Dreaming of a flexible career where you set your own hours and work with clients from around the globe? The rise of the gig economy has made this dream a reality for countless professionals. From graphic designers to writers and developers, freelancers are reshaping the traditional workplace.
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, <a href="https://www.upwork.com/research/freelance-forward-2022" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">freelancers contributed $1.35 trillion to the U.S. economy in annual earnings in 2022, up $50 billion from 2021</a>.&nbsp;Some of the most successful freelancers earn hundreds of thousands of dollars per year through platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, and Toptal.
But what does it take to become a top-earning freelancer? In this post, we'll examine 10 successful individuals who have built thriving careers in the freelance world. By examining their portfolios and successes, we hope to give you a better idea of what's possible in the freelance world, and inspire you to take the leap should you decide that freelance is the right choice for you!
&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" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">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/signup" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">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" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">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" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">portfolio website Koenvo</a> was nominated for a <a href="https://www.awwwards.com/sites/koenvo-ui-ux-portfolio" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">2021 awwwards Award</a>.
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/IOmtrbdOQZev1mS8Jc33" alt="undefined" width="650" height="433">&nbsp;Image by Freepik&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/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">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" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">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="nofollow 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/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Marcos Rezende's website</a> was nominated for the prestigious <a href="https://www.awwwards.com/sites/ux-portfolio-marcos-rezende" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">awwwards.</a> in 2021.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<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" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Tanya is a Top Rated Upwork Freelancer</a> with more than $200k platform earnings. Her current rate starts at $162.50 per hour.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<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.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
<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/signup" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">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.
On the Enterprise plan, you can even <a href="https://teampassword.com/one-time-secret?navbar=onetimesecret" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">share a one-time password link</a>.&nbsp;
<a href="https://teampassword.com/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">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" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">password generator</a> lets you create secure passwords between 12-32 characters using numbers, letters (uppercase/lowercase), and symbols.
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/tj8gEkSCTwiowMUAocHy" alt="Built-in password generator.gif" width="400" height="305"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
Ready to onboard clients and freelancers securely with TeamPassword's robust password management solution? <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/signup" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Sign up for a free trial</a> to secure your company's digital assets today!

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

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

10 extremely successful freelancers and what they do

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

It&rsquo;s been almost three years since the GDPR took effect. Now that the initial uncertainty about it has started to clear up, many are asking: Was it a big deal?
This blog entry explains why the GDPR is definitely a huge deal. GDPR not only imposes strict requirements and hefty fines. It also massively impacts how businesses <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-manage-your-small-business-passwords">manage data security and avoid data breaches</a>.
TeamPassword helps you take the needed steps to stay GDPR-compliant. We provide cyber-security tools and expertise for protecting your organization&rsquo;s data. Shield your information from data breaches, <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">sign up for a free 14-day trial</a> today.
<h2>GDPR and DATA Security</h2>
The EU&rsquo;s <a href="https://gdpr-info.eu/">General Data Protection Regulation</a> (GDPR) lays down rules on how companies should handle the personal data they collect from EU citizens and residents. Among other things, it outlines strict responsibilities and requirements to ensure organizations keep consumer&rsquo;s data private and protected.
These data security provisions cover areas such as implementing data protection protocols and roles, adopting a privacy-by-design approach throughout the organization, and mitigating data breaches. This gives the GDPR its reputation as the world&rsquo;s <a href="https://gdpr.eu/what-is-gdpr/">toughest data privacy and security law</a>.
An even more crucial GDPR component is the costly fines and penalties it imposes on businesses for noncompliance. Depending on the severity of the violation, fines can reach up to &euro;20 million or 4% of annual revenue, whichever is higher.
Put simply, the GDPR makes it a very expensive mistake for businesses to <a href="https://www.teampassword.com/blog/the-truth-about-terrible-passwords">skimp on data security</a>.
<h2>Cost of Non-compliance</h2>
Just how much do data security violations cost businesses under the GDPR? This depends on various factors, but the overall trends show that data security infringements have so far been a major source of GDPR fines.
At the time of writing, the <a href="https://www.enforcementtracker.com/?insights">GDPR Enforcement Tracker</a> reports a total of &euro;275 million in fines levied since enforcement. Of this amount, &euro;64 million comes from fines for &ldquo;insufficient technical and organisational measures to ensure information security&rdquo; (the second biggest category in the list).
In addition, four out of the five largest GDPR fines ever imposed have involved some form of data security violation (although the fines also included other non-compliance issues):
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">H&amp;M: &euro;35.2 million (an error that left a network drive unprotected)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">TIM: &euro;27.8 million (broad set of GDPR violations including data breaches)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">British Airways: &euro;22 million (phishing websites hijacked site traffic)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Marriott International: &euro;20 million (cyber-attack that compromised user data including 31 million EU residents)</li>
</ul>
This clearly indicates that regulators are very serious about going after businesses that don&rsquo;t adequately protect consumer data.
<h2>Comparing GDPR Fines With Other Data Privacy Regulations</h2>
To see how GDPR stacks up against similar data protection laws, here&rsquo;s a quick comparison of the fines imposed by other GDPR-like regulations:
<table height="543" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 58.32399840394875%; height: 780px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 29.489962984054667%;">
Regulation
</td>
<td style="width: 8.107915717539864%;">
Jurisdiction
</td>
<td style="width: 57.16472095671982%;">
&nbsp; &nbsp; Maximum Fines
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 29.489962984054667%;">
California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)
</td>
<td style="width: 8.107915717539864%;">
California
</td>
<td style="width: 57.16472095671982%;">
&nbsp; Civil penalties of $7,500/violation, statutory damages of $750/consumer/incident
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 29.489962984054667%;">
Data Protection Act (DPA)
</td>
<td style="width: 8.107915717539864%;">
UK
</td>
<td style="width: 57.16472095671982%;">
&nbsp; &pound;17.5 million or 4% of global revenue
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 29.489962984054667%;">
Digital Charter Implementation Act
</td>
<td style="width: 8.107915717539864%;">
Canada
</td>
<td style="width: 57.16472095671982%;">
&nbsp; CAD25 million or 5% of global revenue
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 29.489962984054667%;">
Privacy Act
</td>
<td style="width: 8.107915717539864%;">
Australia
</td>
<td style="width: 57.16472095671982%;">
&nbsp; AUD1.8 million
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 29.489962984054667%;">
Act on Protection of Personal Information
</td>
<td style="width: 8.107915717539864%;">
Japan
</td>
<td style="width: 57.16472095671982%;">
&nbsp; &yen;100 million
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 29.489962984054667%;">
Personal Data Protection Law
</td>
<td style="width: 8.107915717539864%;">
China
</td>
<td style="width: 57.16472095671982%;">
&nbsp; CNY50 million
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 29.489962984054667%;">
Lei Geral de Prote&ccedil;ao de Dados (LGPD)
</td>
<td style="width: 8.107915717539864%;">
Brazil
</td>
<td style="width: 57.16472095671982%;">
&nbsp; R$50 million
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>So, Is GDPR A Big Deal?</h2>
With strict responsibilities and steep penalties it places on businesses, the GDPR is a huge deal. But is it a big deal for your company, too? If you collect or process EU citizens&rsquo; and residents&rsquo; personal data, then it absolutely is.
As we&rsquo;ve seen, data security makes up a critical part of GDPR compliance. In particular, it requires businesses to:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Implement <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/your-passwords-are-only-as-secure-as-your-teams">proper organizational and technical measures</a> to protect personal data</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Assess how business decisions impact data protection</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Track data breaches and promptly notify affected parties</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Train employees on keeping data secure</li>
</ul>
In terms of how big a liability you&rsquo;ll face for data infringements, regulators take various data security factors into account when <a href="https://www.ciodive.com/news/how-do-regulators-calculate-gdpr-fines-an-explainer/558495/">calculating GDPR fines</a>:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">The size and duration of the breach</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Type of data compromised</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Whether intent or negligence is involved</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Prevention and mitigation steps taken</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Record of past data breaches</li>
</ul>
Finally, as more GDPR-like regulations take effect, you&rsquo;re bound to be governed by other data privacy laws at some point. Becoming GDPR-compliant helps you stay ahead at meeting similar regulations down the road. That makes GDPR quite a big deal for everyone.
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
In this post, you&rsquo;ve seen what GDPR means for data security and why it&rsquo;s a big deal for every business right now. The big takeaway is that GDPR mandates a data-privacy-by-design mindset which, in turn, needs robust data protection mechanisms in place.
That&rsquo;s where TeamPassword can help. We give you tools to easily manage passwords across your organization so that data stays secure. Give it a try with a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">free 14-day trial today</a>.

Was the GDPR a big deal? The quick answer is yes and the GDPR is an even bigger deal for how businesses handle data security. | TeamPassword

Was the GDPR a big deal? The quick answer is yes and the GDPR is an even bigger ...

GDPR: was it really a big deal?

With <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a>, users can benefit from simple and effective solutions to store and share passwords and team logins. These convenient features enable you to let business projects progress securely and protect your digital assets. Our pricing models are designed to give flexible options depending on your team size and budget. This article explains why it is a small price to pay to invest in a password manager like TeamPassword. To get started with protecting yourself click <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">here</a> for a free trial.
<h2>Password Breach Cases</h2>
When an accident doesn&rsquo;t happen to us, we don&rsquo;t know the importance of protection. People tend to learn lessons after they make a mistake. But, when it comes to cybersecurity, making a mistake and being naive can be extremely costly. In this section, we will have a look at three password breach cases and the cost the companies had to pay.
<h3>RI Advice Group stored passwords in plain text</h3>
RI Advice Group is an Australian financial firm. In August 2020, the company was sued for storing passwords and other credentials in plain text files. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) took the financial advisory firm to the Federal Court for failing to maintain a &ldquo;reasonable standard&rdquo; of cybersecurity. In the court filings, ASIC alleged that RI failed to ensure its representatives secured the critical personal and financial information of their clients.
<h3>500,000 Zoom Account Breaches</h3>
In April 2020, over 500,000 Zoom accounts were compromised and sold on the Dark Web and other hacker forums. It turned out that the majority of the passwords were old and had been hacked before. An investigation by Cyble, a cyber risk assessment firm, found that each password was sold under $0.01 in USD and some were even offered for free.
<h3>Facebook stored millions of user passwords in plain text</h3>
In March 2019, it was reported that the social media network giant stored hundreds of millions of user passwords in clear text although they were not exposed externally. The majority of the passwords were for users of Facebook Lite, which is a light version of Facebook for slow network connections. Facebook is known to well protect passwords normally but this case was not a best practice for password management.
Poor password management can lead to significant damage to your company&rsquo;s bottom line and brand. Considering the potential damage, using a paid security tool to protect passwords can yield a great return on investment.
<h2>TeamPassword can protect passwords</h2>
To protect your critical assets, TeamPassword offers an extensive range of features. Let&rsquo;s have a look at some of our major features.
<h3>Password Generator</h3>
As we could see from the case studies above, old weak passwords can be an easy target for hacking. When you have to generate unique and <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/the-importance-of-a-strong-password-for-each-account">strong passwords</a> regularly, it can be tough since it needs your creativity. Our <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/why-should-i-use-a-password-generator">password generator</a> tool helps you ease the burden and lets you create strong passwords with simple clicks.
<h3>Ease of Use</h3>
TeamPassword supports various devices including desktops, laptops, and <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/introducing-teampassword-mobile-to-increase-user-productivity">mobile devices</a>. With the TeamPassword&rsquo;s extension, you can use Chrome, Firefox, or Safari to easily access your password. After installing the extension, you can simply click your password on the extension menu to log in.
<h3>Collaboration</h3>
When you work in multiple teams or work for many clients, managing passwords becomes more difficult and scalability becomes an important factor for <a href="https://businessmap.io/agile/project-management" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">project management</a>. With TeamPassword, you can easily and securely share credentials with the whole or part of your teams and even with external clients. When new members come in or leave, you can add or remove certain users to your group.
<h3>Logging and Notifications</h3>
When a new user is added to a login group, you might want to get notified to monitor the person&rsquo;s activities. Also, TeamPassword informs you of which logins are being updated. With this feature, you can take swift action at the right time to prevent an accident.
<h3>Multi-Factor Authentication</h3>
MFA or Multi-Factor Authentication adds an extra security layer to your login credentials. It is known that using MFA can block most of the automated login attempts from hackers. TeamPassword can be compatible with Google Authenticator to generate code. After your login using username and password, you&rsquo;ll be prompted to provide an MFA code when MFA mode is enabled. You can also make backup codes to prevent you from being locked out.
<h2>Pricing Plans</h2>
TeamPassword provides various affordable pricing options for our users. You can explore our product with the Starter plan at $15 per month. That&rsquo;s for five members. If you have a large team, our highest option allows 50 users at $100 per month. We also have $30 and $60 per month options for different team sizes.
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
In this article, we learned why using TeamPassword can be a good investment for the future. If you consider the potential damage to your organization, <a href="https://teampassword.com/pricing">our price plans</a> have affordable options for various teams sizes and periods. At TeamPassword we provide the best software to generate and have your passwords managed correctly. If you would like to learn more about it, please <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">sign on to the free 14-day trial</a> today.

Can you put a price on your security? TeamPassword is a small price to pay given the potential damage due to wrong password management.

Can you put a price on your security? TeamPassword is a small price to pay given the potential ...

Can You Put a Price on Your Security?

Amid a global pandemic, studies have found that nearly <a href="https://news.stanford.edu/2020/06/29/snapshot-new-working-home-economy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">42 percent of the United States workforce</a> has shifted to remote work. This unprecedented reliance on technology, while effective in maintaining an operational business, presents a challenge for remote work security. While those in the IT field have grown accustomed to working remotely over the years, the practice remains foreign to most employees.
Because of the sheer volume of unpracticed employees who are working remotely, cybercriminals are fully embracing the situation. This makes the risk of cyberattacks that lead to data breaches and theft greater than ever. With <a href="https://www.educationconnection.com/resources/12-must-know-cybersecurity-facts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">53 percent of these cyber-attacks</a> resulting in damages that exceed $500,000, remote work security must be a priority to protect the business and individual employees.
TeamPassword offers&nbsp;the best software to generate and have your passwords managed correctly. If you would like to learn more about it, please&nbsp;click <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">here</a>&nbsp;to sign up today.&nbsp;
here are five tips uncovered to increase security for your remote workforce:
<h2>1. Use TeamPassword</h2>
Unfortunately, collaborative efforts in the virtual realm mean passwords are shared frequently. Whether through email, Zoom meetings or digital documents, the risk of passwords being intercepted by unauthorized individuals is extremely high. Using a password manager can prevent this from occurring as it allows shared passwords to be encrypted or created with a <a href="https://www.teampassword.com/password-generator" target="_blank" rel="noopener">password generator.</a>
TeamPassword is a highly regarded password manager designed specifically with teams in mind. It offers a plethora of security-enhancing features like a unique password generator, encryption, activity logs and two-step verification.
<h2>2. Educate Employees</h2>
One of the simplest yet most effective ways to improve remote work security is to educate employees of the potential dangers lurking behind their screens. While they may be familiar with using some same applications and software systems, others may be foreign which can make them more susceptible to threats. Be sure to educate employees on safe practices with each of the tools that are being used.
Additionally, cybercriminals are using the nationwide increase in remote work environments to their advantage by ramping up e-mail phishing scams. In some cases, they may send malware as an attachment or a link that appears to come from a co-worker or an authoritative resource regarding the pandemic itself. While spam filters and anti-virus protection software can help weed out some of these threats, it is much more effective to make others aware of these attacks.
<h2>3. Don&rsquo;t Delay Updates</h2>
As those in the IT field know all too well, software updates are frequent yet necessary. This is because updates often address security flaws and provide additional upgrades to safeguard data. Updates should be installed as soon as they are released to offer the most protection.
To ensure this is done on all devices, companywide e-mails can be sent instructing employees to install updates after they are released. For those that are unfamiliar with such actions, it may be helpful to e-mail a simple, step-by-step tutorial to ensure that all employees are protected. This same method can also be used when introducing new remote work security features like <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" target="_blank" rel="follow noopener">TeamPassword</a> to ensure all employees understand how to use them.
<h2>4. Use Separate Devices</h2>
Another important step that remote workforces can take to ensure the security of all employees is to insist that personal and work devices are kept separate. Employer-provided laptops should be distributed along with strict rules that prohibit the use of devices for personal activities like online shopping, bill payments or video streaming. Additionally, friends and family members must not use the devices.
Despite these efforts, many employees find the use of personal devices necessary to complete their work daily. In these cases, they should make use of a virtual private network (VPN) to ensure that data is encrypted. Likewise, all business messages and documents should be handled using corporate software that focuses on remote work security instead of personal accounts which are often laxer with security and encryption.
<h2>5. Activate Multi-Factor Authentication</h2>
To prevent unauthorized individuals from accessing sensitive data, multi-factor authentication is highly effective. With this method, users are required to provide more than one form of authentication. This may mean that they utilize biometrics, voice recognition or a code on their smartphone.
Although many dread the thought of taking an extra step to access their business accounts, it is one of the most effective measures that a remote workforce can take to secure remote work for all parties. Another option for implementing multi-factor authentication is the 2-step verification process offered with TeamPassword.
<h2>Try TeamPassword</h2>
If your business is searching for a way to enhance security for remote work, explore all of the benefits that TeamPassword has to offer. Get started now with a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" target="_blank" rel="follow noopener">14-day free trial</a> before making a commitment.

Remote work security is a crucial concept when working at home/abroad. Learn and Discover our top tips to keep your remote workforce secure.

Remote work security is a crucial concept when working at home/abroad. Learn and Discover our top tips to ...

5 Tips to Increase Security for Your Remote Workforce

Five Tips to Increase Security for Your Remote Workforce

With <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a>, users can enjoy simple and effective solutions to store and share passwords and team logins. These convenient features enable you to keep business projects moving and protect your assets.
We keep trying to expand our reach by adding support for external tools. As part of it, our latest updates include support for Pipedrive. This article talks about what Pipedrive is and the major benefits of the tool. To take advantage of the benefits and tools try the free trial <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">here</a>
<h2>What is Pipedrive?</h2>
Pipedrive is the leading sales pipeline software and a CRM tool. Pipedrive has been used by more than 90,000 companies around the world. The software has been recognized as a &ldquo;Leader&rdquo; by Software Advice in FrontRunners Quadrant by Gartner Methodology in the CRM software segment. The firm was founded in 2010 with the goal of helping its customers to visualize sales processes and let more tasks be done. The founders understood that in sales, you cannot control the outcome but you decide your actions. So, the software was born around an activity-based selling approach - a proven method that&rsquo;s about scheduling, completing, and tracking activities.
<h2>Why use Pipedrive?</h2>
There are other similar activity tracking tools for sales in the market. Then, why do many people prefer Pipedrive over them?
<h3>Pipedrive Major Features&nbsp;</h3>
Pipedrive offers many benefits to users.
<h4>Leads and Deals Management</h4>
From a chatbot or a form on your customer-facing website, leads are delivered straight into your sales pipeline. In the visualized pipeline, you can easily prioritize your tasks.
<h4>Communications Tracking</h4>
You can track calls, emails and contact logs that you need to. As part of communication tracking, you can manage an unlimited database of contacts and organizations. Plus, the feature allows you to see full timelines of contact activities.
<h4>Task Automation</h4>
Pipedrive has adopted artificial intelligence to automate your repetitive administrative works. This lets users spend their time on more valuable tasks. AI-powered sales assistance increases your performance with personalized tips so that you don&rsquo;t have to waste your time thinking about what to do next.
<h4>Insights and Reports</h4>
As you use Pipedrive, you can gather important sales data. Based on them, you can create custom CRM fields to create customized reports and dashboards just for your business. You can filter, group, and oversee results and learn success patterns and. Filter, group and oversee results, revealing winning patterns and blockages that need to be overcome.
<h4>Privacy and Security</h4>
Security is one of the most important pillars for the success of a project. Pipedrive enables you to obtain full transparency on how your business data is being used and track activities of users.
<h4>Integrations and Mobile Apps</h4>
These days, an isolated product cannot survive. Most of the popular software products provide compatibility with other tools and platforms. Pipedrive also makes it easy to plug into other big sales apps. You can also use the Pipedrive mobile app.
<h3>Cases Studies</h3>
Pipedrive shares many success stories from their customers who used the software and experienced a big jump in their sales and efficiencies.&nbsp;
<h4>Snug</h4>
Snug is a digital housing platform that offers a subscription-based digital housing service. The company, with the help of Pipedrive, has been able to grow their leads by over 40% each month using Autopilot and Pipedrive. Thanks to Pipedrive&rsquo;s integration, they could use both tools seamlessly and used Pipedrive as their main CRM.
<h4>BBMG Consulting</h4>
The consulting firm started using Pipedrive and achieved a growth of an additional 500 engaged subscribers to their newsletters within half a year. They integrated Pipedrive into Outfunnel and could smoothly schedule meetings, follow-ups and general communications with their customers for the next 6 months.
<h4>Mybanker</h4>
Mybanker is a Denmark online platform that assists users to find the right bank. With Pipedrive integrated into Plecto, the firm&rsquo;s sales team was able to grow fast from one to three people and they are looking for a fourth person. With Pipedrive, they have been able to manage over 20 private banks and select the right one for their customers.
<h2>TeamPassword Supports Pipedrive</h2>
With TeamPassword's support for Pipedrive, you can securely <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/why-do-i-need-a-password-manager">manage the passwords</a> of the sales software and write your own sales success story. While you focus on your sales tasks, we will take care of your concerns about password management and <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/unusual-logins-how-sharing-passwords-improves-team-spirit">team sharing</a>. You can easily but securely log into Pipedrive and share credentials with your team members or even external customers.

In addition, you can track and monitor the use of passwords and get notified when certain actions are taken. To ease your pain of creating a strong password and memorizing it, TeamPassword provides a <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/why-should-i-use-a-password-generator">password generator</a> that can create a secure password.
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
In this article, we learned about Pipedrive and our support for the CRM software. Using both tools, you can achieve your sales goal more securely and smoothly. At TeamPassword we provide the best software to generate and have your passwords managed correctly. If you would like to learn more about it, please <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=bcms#signup/testimonial" rel="follow">sign on to the free 14-day trial</a> today.

Learn about how TeamPassword has now extended its support to allow people to securely manage passwords for Pipedrive.

TeamPassword now has  for support Pipedrive!

TeamPassword now has support for Pipedrive!

<h2>To OAuth or not to OAuth?</h2>
OAuth 2.0 continues to grow as the <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/276397514_Security_evaluation_of_the_OAuth_20_framework">de facto standard for granting access</a> to protected resources on the web. But that doesn&rsquo;t mean that OAuth 2.0 is the right security solution for every use case.
Today, we will weigh the trade-offs of implementing OAuth 2.0 (which we&rsquo;ll refer to simply as &ldquo;OAuth&rdquo; throughout the post), so that you can better decide if it&rsquo;s the right approach for your project.
Interested in improving other areas of your security stack? TeamPassword lets your team effortlessly and safely share passwords. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" rel="follow">Click here</a> to start protecting credentials and sensitive information right now with a free 14-day trial.
&nbsp; &nbsp;
<h2>What is OAuth and some Key Points</h2>
OAuth (Open-Standard Authorisation Protocol) is a standard that defines how servers and services grant client applications permission to access protected resources. This means that OAuth itself isn&rsquo;t a service but rather a set of guidelines for authorization.
It&rsquo;s also crucial to remember that <a href="https://oauth.net/articles/authentication/">OAuth isn&rsquo;t an authentication protocol</a>. OAuth handles authorization (granting scopes of access), not identity verification.
With OAuth, authorization uses tokens rather than credentials. The <a href="https://tools.ietf.org/id/draft-ietf-oauth-v2-31.html">process basically works</a> as follows:
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">The client asks the resource owner for authorization.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Resource owner authorizes client.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Authorization server grants tokens to the client.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">The client shows a token to the resource server.</li>
</ol>
Here, a client is any party who wants to access the user&rsquo;s (resource owner) data in the resource server. Meanwhile, the authorization server is a service trusted by the resource server to authenticate users and issue access tokens.
Aside from tokens, the process also relies on scopes (levels of access) and flows (ways to retrieve tokens).&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp; &nbsp;
<h2>Pros and Cons of OAuth</h2>
OAuth solves many problems that arise from allowing unrelated services to securely access users&rsquo; resources. But as with any other solution, OAuth comes with both advantages and disadvantages.
<h3>Pros</h3>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Avoids directly using credentials. A key benefit of using OAuth is that it doesn&rsquo;t involve client applications directly accessing users&rsquo; login credentials, thus steering clear of the <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/the-truth-about-terrible-passwords">password anti-pattern</a>.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Works well at granting fine-grained levels of access. With scopes, OAuth provides a robust way to grant and manage different access levels and permission types for specific users or groups. For example, OAuth scopes allow you to restrict which tokens have read-only or write-only permissions.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Offers broader access control methods. In addition to scopes, OAuth gives developers the ability to further restrict access through the use of temporary tokens set to expire at a pre-configured expiration time.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Cons</h3>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">May not be the simplest option in specific situations. In certain cases, OAuth can be a more complicated security option to work with than alternatives like API keys or HTTP OAuth. When implementing OAuth, there can be a steep learning curve and longer development time involved.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Introduces other security risks. While OAuth takes away the need to <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/the-biggest-password-trends-of-2020">share credentials among multiple client applications</a>, it does come with its own set of security risks such as access token injection, token leakage, and MITM attacks.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Can lead to interoperability issues. There&rsquo;s no shortage of ready-made solutions to start integrating OAuth into any project. But the lack of a common format means that vendors and services have widely different implementations, which can result in incompatibility issues.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
<h2>Should You Use OAuth?</h2>
With different strengths and drawbacks, OAuth can be the best approach in many situations. But it can also be the wrong choice in others.
&nbsp;
<h3>When to Use OAuth</h3>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">There&rsquo;s a need for a service to securely access another service on a user&rsquo;s behalf (e.g., allowing Twitter to access users&rsquo; email contacts).</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Access needs to be restricted by different permission types, user channels, or data categories (e.g., <a href="https://developers.facebook.com/docs/facebook-login/access-tokens/">Facebook&rsquo;s access tokens</a> covering various permissions for public developer partners).</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">It&rsquo;s more convenient and/or more secure for users to sign up for a service without <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/microsoft-security-report-reveals-how-passwords-are-at-risk">sharing their credentials</a> (e.g., SSO sign-in using Google).</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;&nbsp;
<h3>When Not to Use OAuth</h3>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">A service only requires simple login or authentication (e.g., protocols like HTTP Basic OAuth, HTTP Digest, or API keys may be more suitable).</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">There&rsquo;s a need to support stronger security requirements like digitally-signed messages or signatures with asymmetric secrets (e.g., SAML-based SSO may be a better option).</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">You&rsquo;re <a href="https://www.slideshare.net/AmazonWebServices/serverless-oauth-authorizing-thirdparty-applications-to-your-serverless-api-srv425-reinvent-2017">not building a platform</a> that third-party services need to integrate with (again, simpler security protocols and best practices can be the right approach).</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;&nbsp;
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
The OAuth authorization standard makes many of the modern web&rsquo;s features and capabilities possible. It allows apps, services, devices, and APIs to securely share protected resources. In this post, we took a look at OAuth&rsquo;s various advantages and drawbacks, as well as learned when OAuth is and isn&rsquo;t the right security tool for the job.
Speaking of security tools, another key area you need to look into to protect your data is password management. TeamPassword helps you conveniently and securely share passwords throughout your team and organization. Find out more with a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" rel="follow">14-day free trial</a><a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=bcms#signup/testimonial" rel="follow">.</a>

We'll talk about what is OAuth 2.0 and weigh the pros and cons of using OAuth 2.0. Also, find out if it is the right option for your use.

In this article we'll talk about what is OAuth 2.0 & weigh the pros and cons of using ...

What is OAuth and how can TeamPassword help you?

In this article we'll talk about what is OAuth 2.0 & weigh the pros and cons of using OAuth 2.0. Also, find out if it is the right option for your use.

What is OAuth 2.0 and how can TeamPassword help you?

<h2>Introduction</h2>
In the modern world with the constant growth of online services, online financial services, social media, gaming platforms, and online banking, it is crucial to <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/are-hackers-really-trying-to-steal-your-password">prevent hackers and scammers from gaining access</a> to your accounts and personal information. This is where two-factor authentication (2FA) comes in. So let&rsquo;s discuss which 2FA approach is the best for you.&nbsp;
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=bcms#signup/testimonial" rel="follow">TeamPassword</a> is a simple and effective way to store and share team logins and passwords to ensure smooth and secure business project movements while still protecting your assets. 
Sign up for a free trial <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=bcms#signup/testimonial" rel="follow">here</a>.

<h2>Types of Two-Factor Authentication</h2>
So what is two-factor authentication? To provide an additional layer of&nbsp;security, one can request one or more factors for user authentication to prove identity. These factors include:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Something you know (password, pin, security question, etc)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Something that you have (smartphone, USB dongle, smartcard, etc)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Biometrics (fingerprints, voice, retina scan, etc)</li>
</ul>
OTP via SMS or email - the most popular and common 2FA method is when a service sends an SMS text message or email&nbsp;with a one-time password (OTP) to a smartphone or other device.&nbsp;
One-time codes on paper or in a file - prepared in advance and generated by service codes, these codes can be stored on printed paper, in files, or even in a password manager (like <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a>) in encrypted mode.
Software Authenticators - This is a 2FA method that has become more popular recently. Users scan QR codes provided by a vendor (generated by authenticator software) and based on this code, the application generates a temporary password that the user enters along with the main <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/tips-and-tricks-to-create-a-strong-password">password</a> to complete the authentication process.
Push Notification - This is an easy to use, fast, and secure authentication method. Encrypted communication channels eliminate "middle-men" attacks. The user just needs to approve or decline a request from the service on their smartphone to get access to an account.
FIDO U2F Hardware Authenticators - This is one of the most reliable and solid methods based on the open-source universal 2nd-factor standard (U2F). Users just need to plug in a USB dongle or bump NFC device to authenticate.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Biometrics - This includes the like of face recognition, fingerprints, and voice recognition. Innovations like Apple&rsquo;s Face ID or Microsoft&rsquo;s Hello are often used to access devices and online services.
<h2></h2>
<h2>OTP Vulnerabilities</h2>
All 2FA methods have pros and cons and none of these methods provide 100% protection against hacking. Theft, poor software design, vulnerable connection channels, and criminal use of social engineering can lead to unwanted account access. But the most insecure methods are OTPs via SMS and OTPs via email.&nbsp;
OTP via SMS&nbsp;
Intruders can just peek at a message with a password on the smartphone screen if lock-screen notifications are enabled.
SIM cards can be stolen or criminals can clone your phone number if they have your social security number so they can receive text messages with <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-i-was-port-out-scammed-in-3-hours">one-time passwords directly</a> and then gain access to your accounts.
Hackers also can intercept messages, so-called&nbsp;Signalling System Number 7&nbsp;(SS7) attacks, by using the main flaw mobile routine SS7 protocol.&nbsp;
Using OTPs via SMS, hackers can reset passwords to, for example, Gmail accounts and gain full access to an email account.
OTP via email&nbsp;
Due to credentials leakage, phishing attacks, or some of the other actions described above, hackers can get total access to user email accounts. That leads to the possibility that in cases users use two-factor authentication via email or an email account bound to services to restore passwords, hackers can gain access to dozens of sites and services at once.
<h2></h2>
<h2>Best Authentication Approaches</h2>
Using biometrics can be the most secure method when it comes to two-factor authentication. But let&rsquo;s consider fingerprint theft for a moment. If something like that happens, biometric security approaches will be compromised for life. It&rsquo;s impossible to change your fingerprint like a phone number.&nbsp;
Using U2F (universal 2nd-factor standard) keys exclude digital interception, is phishing-proof and is considered the most secure 2FA approach. But the U2F method is not so widely applied due to some disadvantages.&nbsp;
USB-A dongles are not compatible with different devices including smartphones or new Macbooks without adapters (most modern devices use USB-C). Also, U2F tokens can be pricey. It's recommended to use U2F keys for authentication for only the most significant accounts like online banking or main email accounts.&nbsp;
The other reliable authentication approach is using software authenticators. They are easy to apply, offer a wide range of choice for developers, boast cross-platform compatibility, and additional features expand two-factor authenticator usage. Take into consideration that you need to choose a trustworthy software developer like TeamPassword.
Push notifications can also be a good choice for authentication. But there are some drawbacks you need to keep in mind with regards to this 2FA option, the most significant being that you&rsquo;ll need smartphones and an internet connection to use Push Notifications. Also, fraudulent requests can be approved accidentally due to the user's carelessness.
<h2></h2>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
Different user scenarios require different two-factor authentication methods. But just using the 2FA OTPs via SMS approach is more secure than one-step verification (only need to enter the password). It's worth spending time developing your authenticator application and spending money on a U2F key so you can take complete control of your accounts.&nbsp;TeamPassword provides the best software to generate and manage your passwords correctly. To learn more about it, please <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=bcms#signup/testimonial" rel="follow">sign up for the free 14-day trial</a> today.

Learn about the pros and cons of one-time passwords vs. two factor authentication. Understand the different kinds of OTPs and 2FAs.

Learn about the pros and cons of one-time passwords vs. two factor authentication. Understand the different kinds of ...

One Time Passwords vs Two Factor Authentication

One-Time Passwords vs Two Factor Authentication

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 ...

What is password encryption and how much is enough?

What is password encryption and how does it work?

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!

In an increasingly digital world, we&rsquo;re switching more and more of our daily lives over to the Internet. While this brave new world is exciting and convenient, it&rsquo;s not without its problems.&nbsp;
The issue of unsafe passwords has been around for a while. But have you ever thought about where and how to store them?
Most of us have several passwords, and we&rsquo;re encouraged to never duplicate them. Some people simply write them all down on a piece of paper &mdash; which is fraught with danger. But others store their passwords electronically.
As you&rsquo;re about to find out, not all electronic systems of password storage are <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/the-best-ways-to-store-passwords-2023" target="_blank" rel="follow noopener">safe</a>. Here are five of the most dangerous ways to store your passwords.&nbsp;
But before we begin:
Avoid bad idea passwords and dangerous storage methods with TeamPassword. This advanced <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/best-password-managers-for-teams" target="_blank" rel="follow noopener">password manager for teams</a> features a selection of security features, including password encryption and two-step verification. Sign up for a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/signup" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">free trial</a> today.&nbsp;
[Table of Contents]
<ul>
<li><a href="#email" rel="follow">Email</a></li>
<li><a href="#Documents" rel="follow">Online Documents</a></li>
<li><a href="#instantmessaging" rel="follow">Instant Messaging Service</a></li>
<li><a href="#onlinenotetaker" rel="follow">Online Note-taker</a></li>
<li><a href="#nonpasswordprotecteddevice" rel="follow">On a Non-Password-Protected Device</a></li>
</ul>

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

<h2 id="Documents">2. Online Documents</h2>
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/Hh6oH8AzTMSnQFUaPHR9" alt="" width="216" height="235">
A lot of people like the convenience of saving crucial information using online document systems such as Google Docs. But this is a bad idea for passwords, as these systems are designed for text &mdash; not sensitive data.
Yes, a password might protect your online document manager from unauthorized access. But what happens if that password is compromised? Many document software platforms don&rsquo;t offer encryption, two-step verification, or even the most basic security measures.&nbsp;
If you use online documents regularly, you&rsquo;re probably accessing your account on a regular basis &mdash; across several devices. What happens if you step away for a moment to buy a coffee, speak to a friend, or use the bathroom?
A criminal can access an unattended online document platform in seconds. And if this happens, it doesn't take a lot of effort to steal your unsafe passwords.&nbsp;
<h2 id="instantmessaging">3. Instant Messaging Service</h2>
Instant messaging (IM) services like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Snapchat offer a convenient way to communicate, but they are not designed for securely storing passwords. While some IM platforms offer end-to-end encryption for message content, they lack crucial security features necessary for password management.
People who store their passwords on these apps do so because they believe they&rsquo;re fully encrypted. While that&rsquo;s often the case, it&rsquo;s important to remember that instant messaging services are often left open and operating in the background.
Imagine someone picks up your phone while you&rsquo;re not paying attention. If you left your device unlocked, that person would be able to access your password in seconds.
Here's why storing passwords on IM apps is a security risk:
<ul data-sourcepos="9:1-9:155">
<li data-sourcepos="9:1-9:155">Accessibility on Unlocked Devices: IM apps are designed to run in the background on unlocked devices. This means anyone with physical access to your unlocked phone or computer could potentially view your unencrypted passwords.</li>
<li data-sourcepos="10:1-10:164">Accidental Sharing: A single inadvertent tap or screenshot could send your password to someone unintended, compromising the security of your online accounts.</li>
<li data-sourcepos="11:1-12:0">Limited Security Features: Unlike dedicated password managers, IM applications typically lack features like secure password generation, two-factor authentication, and strong encryption specifically designed to protect passwords.</li>
</ul>
Dedicated password management applications offer robust security features like encryption, secure storage, and auto-fill functionality for logins.
<h2 id="onlinenotetaker">4. Online Note-taker</h2>
While online note-taking applications like Apple Notes offer a convenient platform for managing everyday tasks and reminders, they are demonstrably unsuitable for storing sensitive information, particularly passwords. These platforms, designed for general purpose note-taking, lack the robust security features essential for safeguarding confidential credentials.
Here's why online note-taking apps pose a significant security risk for passwords:
<ul>
<li data-sourcepos="9:3-9:314">Absence of Multi-Factor Authentication: Unlike dedicated password managers, these applications typically do not offer multi-factor authentication (MFA). MFA adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second verification step beyond a simple password, significantly hindering unauthorized access attempts.</li>
<li data-sourcepos="11:3-11:322">Limited Encryption Capabilities: While some note-taking applications may offer basic encryption features, they often fall short of the robust encryption protocols employed by dedicated password management solutions. This weaker encryption leaves sensitive data vulnerable to potential decryption by malicious actors.</li>
<li data-sourcepos="13:3-13:97">Accessibility on Unlocked Devices: Online note-taking apps are designed for ease of use and accessibility. This ease of access translates to a vulnerability. If a user's device remains unlocked and unattended, a perpetrator would only need to access the specific application to view unencrypted passwords.</li>
</ul>
In a world of increasingly sophisticated cyber threats, it is critical to prioritize robust security practices. Online note-taking applications simply do not provide the necessary safeguards for password management. Users are strongly advised to consider secure alternatives, such as dedicated password managers or offline password vaults, to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of their login credentials.
<h2 id="nonpasswordprotecteddevice">5. On a Non-Password-Protected Device</h2>
Of all the bad ideas for passwords, storing them on non-password-protected devices is about the worst. You might think that your tablet or laptop never leaves your side. But if your device is ever stolen, you&rsquo;ve given the criminals the easiest possible opportunity to access your saved passwords.&nbsp;
If you&rsquo;re determined to store passwords on a physical device &mdash; which is never a good idea &mdash; make sure the device password is a complex combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. And it should contain at least 12 characters.&nbsp;
<h2 data-sourcepos="7:1-7:6">Control Your Security and Choose Convenience with TeamPassword</h2>
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/0gCOt5oQBCE1vxckmRZC" alt="The TeamPassword Extension for Chrome lets you sign into any account in seconds" width="828" height="466">
Our digital vault safeguards your passwords with industry-leading AES 256-bit encryption and ironclad two-step authentication. Stop wasting time remembering &ndash; TeamPassword empowers you with secure, one-click logins across all your devices.
<ul>
<li data-sourcepos="9:1-9:157">Divide passwords into groups to share with appropriate team members</li>
<li data-sourcepos="9:1-9:157">Enforce 2FA for all users</li>
<li data-sourcepos="9:1-9:157">View activity logs for all of your records</li>
<li data-sourcepos="9:1-9:157">Use the TeamPassword browser extensions and mobile apps for lightning-fast access everywhere</li>
<li data-sourcepos="9:1-9:157">Save money with affordable plans configured for YOU</li>
</ul>
Don't settle for password purgatory. Take control with TeamPassword. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/signup" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Sign up for your FREE trial today</a> and experience the power of effortless security!

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

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

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

Business

August 22, 2024 ∙ 11 min read

10 extremely successful freelancers and what they do

What is password encryption and how does it work?

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

Top 5 Dangerous Ways to Store Your Passwords

Cybersecurity

March 2, 2021 ∙ 5 min read

GDPR: was it really a big deal?

Cybersecurity

March 2, 2021 ∙ 5 min read

Can You Put a Price on Your Security?

Business

February 23, 2021 ∙ 4 min read

Five Tips to Increase Security for Your Remote Workforce

Product Information

February 16, 2021 ∙ 5 min read

TeamPassword now has support for Pipedrive!

Product Information

February 2, 2021 ∙ 5 min read

What is OAuth 2.0 and how can TeamPassword help you?

Cybersecurity

January 26, 2021 ∙ 5 min read

One-Time Passwords vs Two Factor Authentication

The Password Manager for Teams

Product

Support

Channels

Legal