Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most businesses had to move some, if not all, of their operations to the cloud. Unfortunately, this move created new vulnerabilities for organizations that once relied on internal servers and intranets.
Right now, almost all businesses have their personal and proprietary information stored somewhere on the cloud, including passwords to various accounts. It is crucial to consider who can hack your passwords and gain access to business accounts.
Business passwords are a vital first line of defense against unauthorized entry. Getting passwords is the path of least resistance; that’s why hackers often attempt it first. The best way to protect your business passwords from sophisticated attacks is to use a password manager. TeamPassword is a comprehensive password management tool for business, with random password generation, two-factor authentication, and secure password sharing for enterprises.
Sign up for a free trial today to keep your business passwords safe from malicious actors.
Who Are Hackers and What Do They Do?
By now, you may be asking yourself, “Who are hackers?”
That’s an interesting question. A hacker is a person who has a deep understanding of systems and software. They can use that knowledge to subvert various technologies and gain entry to places they should not access.
If a hacker uses their knowledge to steal data, money, or other valuable resources, they are called black-hat hackers. These are the ones likely to steal your organizational data, including password and login information. Black-hat hackers are also responsible for corporate espionage, reputation damage, ransomware attacks, and other cybersecurity attacks.
Who Can Hack Your Passwords?
When dealing with hacking and password theft, keep in mind that people rather than computers create computer threats. People use software resources to prey on innocent victims, so you should worry about the people behind the tools, not the tools themselves.
Black-hat hackers have been at the helm of some of the biggest data breaches in modern history. These are people who have deep technical knowledge, and they leverage the latest technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), for their attacks.
What Information Do Hackers Need to Hack You?
You become vulnerable to remote hacking attacks by simply using the internet. This is true for individuals and businesses. As you'll see, hackers can use various methods to attack their victims:
- Phishing attacks – A hacker poses as someone you know and asks for personal information/passwords. They may use bogus websites, email, or even instant messaging services.
- Malware – A hacker installs malicious software that combs your systems looking for passwords or personal information.
- Brute force attacks – A hacker uses tools to make billions of guesses hoping to land on the right password.
If your business systems don’t have firewalls, hackers can also directly access your computers to monitor conversations or check your databases. They can use bots that comb your personal or shared spaces for passwords and other valuable personal details. Alternatively, they can use the data they gather to impersonate a colleague and coax out even more of your private information.
Using a password manager like TeamPassword is the best way to safeguard business passwords and prevent unauthorized access to your systems. Register for a free trial today to learn how TeamPassword gives you next-level protection against someone who can hack your passwords.
How to Know When You Have Been Hacked
Now that you know who can hack you, you should learn the signs of a possible hacking attack. Always check for the following:
- Unusual activity – You may see logins to accounts from unusual locations, mass emails or IMs from your account, etc.
- Security emails – Account providers usually email when someone logs in to your account from an unrecognized device, or for failed login attempts or password changes.
- Performance changes – Your device, websites, or apps are slower than usual.
- Password changes – You can’t log in to your accounts using your regular credentials.
There are many other signs that you may have been hacked. If you notice any of the above, including unsuccessful attempts, always change your passwords immediately and notify your IT security team for further action. Someone who can hack your passwords the first time may do so again if given the opportunity.
How to Protect Your Business Passwords from Hackers
Hackers use various methods to attack your passwords, so it is crucial to take proactive steps to minimize their chances of success.
Don’t Store or Share Passwords on Unsecure Platforms
Just like a burglar will first try to break the door before looking for another entry point, hackers target much of their energy to retrieving passwords when attacking a business. With the password in tow, they can easily get into your systems again and again to get the information they want.
All your teams should share and store usernames and passwords through a password manager, never on IM chats, email, or through written notes.
Avoid Weak and Duplicate Passwords
The newest security standards encourage people to use longer and random password strings and to change them regularly. Avoid using passwords that are easy to guess from looking at your social profiles or security questions, and instead, use a password manager to generate random passwords for all your accounts. Never use the same password for more than one account.
In the business environment, you can use the same password manager to share passwords with colleagues and third-party vendors who need shared accounts for any reason. TeamPassword can help you remain safe without the stress of remembering various passwords.
A hacker with a low-level graphic card can run up to 420 billion password combinations per minute – that’s your adversary.
TeamPassword Secure Password Sharing and Password Management
All businesses must step up their efforts to secure their online environment and prevent unauthorized access. Remember that a single weak password is all a hacker needs to access your business data/information, and 80 percent of cyberattacks began with a single weak password.
Team Password is a password management tool made for the present and future online environment. With access to a host of security features, you can generate long and truly random passwords for all employee accounts and share passwords to shared accounts in a secure environment.
Don’t put your business data at risk from someone who can hack your passwords. To stay safe, avoid employing last-decade techniques in the face of next-decade cyber-attacks. Sign up for a free trial with TeamPassword today.
