to access both work and personal accounts, making it easier for data to be accidentally shared, misplaced, or intercepted.
Employees may also use unsecured or public Wi-Fi networks to access company resources, which can lead to data interception and leakage. Moreover, personal devices often lack the same security measures as corporate-owned devices, like data encryption, secure boot, or VPN access.
Companies <a href="https://www.upguard.com/blog/data-leak-prevention-tips" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">can help prevent data leakage</a> by implementing robust mobile device management systems and enforcing strict security protocols like data encryption and regular software updates. Providing employee training on safe data handling practices and creating clear usage guidelines are also essential to minimize risks associated with personal devices.
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/5dnwwUSrStGy6rxeH6sY" alt="undefined">
<h3>2. Malware Infection</h3>
Malware infections pose another significant cybersecurity risk for organizations that allow employees to use personal devices for work.&nbsp;
Personal devices are more likely to be infected with malware, as users may <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2023/01/30/why-cybersecurity-regulations-and-oversight-are-as-important-as-safety-standards-in-the-modern-workplace/?sh=4444e5905464" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">not adhere to the same security standards</a> they would when using a company-owned device. They might download apps from untrusted sources or visit unsafe websites, potentially exposing their devices to malware infections.
Once a personal device is infected, the malware can easily spread to the corporate network when the user connects their device to it. Malware can also spread through the organization's cloud services, email, or file-sharing platforms.&nbsp;
To mitigate malware infection concerns, companies should enforce the use of up-to-date antivirus software and require regular device security scans. Furthermore, educating employees on safe browsing habits and the <a href="https://www.techtarget.com/searchnetworking/definition/network-security" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">importance of using secure connections</a> can help prevent malware infections on personal devices.
<h3>3. Insufficient Security Controls</h3>
Personal devices often lack the security controls and monitoring capabilities found on corporate-owned devices. Companies may find it challenging to enforce security policies or remotely manage these devices, leading to weaker overall security. For example, a personal device may not have the latest security patches installed, leaving it vulnerable to known exploits.
Additionally, employees may not have the same awareness regarding cybersecurity practices on their personal devices as they do on their work devices. This can result in weak or reused passwords, lack of two-factor authentication, or failure to lock devices when not in use, all of which can lead to unauthorized access.&nbsp;
Companies can mitigate insufficient security controls by <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-protect-company-information-when-an-employee-leaves" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">implementing strict access controls</a>, such as multi-factor authentication and role-based permissions. Regularly auditing and updating security measures can also help maintain robust protection for company data accessed on personal devices. In addition, proper utilization of password management solutions is a simple yet effective way to mitigate these core security risks.
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/aT5ZbQMR2mP3iiCB6ck6" alt="undefined">
<h3>4. Phishing Attacks</h3>
Phishing attacks remain a top cybersecurity risk for organizations, and using personal devices for work can exacerbate this threat. Employees may be more susceptible to phishing attacks on their personal devices, as they may not be as vigilant about scrutinizing emails or messages from unknown sources.
Moreover, employees may use the same email address for work and personal purposes, increasing the risk of successful phishing attempts. Attackers can exploit personal information, such as interests or social media activity, to create highly targeted and convincing phishing emails.&nbsp;
To prevent potential phishing attacks, companies should <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-talk-to-remote-employees-about-cybersecurity" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">provide ongoing cybersecurity training</a> emphasizing phishing awareness and teach employees to recognize and report suspicious emails. Implementing email filtering technologies and advanced threat protection can also help detect and block phishing attempts before they reach users' inboxes.
<h3>5. Unauthorized Access to Sensitive Information</h3>
When personal devices are used for work, there is an increased risk of unauthorized access to sensitive corporate data. This can occur if the device is lost, stolen, or left unattended, allowing unauthorized individuals to access the device.&nbsp;
Personal devices often lack the advanced security features of corporate-owned devices, such as encryption, <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/tips-and-tricks-to-create-a-strong-password" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">strong passwords</a>, and multi-factor authentication. Without these additional security measures in place, it becomes easier for cybercriminals to access the device and the sensitive information stored on it. Furthermore, personal devices are more likely to be shared among family members or friends, increasing the risk of unintentional access to confidential data.&nbsp;
Companies can prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information due to BYOD by implementing strict access controls, such as multi-factor authentication, role-based permissions, and secure VPN connections. Furthermore, using machine learning-powered tools to log user activity and monitor and analyze user behavior can help detect potential security breaches, such as unauthorized access attempts or unusual login patterns.
Although machine learning is mostly used in business to improve performance and analytics, manage risks, assess market opportunities, and reduce operating costs, its use in cybersecurity is growing. In fact,<a href="https://youngandtheinvested.com/machine-learning-statistics/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank"> 47% of IT companies</a> reported increasing their machine learning budgets by up to 25% in 2020.
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/zIaSmxWgQcSkioNFOZh0" alt="undefined">
<h3>6. Inconsistent Software Updates and Patches</h3>
Personal devices typically have inconsistent software updates and patches, leaving them vulnerable to cybersecurity threats. Users may neglect to update their devices or applications regularly, as they are not managed by an IT department that enforces timely updates.&nbsp;
Outdated software and apps may contain exploitable security vulnerabilities, which can expose an organization's network and data to potential attacks, as a compromised personal device can <a href="https://www.ibm.com/topics/attack-surface" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">serve as an entry point for attackers</a> to infiltrate the company's systems.
Companies can maintain consistent software updates and patches in BYOD environments by enforcing a policy requiring employees to regularly update their devices' operating systems and applications. On top of this, incorporating mobile device management (MDM) solutions can help monitor, manage, and enforce software updates across all personal devices accessing the corporate network.
<h2>Find the Right Cybersecurity Solution for Your Organization</h2>
Using personal devices for work comes with several cybersecurity risks that companies must address proactively. While organizations can take steps to mitigate these risks, one crucial aspect that they cannot overlook is the effective management of passwords. A secure and efficient way to manage passwords is <a href="https://teampassword.com/" rel="follow">using a password manager</a> like TeamPassword.
TeamPassword provides an encrypted platform that enables users to store strong, unique passwords for every account. This level of security ensures the protection of sensitive data and helps prevent unauthorized access to personal and work-related accounts.
As an individual, it's essential to understand the importance of password security and how it impacts the safety of your personal and work-related data. By using a trusted password manager like TeamPassword, you can confidently navigate the digital landscape without compromising your organization's overall security.

Bring your own device policies are more common than ever, but they aren't without risks. Here are the top six risks and how to avoid them.

Bring your own device policies are increasingly popular as remote work trends continue. With them come risks. This ...

6 Cybersecurity Risks of BYOD Policies

Bring your own device policies are increasingly popular as remote work trends continue. With them come risks. This article explains six cybersecurity risks of using personal devices for work and how to avoid them.

6 Cybersecurity Risks of Using Personal Devices for Work

A secure password is the lynchpin to keeping your business safe. However, there&rsquo;s often a trade-off between convenience and cybersecurity when storing your passwords. This can lead people to cut corners when storing passwords. Conversely, the most secure password solutions are sometimes undermined when team members share their passwords in an unsecure way. Here are the best ways to store passwords online and offline.
<h3>Table of Contents</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="#lookfor" rel="follow">What should you look for in a password storage solution?</a></li>
<li><a href="#offline" rel="follow">How to store a password offline</a></li>
<li><a href="#online" rel="follow">How to store a password online</a></li>
</ul>
TeamPassword is the best way to store passwords online. Don&rsquo;t believe us? <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" rel="follow">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> today and try for yourself.

<h2 id="lookfor">What should you look for in a password storage solution?</h2>
If you ask someone what they are looking for in the ideal password storage solution, then they&rsquo;ll probably give you a security-based answer. That&rsquo;s absolutely important. However, there&rsquo;s a second feature that also needs to be found: convenience.

That&rsquo;s because a difficult-to-use <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/what-is-password-vaulting" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">password vault</a> can end up being a cybersecurity threat as well.&nbsp;
<h3>Secure password storage</h3>
There&rsquo;s no question that security is the most important feature of a good way to store passwords. TeamPassword, for example, takes security very seriously. <a href="https://teampassword.com/security" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Its hosting providers have attained SOC 1 and 2, ISO 27001, and many other security designations to keep our customers&rsquo; accounts safe.</a>

Generally speaking, secure password storage at a minimum requires a <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/master-password-what-is-it-and-do-i-need-one" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">master password</a> to access the other passwords being stored. Online, this means a password manager. Offline, it&rsquo;s a safe or digital password storage device.
<h3>Convenient password storage</h3>
Nobody wants to <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-find-a-lost-password-from-ages-ago" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">forget a password</a> and then lose access to their account. It&rsquo;s one of the most aggravating experiences in the modern business world, even when it doesn&rsquo;t cost you money. This can lead people to reuse passwords, which is a big cybersecurity risk. That&rsquo;s because one website being hacked could lead to all of your accounts being compromised.&nbsp;

That&rsquo;s just the start of the cybersecurity risks that can be caused by an inconvenient way to store passwords. Another is that if your password storage system does not allow a secure way to share passwords with your team, then team members might use unsecure methods, such as Slack messages, SMS, or email.

Then, there are the practical issues that arise from inconvenience. For example, if you use <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/what-are-icloud-keychains-and-why-are-they-better-than-passwords" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">iCloud Keychains</a> or your browser&rsquo;s built-in password manager, then you end up with partial lists on each device that are not connected. You may have experienced the need to open your laptop to check your Chrome password manager when trying to log into an account on your iPhone.&nbsp;
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/ywjzVjZRCyEbbBRq3vG3" alt="undefined">
<h2 id="offline">How to store a password offline</h2>
Many people choose to write their passwords down on paper. They probably know that you shouldn&rsquo;t reuse passwords, but remembering 100 passwords (<a href="https://tech.co/password-managers/how-many-passwords-average-person" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">the average number of accounts used by a person today</a>) is impossible so they write them down. This isn&rsquo;t the worst idea, but there are risks.&nbsp;

Essentially, your passwords become only as safe as that piece of paper. While pen and paper is the obvious method, there are other ways to store passwords offline.

Here are the best and worst ways to store a password offline.
<h3>The worst way to store a password offline</h3>
The absolute worst way to store a password offline is using a sticky note attached to your monitor. It&rsquo;s even worse if you work in an office. Don&rsquo;t do this!&nbsp;

Sometimes called a <a href="https://blog.usecure.io/what-is-a-clean-desk-policy-and-should-my-company-have-it" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">clean desk policy</a>, employees should be trained to remove all business sensitive information from their desk whenever they leave, including when using the washroom or grabbing a coffee from the kitchen. Removing passwords, notebooks, USB sticks, etc. and returning to the desktop password screen make your business more secure.&nbsp;&nbsp;
<h3>The best ways to store a password offline</h3>
There are two ways to securely store passwords offline. The first, a low-tech solution, is to use a safe. Since passwords written on paper are only as secure as the paper itself, placing these backups in your safe is a practical way of adding security to your offline password storage process.

The second, a high-tech solution, is using an <a href="https://password-managers.bestreviews.net/best-offline-password-storage-devices/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">offline password storage device</a>. These physical devices come in several varieties, some of which interface with your computer and others are completely separate.

One example is a USB stick that has a thumbprint reader. You can store hundreds of passwords on the device, and they will not display on your desktop until you unlock the device using your thumbprint. Another example looks like a label maker or calculator. You unlock the device using a master password and then can view or add new sets of credentials (username and password). These devices cannot interface with any other device or connect to the Internet. That means that, practically, they cannot be hacked.

You&rsquo;ll note that using a safe or offline password storage device is inconvenient. Offline password storage is really about having a backup password list in case you forget a critical password or your online password storage system fails. Ideally, you never have to use them, but they are there in case you lose access to an account.&nbsp;
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/SWOA6lsUQzi5vh5rNA9N" alt="undefined">
<h2 id="online">How to store a password online</h2>
When looking to store a password online, you should always look for encryption. <a href="https://cloud.google.com/learn/what-is-encryption" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Encryption</a> is a way to protect data so that, even if it falls into the wrong hands, it cannot be read.

Here are the best and worst ways to store a password online.
<h3>The worst ways to store a password online</h3>
We&rsquo;ve discussed <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/top-5-dangerous-ways-to-store-your-passwords" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">dangerous ways to store a password online</a> previously. The reason all of these methods are bad ways to store a password online is that they are not encrypted. If someone gains access to the document, then they have access to the password as well. Here are two especially bad places to store passwords.&nbsp;
<h4>Don&rsquo;t store passwords in email or instant messages</h4>
If someone can open your messages or emails, then they have access to your passwords. What&rsquo;s worse, email addresses are often how <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/password-manager-with-2fa" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">two-factor authentication</a> confirms your identity or lost passwords are retrieved. That makes email an especially risky place to store passwords.
<h4>Don&rsquo;t store passwords in notes or online documents.</h4>
<a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/the-risks-of-storing-your-passwords-in-google-sheets" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Google Sheets</a> is a tempting place to store all of your passwords. It&rsquo;s easy to organize a table of login links, usernames, passwords, the cost of the service, and when you signed up in a sheet. You can share access to the file with people on your team, so it is convenient. It also requires being shared to edit or view the document, which gives it the veneer of security.&nbsp;

However, if someone manages to gain access to your email account, just like storing passwords directly in your email account, there is no encryption. A hacker could immediately see all of your account credentials and exploit them.&nbsp;

Notes, whether on your desktop, laptop, or mobile device, are similarly unsecure. They also make it hard to share credentials with the rest of your team, which encourages employees to share passwords with others using unsafe methods such as Slack, SMS, or email.
<h3>The best way to store a password online</h3>
Password managers are the only way to securely store passwords online. These include the built-in password managers on your mobile phone or browser as well as third-party password managers such as TeamPassword.&nbsp;

What really makes dedicated password managers even more valuable is that they work across all of your devices, so you can find all of your passwords in one place. Furthermore, TeamPassword gives you the ability to <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-safely-share-passwords-with-coworkers" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">safely share passwords</a> with coworkers.

Since the Chrome password manager or iCloud Keychain doesn&rsquo;t have a way to share passwords safely, you lose a lot of the total security value. Since coworkers may share passwords using text or email without a better option available, the login information is still exposed.
<h2>TeamPassword is the best way to store a password online</h2>
You should look for convenience and security when choosing the best way to store passwords online. That&rsquo;s because convenient features make it less likely that someone on your team will circumvent the security measures by sharing passwords via email or SMS.&nbsp;

TeamPassword makes it safe and easy to store and share passwords online. You can take advantage of our best-in-class security measures to protect all of your login credentials. Individually control which team members have access to which accounts, making secure collaboration possible.
 <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> today to see why TeamPassword is the best way to store passwords online.

Here are the best ways to store a password online or offline, to both protect your accounts and make collaboration easy.

Here are the best ways to store a password online or offline, to both protect your accounts and ...

The Best Ways to Store Passwords Online and Offline (2023)

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 will send you a "password reset" from Instagram because they "suspect suspicious activity!" If you use unique usernames for every account, the attackers won't find your Instagram profile!
Don't think that you won't fall for these ploys! Many individuals with regular cybersecurity training fall victim to phishing attacks. Cybercriminals know that if they keep trying, they'll catch you when you're distracted or in a hurry.&nbsp;
In effect, unique usernames act as a second password, preventing anyone from finding your accounts with a single username.
What are some username mistakes that could put you at risk?
Don't use easy-to-guess information that could be found elsewhere on the web or sensitive info such as your social security or phone number.&nbsp;
<h4>What should not be included in a username so that it's secure?</h4>
<ol>
<li>
Personal Information: Avoid using any personal information such as your real name, date of birth, or address as part of your username.
</li>
<li>
Passwords or PINs: Do not use your passwords, PINs or other sensitive information as your username.
</li>
<li>
TMI: Do not include too much information that could potentially give away your identity, such as your phone number or email address.
</li>
<li>
Phishing Traps: Do not include any words or phrases that could be used in phishing attempts, such as "password", "admin", "login", etc.
</li>
</ol>
<h3></h3>
<h3>Unique Usernames for Anonymity</h3>
Aligned with security is anonymity. Maintaining anonymity online can protect you from cyberattacks and prevent work colleagues, clients, and other companies or individuals from finding you online.
Many people want to separate their professional profiles from their personal ones while maintaining an online presence. Using unique usernames can hide the profiles you prefer to keep private.
&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" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">free password generator</a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Deselect symbols (most platforms don't allow symbols in the username. Keep this selected if your platform does allow it!)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Our password generator only allows a minimum of 12 characters. If you need a shorter user name, drop the characters you don't need</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Copy/paste your random username to use when signing up for a new account</li>
</ol>
Remember to use our password generator with uppercase, lowercase, symbols, and numbers to create a secure unique password.&nbsp;
TeamPassword's password manager features a built-in password generator that suggests and pastes a strong password into forms during signup or resets. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a free 14-day free trial</a> to start managing your usernames and passwords securely.
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
<h2>How You Can Secure Your Accounts Using a Password Manager</h2>
Usernames and passwords are the keys to your individual and company accounts. These credentials prevent attackers from breaching your devices, networks, social media, apps, financial services, and more.
Most companies have hundreds of accounts requiring authentication daily. Often team members need to share access, especially for social media, research tools, productivity apps, store accounts, and marketing tools, to name a few.
<a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/secure-password-sharing">Sharing credentials</a> over email, chat, or via spreadsheets exposes your company, clients, employees, and users to many cybersecurity risks. In some states and countries, sharing passwords this way is illegal!
Using a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager</a> is a secure and efficient way to store and share your company's credentials.
Here are five reasons to choose TeamPassword for your company:
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Affordable - Enterprise-grade password managers are often expensive. TeamPassword provides small businesses, agencies, and startups with an affordable password management solution.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Secure - TeamPassword is an <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/what-is-password-encryption-and-how-much-is-enough">accredited secure hosting provider</a> using state-of-the-art encryption technology. We store your passwords using AES-256, trusted by US government agencies and many other organizations globally.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Efficient - Share and revoke access in TeamPassword with a single click. Quickly create passwords using our built-in <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">secure password generator</a>.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Scalable - TeamPassword's plans scale with your business. Start with as few as five members and upgrade your plan as your workforce expands.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Flexible - Employees can sign into accounts using TeamPassword's Chrome, Firefox, or Safari browser extensions&mdash;catering to both Apple and Windows users.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
&nbsp; &nbsp;
<h2>Password Management With TeamPassword</h2>
TeamPassword makes it easy and secure to share credentials with employees, clients, freelancers, and contractors. Everyone gets a separate TeamPassword login to manage access and monitor activity.
TeamPassword encrypts your passwords, making it impossible for employees (or even TeamPassword staff) to preview raw credentials.
&nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>Sharing Access With Groups</h3>
Add your team to TeamPassword and create groups to share access to your various accounts. If an employee, contractor, or freelancer leaves the team, simply remove them from the group&mdash;no need to worry about changing passwords!
If you're an agency working with multiple clients and accounts, one TeamPassword account is all you need! Just increase your plan accordingly.
&nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>Activity Logging</h3>
Keep track of TeamPassword activity, just like an enterprise password manager does. Monitor logins, password changes, credential sharing, and more to spot suspicious activity.
TeamPassword also lets you set up email notifications&mdash;helpful in monitoring sensitive accounts or specific actions, like sharing or adding new users.
&nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)</h3>
Enabling 2FA on your TeamPassword account prevents attackers from gaining access, even if they steal your employee's username and password.
TeamPassword uses the Google Authenticator app (iOS &amp; Android), requiring a six-digital randomly generated code as the second authentication step. Without the employee's device, hackers can't complete TeamPassword authentication.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<h2>Start With a Free Trial</h2>
Coming up with unique username ideas isn't enough to protect your company's digital assets from attack. Protect your company's usernames and passwords with <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">TeamPassword</a>.
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> to test our robust and efficient sharing features with your team today!

See the best way to come up with a new username. We break down types of usernames and give you the best username ideas out there.

See the best way to come up with a new username. We break down types of usernames, why ...

Username ideas to make your logins more secure

See the best way to come up with a new username. We break down types of usernames, why secure usernames are important, and how to create them effectively!

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

So you think hackers have stolen your password? You're not the only one. 
Perhaps you've noticed strange activity on your email account or frequent pop-ups on your computer. Perhaps it's just a hunch. 
But how can you know&nbsp;for sure?
There are many warning signs that you've been the victim of a data hack:
<ul>
<li>Your device is slower than normal.</li>
<li>You use more data than normal.</li>
<li>Videos take longer to load.</li>
<li>You received an email notification about a password change you didn't make.</li>
<li>An online account no longer accepts your password.</li>
</ul>
However, hackers can steal your passwords and identity&nbsp;without you ever knowing. That's why it's so difficult to tell if you're the victim of a hack.
This guide will help you work out if hackers have stolen your information and tell you how to stop it from happening again.&nbsp;
Prevent hackers from stealing your data by incorporating TeamPassword into your tech stack. This password manager for teams comes with a range of security features like two-step verification and password encryption.&nbsp;<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sign up for a free trial</a>&nbsp;today.&nbsp;

<h2>Have I Been Hacked? How Do I Know?</h2>
There are various ways to tell whether hackers have access to your information:
<ul>
<li>Look for unusual activity on your account. This activity includes logins to your social media accounts from unfamiliar locations or mass messages sent from your email account.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Look for security emails from account providers that warn about failed login attempts or password changes you didn't make.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>Look for changes in performance on the devices, apps, and websites you use. For example, see if videos take longer to buffer than normal.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Look at your browser's password manager (if you use one) and check that nobody has changed these credentials.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
All the above can be a guessing game. You might have a feeling that you're the victim of a hack but don't know for sure. 
Checking a stolen password list like "Have I Been Pwned" clears up some of the confusion. This tool searches across multiple data breaches &mdash; when hackers take stolen passwords and usernames and post them online &mdash; to see if cybercriminals have compromised your personal information. 
Here's how to use this stolen password list:
<ol>
<li>Enter your email address on the main page.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Click "pwned."</li>
<li>The website will search thousands of databases to see if hackers have stolen your personal information.</li>
<li>If you receive the "Oh no &ndash; Pwned!" message, it means hackers have posted sensitive information associated with your email address (passwords, addresses, phone numbers, etc.) somewhere online.</li>
<li>If you receive the "Good news &ndash; no pwnage found!" message, it means the website could not find your information on the internet.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
Note: Just because the website can't find your data on the internet, it doesn't mean hackers haven't compromised your personal information.
Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/password-manager-for-small-businesses" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Password Manager for Small Businesses</a>

<h2>Which Passwords Did Hackers Steal?</h2>
Establish which passwords hackers stole in a data breach so you can take quick action. Websites like "Have I Been Pwned"&nbsp;won't&nbsp;tell you which passwords are at risk. You'll only learn whether hackers have compromised the data associated with a particular email address. 
Note: Sometimes, hackers might have access to your email address and other personal information but not your password. It's hard to know for sure.&nbsp;
If hackers have access to your data, it's a good idea to change&nbsp;all passwords&nbsp;associated with the compromised email address. If you use your email address for several online accounts, change the passwords for these services. Updating these passwords might take you a while, and remembering the new passwords leads to additional problems. (Keep reading to find a solution.)
Here are some other tips:
<ul>
<li>When choosing new passwords, use combinations of lowercase letters, uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Passwords that use all these elements are stronger than those that don't.</li>
<li>Don't write your passwords down because this increases the risk of identity theft.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>Don't tell anyone your new passwords.</li>
</ul>
Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/the-most-secure-way-to-share-passwords" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Most Secure Way to Share Passwords</a>.

<h2>How Common Is a Data Hack?</h2>
More common than you think. Hackers were responsible for more than 4,000 attacks every day in 2020, and the total number of compromised records exceeded 37 billion. That's a 141% increase from 2019. Much of this compromised data appears on the dark web, where cybercriminals use it to facilitate illegal activities such as identity theft and money laundering.&nbsp;
If you have been the subject of a data hack, you are not alone. However, it's important to act quickly to prevent hackers from accessing your personal or financial accounts.&nbsp;
There are other types of cybercrime to consider. Cybercriminals use techniques like phishing, where they impersonate people online and trick victims into handing over their personal information. Phishing now accounts for more than 80% of all cybersecurity incidents, and criminals steal $17,700 every minute in these attacks.&nbsp;

<h2>What Kind of Information Do Hackers Steal?</h2>
Hackers steal all kinds of personal and financial information:
<ul>
<li>Names</li>
<li>Email addresses</li>
<li>Usernames</li>
<li>Passwords</li>
<li>Addresses</li>
<li>Phone numbers</li>
<li>Bank account details</li>
<li>Credit card numbers</li>
<li>Social Security numbers</li>
<li>Insurance information&nbsp;</li>
<li>IRS information</li>
<li>Photos</li>
<li>Private message</li>
<li>SMS messages</li>
</ul>
Nothing is off-limits for hackers, and these criminals go to great lengths to steal your data. Once they have access to the information above, hackers can transfer money from your bank accounts, use your identity to apply for financing, and damage your credit file.&nbsp;
Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/the-scariest-data-breaches-of-all-time" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Scariest Data Breaches of All Time</a>.
TeamPassword is the best password manager for teams. Features include two-step verification, password encryption, easy password sharing, and more.&nbsp;<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Get a free trial now</a>&nbsp;and learn how TeamPassword keeps you safe online.&nbsp;

<h2>Have I Been Hacked? How to Stay Safe.</h2>
There are several ways to improve online security and prevent hackers from accessing your personal information:
<ul>
<li>Use the latest security software and apps when using devices and browsing the internet.</li>
<li>Carry out regular risk assessments where you evaluate your security software.</li>
<li>Back up personal data to a reputable cloud service instead of keeping it on your device.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Don't share personal information with other people.</li>
<li>Create a security management strategy for your organization and share it with all team members.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Using a password manager is another way to stay safe online. The best ones encrypt your online passwords so hackers can't access these credentials, and you can keep passwords in a secure cloud-based vault and not have to remember them. There are various password managers online, including free ones available through most internet browsers, but not all tools are the same.&nbsp;
If you work alongside a team, consider TeamPassword. It's the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teampassword.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">password manager for teams</a>&nbsp;that require world-class security and performance. This all-in-one password solution helps teams like yours store, manage, and share passwords in the safest way possible.&nbsp;

<h2>How Can TeamPassword Help?</h2>
TeamPassword prevents hackers from stealing your organization's most sensitive data with an incredible range of password management features. Enterprises of all sizes use TeamPassword to manage passwords, including tech startups, digital marketing agencies, creative agencies, and software and development teams.
Here are some&nbsp;<a href="https://teampassword.com/features" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TeamPassword features</a>&nbsp;that prevent situations involving a stolen password:
<ul>
<li>Random password generation that creates unique passwords for websites.</li>
<li>Two-step password verification.</li>
<li>Activity and logging tools so you can discover who has access to password management features.</li>
<li>Secure encryption technology.</li>
<li>Email notifications about password management actions.</li>
<li>Passwords stored securely in one place. </li>
</ul>
<h2>Final Word</h2>
If you're looking for the answer to the question, "Have I been hacked?" it's difficult to know for sure. Preventing hackers from compromising your data in the first place provides a better resolution. TeamPassword lets you store and manage passwords in a secure environment and minimize the effects of a stolen password so you can avoid hackers stealing your data and continue to collaborate on team projects.&nbsp;
With features like password encryption, two-step authentication, and random password generation, TeamPassword is the best password management solution for teams that want to improve online security.&nbsp;<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sign up for a free trial</a>&nbsp;now.

Have I been hacked? Here's how to check if you have and learn how to stop hackers from stealing your data. | TeamPassword Blog

Have I been hacked? Here's how to check if you have and learn how to stop hackers from ...

Have I Been Hacked? How to Know for Sure.

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

TeamPassword Blog

Browse our carefully created articles about Information Security, Password Management, Product Information, and Modern Business, all written with your team's safety and success in mind.

Most popular articles

Password Management

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Top 5 Dangerous Ways to Store Your Passwords

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