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!

Modern startups rely on many tools and applications for daily operations. According to the software giant Pegasystems, their clients' employees "switch between 35 job-critical applications more than 1,100 times every day."
With this in mind, startups must find tools that boost productivity with integration functionality to minimize switching and authentication.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
This article will explore the 25 best tools for startups and small businesses. We've divided these tools into five categories:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Security</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Project management</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Marketing</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Sales</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Accounting</li>
</ul>
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TeamPassword is the password manager that secures all your startup's tools. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> and secure your startup's digital assets with TeamPassword.
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<h2>Security</h2>
Security tools are essential for keeping your startup, team, and customers safe. Here are our picks for the best security tools for startups.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
<h3>TeamPassword</h3>
TeamPassword is the <a href="https://www.teampassword.com/blog/best-password-manager-for-startups">best password manager for startups</a> and small businesses. Startups can store and share company credentials using TeamPassword's encrypted password manager, mitigating password vulnerabilities and cyberattacks.
TeamPassword also features a built-in <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">password generator</a>, so your team never reuses credentials or creates weak passwords.
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<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword offers a 14-day trial</a> to explore the password manager and try sharing credentials with coworkers.
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<h3>OpenVPN</h3>
Since 2020, just about every company in the world has used remote workers. Maintaining security in these remote environments is challenging.
OpenVPN creates a secure cloud-based work environment that team members can only access through whitelisted IP addresses and a VPN. Startups can store SaaS apps, internal communications, IoT systems, and more to create secure remote work environments.
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<h3>Cloudflare</h3>
Cloudflare is one of the world's most popular CDN services. Startups use Cloudflare to optimize speed and security for websites, web apps, and APIs.&nbsp;
Cloudflare also comes with advanced threat monitoring and performance reporting for startups to manage their digital assets in one place.
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<h3>BitDefender GravityZone Business Security</h3>
For less than $300 per year, startups can get enterprise security features at a fraction of the cost. BitDefender GravityZone Business Security gives comprehensive cybersecurity protection with access to risk management and vulnerability assessment&mdash;perfect for running <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/what-is-a-security-audit-and-does-my-business-need-one">security audits</a> on your startup.
The latest features include Ransomware Prevention &amp; Mitigation and Network Attack Defense, both critical for today's volatile cybersecurity landscape. 
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<h3>SysCloud</h3>
SysCloud is an advanced backup and security software for Google G Suite and Office 365 users. SysCloud helps startups protect against insider threats, shadow IT, phishing, and flags violations and vulnerabilities.
Syscloud is HIPAA, PCI, FERPA, and CIPA compliant to ensure your startup follows all US data privacy and security requirements. You get enterprise-grade backup and security at startup prices for less than $50 per user per year!
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<h2>Project Management</h2>
There are so many productivity and project management tools. It's tough to know which ones are right for startups! Here are our best project management tools for startups in 2021.
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<h3>Asana</h3>
Asana is arguably the most popular startup project management tool. Its modern, intuitive design makes onboarding effortless, and Asana has tons of add ons to scale as your startup grows.
One of Asana's strongest features is the sheer number of integrations that allow you to expand the tool's functionality and capability.
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<h3>Slack</h3>
One of Asana's integrations is the popular startup messaging app Slack. Slack is more than just a messaging app. It allows startups to manage communications for every aspect of their business with integrations to boost efficiency and productivity.
&nbsp;
<h3>ProofHub</h3>
<a href="https://www.proofhub.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">ProofHub</a> is a great tool for small to medium-sized startups that need to manage visual projects. It has all of the features you need from a project management app including calendars, scheduling, and task management. ProofHub's internal communication tool and file review functionality help streamline workflow and set it apart from its competition.&nbsp;
ProofHub is easy to learn and easy to use, making it an ideal project management tool for startups that will be using one for the first time.
&nbsp;
<h3>JIRA</h3>
JIRA is a project management and bug tracking tool aimed at UX and engineering teams. JIRA's unique technical features include sprint management, code deployment, and reporting tailored to a software team's requirements.
JIRA is part of the Atlassian suite, so it makes the most sense for startups using other Atlassian products.
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<h3>Monday</h3>
Monday is an affordable, intuitive project management tool designed to scale as your startup grows. Team members can adjust the user interface to get a high-level view of a project or zoom right into individual tasks with notes and attachments.
Monday also comes with loads of proprietary functionality and automation that most other project management tools only get through integrations.
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TeamPassword is the password manager that secures all your startup's tools. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> and secure your startup's digital assets with TeamPassword.
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<h2>Marketing</h2>
Without marketing, no one will know your startup exists. We've put together our five favorite marketing tools for startups to create a buzz and build a tribe of loyal customers.
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<h3>GetResponse</h3>
GetResponse is an all-in-one email, sales, and marketing tool at affordable monthly premiums. In September 2021, GetResponse launched their "Free-Forever Plan," designed to help startups with less than 500 subscribers grow and scale their business.
Notable features include email marketing, sales funnel automation, landing pages, payment integrations, website builder, multiple custom domains, and webinars, to name a few!
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<h3>Google Analytics</h3>
Since its launch in 2005, Google Analytics has been every marketer's favorite user insight and product analytics tool. Google Analytics works with web and mobile applications and integrates with many other sales and marketing tools.
Using accurate data, startups can assess user behavior to gauge product and marketing performance. The best part for startups, this powerful analytics tool is free!
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<h3>Later</h3>
With its modern user interface, intuitive dashboard, and low month subscriptions, Later is a startup favorite for social media management and automation.&nbsp;
Later allows social media managers to monitor hashtag performance and generate account reports to gauge the success of each post and campaign.
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<h3>BuzzSumo</h3>
BuzzSumo is a powerful research tool to identify the best-performing content, backlinks, and social shares. Content managers can research their startup's niche, improve on the best content, and then reach out to people who have shared similar articles.
BuzzSumo is also great for identifying influencers in your niche so that you can reach out for collaborations.
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<h3>Gleam</h3>
<a href="https://gleam.io/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Gleam</a> is a competition and rewards application that enables startups to create viral marketing campaigns to accelerate growth and build email lists.&nbsp;
Gleam's gamified user experience encourages participants to complete every task, thus providing startups with valuable customer insights.
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<h2>Sales</h2>
Whether you're selling products or services, sales tools can help increase revenue while automating a lot of mundane tasks. Here are our five best sales tools for startups.
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<h3>Clickfunnels</h3>
ClickFunnels is arguably the world's biggest sales funnel software company. The company also does a fantastic job at providing training and resources, so customers get the most out of their products and services.
ClickFunnels comes ready with tons of landing page templates, so, with a few adjustments, you can start selling in minutes. The platform also integrates with many other sales, marketing, payment, and productivity tools.
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<h3>Growbots</h3>
No one loves cold outreach, but it's a necessary strategy in today's competitive startup landscape. Growbots lets you target and automate your cold outreach campaigns to save you valuable time and resources.
Growbots will help build databases of your ideal prospects and personalize cold outreach to give automation a human touch.
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<h3>LinkedIn Sales Navigator</h3>
LinkedIn Sales Navigator is one of the most widely used business networking and sales tools. Startups can connect with investors and potential customers through one platform.
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<h3>Klenty</h3>
Klenty is a cold outreach platform that automates your sales emails, follow-ups, and relationship building. Klenty also integrates with popular CRMs like Pipedrive, Hubspot, Zoho, and Salesforce to offer a comprehensive sales outreach package.
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<h3>Yesware</h3>
Yesware is a powerful sales outreach tool that integrates with Outlook or Gmail, so emails always send from your outbox and not a third-party provider! This is important because many bulk outreach emails end up in a promotions tab or, worse, spam!
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<h2>Accounting &amp; Finance</h2>
These are our top accounting and finance tools for startups in 2021.
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<h3>Gusto</h3>
Gusto is one of the leading tools for payroll, benefits, and HR automation. The software helps with year-end taxes and keeps your business ACA compliant.
Startups can also use Gusto to send offer letters, e-sign, and store new-hire paperwork and all the other mundane HR tasks founders hate!
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<h3>Xero</h3>
Xero is one of the leading accounting tools for small businesses and startups. The intuitive cloud-based accounting software allows you to manage inventory, payroll, and financial records with tax compliance and preparation for multiple countries.
Xero also features many apps and integrations for a comprehensive financial management tool.
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<h3>Zoho Invoice</h3>
If your startup uses other products from the Zoho Suite, then Zoho Invoice will be the obvious choice for your company's accounting software.&nbsp;
Zoho Invoice includes time-tracking to automate and simplify your startup's payroll.
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<h3>FreshBooks</h3>
FreshBooks is another popular cloud-based accounting software for small businesses and startups. The software lets you send invoices, manage expenses, track time, and accept payments.
FreshBooks is affordable accounting software designed to scale as your startup grows.
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<h3>Gust</h3>
Gust helps startups with funding for "mission-critical" business tools&mdash;like the ones featured in this article. In addition, Gust provides guidance and support for your startup's next steps to help you scale your business effectively.
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<h2>Securing Your Startups Tools With TeamPassword</h2>
All of these startup tools require usernames and passwords. And sometimes, your team needs to share a single set of credentials.&nbsp;
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Keep all of your startup's passwords secure and easily share credentials with TeamPassword. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day trial</a> and secure your digital assets with the best password manager for startups.

This article explores the 25 best tools for startups and small businesses.

This article explores the 25 best tools for startups and small businesses. | TeamPassword Blog

25 best startup tools you need

We rely on browser extensions every day to complete tasks and streamline workflows. We're always on the lookout for the best browser extensions, so we thought we'd share some of our favorites!
Most popular browsers feature extensions, including Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari, but since most people (approx. 2.65 billion) use Chrome, this article will focus on Chrome browser extensions.
TeamPassword features browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Safari&mdash;so your team can use our password manager with their preferred browser or device. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a free 14-day trial</a> to explore TeamPassword's robust security features to <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-safely-share-passwords-with-coworkers">securely share passwords with team members</a>!
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<h2>What is a Browser Extension?</h2>
A browser extension is a plugin that "extends" the functionality of your browser. Some browser extensions are purpose-built browser tools, while others connect to your favorite applications&mdash;like TeamPassword's browser extension that provides authentication.
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<h2>How to Install Chrome Browser Extensions</h2>
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Open Chrome and click the Apps icon in the Bookmarks bar. (if you can't see the Bookmarks bar, click the three-dot menu in the top right. Click Bookmarks and then Show bookmarks bar.)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Click Web Store (usually the first icon top left of the screen)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Use the search bar in the top left or browse extensions by category.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Once you find the Chrome extension you're looking for, click the large blue Add to Chrome button.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">A popup confirmation will appear; click Add extension to download and install the browser extension.</li>
</ol>
Some browser extensions require you to sign in, while others are ready to use right away.
If you're using TeamPassword's browser extension, you'll need to sign in with your TeamPassword credentials before you have access to the password manager's functionality.
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<h2>10 Best Browser Extensions for 2021</h2>
<h3>1 - TeamPassword's Password Manager Browser Extension</h3>
Like any company, the TeamPassword team shares logins for various tools and platforms. Our team relies on the password manager's browser extension to log in to these shared apps.
Here's how you can too:
(These instructions are for Google Chrome, but you can find full instructions for all browsers after signing up)
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a TeamPassword account</a>. You get a 14-day free trial to explore the password manager and test our features with your team.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Make sure you create a strong password for your TeamPassword account. You can use our <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">free password generator</a>.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Next, install the <a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/teampassword/cikdbigchmgednjbjppflefljobhnhca">TeamPassword Chrome browser extension</a> (follow our How to Install Chrome Browser Extensions instructions above).</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Once installed, click the TeamPassword padlock icon to the right of the address bar (if you don't see the padlock, click the grey extension puzzle icon. Scroll to TeamPassword and click the pin icon. The blue padlock should now appear next to your address bar).</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">You might need to sign in to your TeamPassword account if you're not already signed in via the browser.</li>
</ol>
You're now ready to use TeamPassword's browser extension!
Instead of sharing raw passwords, you provide each team member with a TeamPassword account, and they use our browser extensions to sign in.
Create groups to share access with different teams, clients, or <a href="https://www.teampassword.com/blog/should-i-share-data-with-freelancers">freelancers</a>. When someone leaves the team or completes their tasks, remove them from the group with a single click&mdash;no need to reset passwords to prevent unauthorized sharing and access.
If you do need to reset a password, you can use TeamPassword's built-in password generator to create new credentials. TeamPassword will automatically update the new password for all team members without interruptions!
<h3>2 - Awesome Screenshot</h3>
For most of us, a day doesn't go by where we need to screenshot something to send to a coworker or customer support to solve an issue.&nbsp;
You can screenshot using the keyboard, but this involves pasting it into another app if you want to add highlights or annotations.
Awesome Screenshot is a free browser extension with more than 23,000 installs and a solid 5-star review score!&nbsp;
Once installed, simply click the multicolored Awesome Screenshot icon for a menu dropdown. You have several options, including:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Visible Part - screenshots what's currently on-screen</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Full Page - creates a screenshot of the entire webpage</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Selected Area - lets you highlight the area you want to screenshot</li>
</ul>
You can also set a timer delay. This feature works well if you want to hover over an element to activate a tooltip for the screenshot.
Once you've captured your screenshot, a new tab opens where you can edit the screenshot, add annotations, crop, and more. Clicking Done will take you to another screen where you can download, send a sharable link, save to PDF, or print. With the paid version, you can integrate Awesome Screenshot with productivity tools like Slack, Trello, Asana, and more.
<h3>3 - Loom</h3>
Loom is an essential tool for sharing explanations or demos with team members or freelancers. Loom is particularly useful for teams with significant time differences. You can share explainer videos to avoid those annoying late-night/early-morning Zoom calls!
Once you install the Loom browser extension, click the purple Loom button for a dropdown menu with several options and settings. You can choose to record with or without your webcam and capture the Current Tab or Full Desktop. There are also microphone and camera options and advanced settings to play with.
When you're ready, click the red Start Recording button. Loom gives you a three-second countdown, and you're ready to record. When your recording is complete, you can rename the video, add a description, and share it.
You might want to consider creating a Loom explainer for the TeamPassword browser extension to onboard new team members.
<h3>4 - DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials</h3>
As advocates for privacy and security, we love the DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials Chrome extension. DuckDuckGo is the world's leading browser for user privacy and accurate search results.
Unlike other browsers, DuckDuckGo doesn't manipulate search results. The browser also blocks cookies and other tracking algorithms. For some websites, DuckDuckGo even blocks ads and other popups!
With the browser extension installed, click the DuckDuckGo logo, and a dropdown will appear. Enter your query in the search bar, hit enter, and a new window will open with your DuckDuckGo search results.
The DuckDuckGo browser extension also shares information about your current webpage, including encryption information, cookies blocked, and the website's privacy practices.
<h3>5 - Block Yourself from Analytics</h3>
Many marketers experience inaccurate Google Analytics stats from team members working on websites and landing pages.
One of your most important metrics is time on page, indicating how long users spend exploring your products or content. Team members often spend extended periods on these pages, resulting in incorrect data.
The Block Yourself from Analytics browser extension allows team members to prevent Google Analytics from tracking them. So Google Analytics only tracks users, giving you precise performance results.
<h3>6 - Grammarly for Chrome</h3>
Grammarly is arguably the best writing aid for English. The tool checks grammar, punctuation, and spelling, so you never make embarrassing mistakes!
The Grammarly for Chrome extension works on most websites, highlighting errors and providing suggestions. You can also disable Grammarly on websites if it's not needed.
Grammarly has a free plan, but you can upgrade for more features and writing assistance.
<h3>7 - Print Friendly &amp; PDF</h3>
Ever wanted to save a website to PDF, but ads, navigation, and other elements take up most of the page, making the content small and unreadable!
Print Friendly &amp; PDF removes all the stuff you don't need, creating a printable PDF with only the content you want. You can choose which images to keep and even adjust the font size to make it more legible.
Print Friendly &amp; PDF is handy when you want to complete offline research. You or an assistant can gather the content you need and save it neatly in PDF format for printing or an e-reader.
<h3>8 - Send to Kindle for Google Chrome</h3>
Similar to Print Friendly &amp; PDF, Send to Kindle for Google Chrome lets you reformat and send articles to your Kindle for reading. You can also change the article's title and author for easier reference and categorization.
<h3>9 - Bit.ly</h3>
Bit.ly is a link shortening, and tracking tool marketers use for various marketing campaigns. It's also helpful in sharing links on platforms like Twitter which limits character count per Tweet.
Using the Bit.ly Chrome extension, you can quickly create a unique shortened link to copy and paste where needed&mdash;eliminating the necessity to open the Bit.ly app separately.
<h3>10 - AdBlocker Ultimate</h3>
Ads are gross and annoying! They slow page loads and often install cookies in your browser. On some websites, these ads contain malware providing hackers with an opportunity to hack your device!
There are tons of ad blockers, but none performs as well as AdBlocker Ultimate. Many ad blockers have agreements with "sponsors," allowing certain ads to display. AdBlocker Ultimate blocks everything, including malware and tracking cookies.
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<h2>Increase Your Password Security with TeamPassword</h2>
Hopefully, these browser extensions will help increase your team's productivity, privacy, and security.
TeamPassword is more than a browser extension. It's a secure password manager design to make sharing credentials with team members safe and easy.
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Increase your password security and mitigate attacks with a secure password management solution from TeamPassword. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> to explore our security features and test TeamPassword with your employees!

Here are our top 10 browser extensions to complete tasks and streamline workflows. Share logins for tools and platforms with TeamPassword.

Here are our top 10 browser extensions to complete tasks and streamline workflows. Share logins for tools and ...

10 best browser extensions

Like the dim-lit side alleys of a busy city, the dark web is a place few of us ever visit! According to Cyfima, a cybersecurity firm that provides a dark web monitoring service, "Over 94% of the world's information resides in the deep and dark webs."
A good portion of that information is stolen data, including credit card details, bank account numbers, social security numbers, emails, contact numbers, full names, physical addresses, and other data criminals use.
Many people want to know if or what personal information exists online, so they can take preventative measures to protect themselves. But, who has the time or desire to explore the dark web to find out?
Criminals sell credentials from data breaches on the dark web! A <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">secure password manager like TeamPassword</a> ensures you never reuse credentials, protecting you from credential stuffing and other cyber attacks. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> today!
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<h2>What is the Dark Web?</h2>
If you're unfamiliar with the dark web, the intro to this article must sound like a confusing comic book plot! The dark web is a part of the internet that requires specific software, browsers, configurations, or authorization to access its web pages and networks.
Using dark web browsers like Tor (The Onion Router), users browse and communicate anonymously. This anonymity makes the dark web a popular place for criminals selling everything from stolen personal data to hacking services, ransomware, drugs, and human trafficking!
Criminals use Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to provide criminals with secure and anonymous transactions&mdash;making it easy to buy and sell services just like how you would on legitimate eCommerce websites.
One of the most commonly traded dark web commodities is personal information stolen from data breaches. Attackers can use these details for identity theft, phishing scams, and other cybercrimes.
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<h2>What Kind of Information is Available on the Dark Web?</h2>
If you can't find what you're looking for on the dark web, you can hire someone through hacker forums to get it for you!
You can buy everything from private email addresses to trade and state secrets. Most cybercriminals are interested in the information they can use to conduct cyberattacks to steal or <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/extortion-emails-what-they-are-how-do-they-happen">extort money from victims</a> (individuals &amp; businesses), including:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Databases (names, emails, contact details)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Passwords</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Personal identification numbers (SSNs, passport numbers, etc.)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Financial information</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Medical records</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Academic records</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Intellectual property</li>
</ul>
If companies and individuals know this information is freely available online, they can take preventative action to thwart attacks. For example, changing account credentials or discontinue using a compromised email address.
Dark web monitoring is how you can keep track of any leaked personal or company information and take the necessary steps to protect yourself and your business.
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<h2>What is Dark Web Monitoring?</h2>
Dark web monitoring is the process of scanning dark websites and forums for any stolen company and personal data. Cybersecurity firms offer dark web monitoring as a service, using sophisticated automation tools, including scanners, crawlers, and scrapers to find stolen credentials.
Some firms even have access to secret underground criminal communities where stolen data is sold months or years before ending up on open dark web forums.
While most dark web monitoring provides services at the enterprise level, there are affordable solutions for individuals. For example: <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/have-i-been-pwnd-what-to-do-when-it-happens">have i been pwned</a>&mdash;a free service that lets you search a massive database of credentials stolen from data breaches.
Some cybersecurity firms provide dark web monitoring for families, so parents are alerted if their children's data ends up on these shady forums.&nbsp;
<h3>Why is Dark Web Monitoring Necessary?</h3>
Most cybersecurity focuses on creating a perimeter around a company's IT infrastructure and <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password management</a>&mdash;a defensive strategy!
Dark web monitoring is an offensive cybersecurity strategy. If a business knows what data is compromised, its IT or cybersecurity department can take action to prevent attacks.
For example, if a company suspects its employee's credentials are compromised, the IT department can reconfigure login procedures and change everyone's credentials.
IT personal might also run extra diagnostics looking for unusual behavior to ensure criminals have already breached the company's networks.
<h3>What Data can Dark Web Monitoring Find?</h3>
Dark web monitoring services can scan for any information or keywords. Common data might include:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Personal identification numbers (SSNs, passport numbers, etc.)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Email addresses</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Medical identification numbers</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Bank account numbers</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Phone numbers</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Driver's license</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Bank card numbers</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Retail/membership card numbers</li>
</ul>
Retail/membership numbers might seem irrelevant, but criminals can use them in creative ways, like identity theft scams or contacting the call center to phish for more of your personal information.
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<h2>5 Tips to Keep Your Personal Information Safe</h2>
While we have little or no effect on personal information stolen from data breaches, there are proactive measures you can take to protect yourself from attackers.
Here are our 5 tips to keep your personal information safe.
<h3>Limit What You Share</h3>
The first rule to keeping you and your company safe from cyberattacks is by limiting what you share. If all you need is a username and email to use the service, don't share anything else!
The more personal information you share, the greater your exposure to attacks if the company experiences a data breach.
<h3>Don't Throw Personally Identifiable Information in the Trash!</h3>
Businesses and individuals must never throw personally identifiable information in the trash. Invest in a paper shredder and destroy any documents before throwing them away.
Believe it or not, criminals often sift through people's trash, looking for documents they can either use or sell&mdash;data that might end up on the dark web!
<h3>Avoid Public Networks and Browsing Securely</h3>
Open public networks like you find at coffee shops, airports, malls, entertainment venues, or coworking spaces often attract criminals. These nefarious characters can redirect traffic to websites that deploy malicious code or monitor your connection.
Using a <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/password-manager-and-vpn">virtual private network (VPN)</a> makes you invisible on these public networks, eliminating the risk of falling victim to these scams.
You should also be vigilant when browsing online&mdash;avoid websites without HTTPS, and never complete any forms on unsecure websites!
<h3>Password Protect Devices</h3>
Cybercriminals don't always breach your devices via the internet. If you work in a coffee shop, coworking office, or other public space, criminals can access your devices when you step away to grab a coffee or visit the restroom.
In extreme cases, criminals might corrupt hotel staff to access any devices you leave in your room&mdash;installing malware or stealing credentials you might have saved in your browser.
The point is to expect the unexpected! Ensure every device is password protected to prevent attackers from installing malware or stealing your passwords!&nbsp;
<h3>Use a Password Manager</h3>
A password manager is the best way to keep credentials secure and ensure you always use robust, unique passwords for every account.
A password manager will also allow you to update credentials regularly using a <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">secure password generator</a> without memorizing the new passwords.

<h2>Secure Your Credentials With TeamPassword</h2>
TeamPassword is a robust password manager designed to make credential sharing easy and secure.
Provide team members with access to their TeamPassword account, and provide access to your company's digital assets and accounts without sharing raw passwords.
<h3>How TeamPassword Works</h3>
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a TeamPassword account</a> and provide each team member with their own TeamPassword login.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Team members can install one of TeamPassword's browser extensions (Chrome, Firefox, and Safari) and use the password manager to sign into accounts.</li>
</ol>
No more unsecure credential sharing via spreadsheets, emails, or messaging apps. All of your passwords are safely locked away in TeamPassword.
<h3>Creating Robust Passwords</h3>
Credential stuffing is a common type of cyberattack where criminals use passwords from one data breach to access accounts using the same email and password.&nbsp;
For example, if you use the same email and password for Facebook, Twitter, and your bank account, criminals only need to steal your password, and they have access to all three!
TeamPassword's built-in password generator ensures you use unique credentials for every account! If one account is compromised, it won't affect any of your other accounts.
You can also update passwords regularly, and it'll update the new credentials for all team members&mdash;no disruptions to productivity!
<h3>Activity Logging and Email Notifications</h3>
Keep track of account logins and sharing in TeamPassword with a detailed activity log that records the date and time for every activity&mdash;logins, credential sharing, new accounts, password changes, and more.
You can also set up email notifications to get instant alerts for your most sensitive accounts.
<h3>Two-Factor Authentication</h3>
What's stopping attackers from stealing an employee's credentials and logging in to TeamPassword?
If someone steals a team member's TeamPassword credentials, our two-factor authentication prevents unauthorized access. TeamPassword uses Google Authenticator, which is available on all iOS and Android devices.
You can also generate backup codes for your TeamPassword account, so you never get locked out of your account!
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<h2>Get Started With TeamPassword Today</h2>
Protecting your company's digital assets and accounts starts with effective <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password management</a>. TeamPassword is an affordable and secure password management solution for small businesses.
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 Mitigate the risks of your credentials ending up on the dark web! <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" rel="follow">Sign up for a 14-day trial</a> to test TeamPassword with your team members today!

This article goes over what is in the dark web, and how you can keep your personal information out of the dark web using TeamPassword.

This article goes over what is in the dark web, and how you can keep your personal information ...

What is Dark Web Monitoring

Have I been pwned? is the Robin Hood of <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/category/data-breaches">data breaches</a>. <a href="https://haveibeenpwned.com/">Have I been pwned</a> is a website that sifts through mountains of stolen personal information from data breaches, then organizing everything so users can find out if they're one of the victims!&nbsp;
All you have to do is go to their site, type in your email, and it&rsquo;ll tell you everything the Internet knows about you:
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/l6Gg2HDQvuLJDq0JuwXL" alt="undefined" width="563" height="351" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" />
We have a bittersweet appreciation for have I been pwned?. On the one hand, it's fantastic that victims have a way to discover if they've been pwned, but on the other hand, it saddens us that we need such a service!
Data breaches have increased significantly since 2019. With no signs of decreasing, companies must do everything they can to prevent data breaches. One of the best ways to protect yourself from data breaches is to simply change your password. But with so many passwords required day in and day out, people seldom do.&nbsp;
With a password manager, you can frequently change your passwords and still remember them all.
Using a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">robust password manager like TeamPassword</a> makes it easy to share credentials with team members while preventing attackers from accessing your company's digital assets.
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<h2>What is the site "have I been pwned?" - haveibeenpwned.com</h2>
have I been pwned? is a web service that collects and organizes personal information from data breaches. Users can enter their email or mobile number on the home page to find out if they're among the victims.
The service is free, but there is an option to <a href="https://haveibeenpwned.com/Donate">donate to have I been pwned?</a>&mdash;something we encourage people to do! have I been pwned? provides a valuable service that government agencies should have done a long time ago!
With the looming fear of <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/extortion-emails-what-they-are-how-do-they-happen">extortion emails</a> from the Ashley Madison breach in 2015, users flocked to have I been pwned?&mdash;resulting in a 57,000% increase in website traffic!
Security firms and government agencies encourage businesses and individuals to use the service to stay ahead of possible cyber attacks.
Today, have I been pwned? gets over 165,000 daily visitors, has an email list of over 3 million subscribers, and a database of almost 10 billion compromised accounts!
<h3>pwned? That's a Funny Name!</h3>
Pronounced poned (with a hard "p") pwned originates from the popular game Warcraft back in the early 2000s. The game's developers misspelled owned as pwned.&nbsp;
Gaming enthusiasts and Internet message boards adopted the new term when speaking about "owning" someone. Hackers also use pwn as a slang term when breaching a network or device.
And thus, have I been pwned? was born!
<h3>Who is behind haveibeenpwned.com?</h3>
After a spate of high-profile data breaches, Australian security expert Troy Hunt founded &ldquo;have I been pwned?&rdquo; in December 2013. Troy says the Adobe breach of 2013 affecting 153 million accounts was the catalyst to start the service.
When Troy started in 2013, he indexed just five data breaches: Adobe Systems, Stratfor, Gawker, Yahoo! Voices, and Sony Pictures.
Today, have I been pwned? has 556 compromised websites affecting more than 11 billion accounts!
Troy and his team have created tools and systems to update the website as soon as they're made public. have I been pwned? also lists its recently added breaches and the largest data breaches&mdash;the current number one being <a href="https://www.troyhunt.com/the-773-million-record-collection-1-data-reach/">Collection #1's 2019 breach affecting 773 million unique email accounts</a>!
Troy also has a blog where he releases details about data breaches and discusses cybersecurity matters.
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<h2>How does the site "have I been pwned" Work?</h2>
Users have a few search options on have I been pwned?. On the home page, you can enter your email or mobile number to do a personalized search.&nbsp;
Users can also perform a domain search, a helpful feature for companies to determine if they've been pwned.
You can also sign up to the have I been pwned? mailing list for instant updates to the latest breaches and notification if your email is ever compromised.
<h3>Collecting and Categorizing Data</h3>
Data breaches contain thousands or millions of records (billions of records in the most extreme cases!). Some records have personal information, while others are more mundane. It's not as simple as importing those records into a spreadsheet and searching for a specific user.
Records are not always easy to read. They often reference a user's account number or other non-personal identifiers. For example, if you see a record containing credit card details and a personal identifier, you have to search the database using that identifier to find the actual user.
Even if you find the user, you might need to search several folders to see all of their personal information.
Most people don't have the time or resources to sift through gigabytes of data, trying to find out if they're victims of a breach.
"It's a bit of an unfair game at the moment &ndash; attackers and others wishing to use data breaches for malicious purposes can very quickly obtain and analyse the data, but your average consumer has no feasible way of pulling gigabytes of gzipped accounts from a torrent and discovering whether they've been compromised or not." - Troy Hunt, have I been pwned? Founder,
have I been pwned? organizes all of that personal data into searchable databases so users can find their stolen data fast!
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<h2>What to do if You Have Been Pwned</h2>
So, what do you do if you find out you're a data breach victim?
The first thing you must do is change all of your passwords linked to that email address. You should be <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-often-should-you-change-your-password-the-importance-of-password-safety">changing your passwords</a> monthly for personal accounts, while businesses might want to consider changing passwords weekly.
Changing your passwords monthly or weekly can be challenging without a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager</a>. With TeamPassword, you can change account credentials and update them for all users with one click.
If the account has sensitive data, you might want to consider changing the email address too. That way, if you receive any correspondence to the compromised email, you can mark it as spam and delete it.
Lastly, be hyper-vigilant when it comes to emails containing links and attachments&mdash;not only if you're a victim of a data breach. Get into the habit of checking the sender's email address properly, even if it appears to come from a familiar source.
For example, if you get an email that someone has sent you a message in Slack, delete the email and open Slack separately. Do this for all accounts where you receive notifications: WordPress, flight bookings, social media, marketing/productivity tools, and other web/app accounts.
Attackers often send fake correspondence from seemingly legitimate sources to get you to click a link or open an attachment. Doing so will install malware, giving criminals remote access to your device where they can steal personal information and passwords!
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<h2>Protecting Your Passwords</h2>
Passwords are the keys to our digital assets and accounts. Just like you protect your home or office with locks and alarms, so too must you secure your online presence.
For individuals, securing credentials is relatively simple but still requires you to be "street smart."
But, for a company sharing credentials with multiple teams, clients, freelancers, and contractors, <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password management</a> is significantly more challenging.
Companies that don't use a password manager to <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-safely-share-passwords-with-coworkers">share credentials safely with coworkers</a> are vulnerable to attack, particularly if team members use emails and spreadsheets for sharing.
Many companies also use weak passwords or the same passwords for multiple accounts, making it easy for attackers to guess the credentials! With so many <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">free secure password generators</a> available, this practice is simply inexcusable.
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<h2>The TeamPassword Solution for Small Businesses</h2>
Large organizations with massive cybersecurity budgets have access to sophisticated tools and systems to prevent breaches&mdash;and still fall victim to attacks!
For small businesses, most of these cybersecurity tools are simply too expensive!
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a> is an affordable password management solution with robust security features and state-of-the-art encryption technology.
<h3>Safe &amp; Easy Password Sharing</h3>
Instead of sharing raw login credentials, you provide access to team members through TeamPassword. Employees then use one of TeamPassword's browser extensions (Chrome, Firefox, and Safari) to log into accounts.
Create groups for your various accounts and provide access through TeamPassword only to those who need it. When someone no longer requires access, remove them with a single click.
<h3>Say Goodbye to Weak Passwords</h3>
With TeamPassword's built-in password generator, you never have to worry about weak passwords or reusing the same credentials for multiple accounts.
Instantly create robust passwords from 12-32 characters with lowercase, uppercase, symbols, and numbers. TeamPassword references your saved passwords to ensure you never reuse the same credentials.
If you need to change a password, you can generate a new password and update the new credentials for all users&mdash;while they continue to work without disruption or asking why they can't log in!
<h3>Prevent a TeamPassword Breach with Two-factor Authentication</h3>
Coworkers can secure their <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/password-manager-with-2fa">TeamPassword account with two-factor authentication (2FA)</a>. If an attacker manages to steal an employee's TeamPassword credentials, 2FA prevents criminals from accessing the account.
TeamPassword uses Google Authenticator for 2FA, available on all mobile devices, including iOS and Android.
<h3>Activity Logging &amp; Notifications</h3>
Monitor your company's digital assets using TeamPassword's activity log. The activity log lets you see who has logged in and when, new members added to a group, password updates, and more.
You can also set up email notifications for instant alerts to all of TeamPassword's actions. Perfect for monitoring sensitive data and accounts.
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<h2>Sign up for Free Today</h2>
Don't let hackers pwn you or your company!&nbsp;
Stay ahead of data breaches and secure your company's digital assets with <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a>. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> and start sharing passwords securely with TeamPassword today!

Have i been pwned? is an invaluable tool to see whether your passwords have been compromised. Learn what to do if you are a victim of a leak

Have i been pwned? is an invaluable tool to see whether your passwords have been compromised. Learn what ...

Have i been pwned? What to do When it Happens

Have I been pwned? What to do if it happens to you.

One question our clients often ask is: "should I save passwords in Chrome?" For individual use, <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/should-i-use-my-browsers-built-in-password-manager">saving passwords in a browser</a> is better than keeping them in a spreadsheet or notepad, but Chrome doesn't offer enough security to protect you against attacks.
For businesses, saving passwords in Chrome exposes many cybersecurity vulnerabilities, which we outline below.
This article will look at how to store passwords in Chrome safely and recommend a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">robust password management solution for businesses</a>.
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Start protecting yourself today with a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" rel="follow">free trial</a> with TeamPassword.
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<h2>What is a Password Manager?</h2>
A password manager lets you create and save secure passwords for logging into various apps and accounts. Most password managers, including Google Chrome, feature a <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">secure password generator</a> to create unique credentials for every account.
Password managers also make it possible to share credentials with other users safely&mdash;like friends or colleagues. Instead of sharing the actual password, you provide users with a login to the password manager. They then use the password manager to access accounts (almost like a key), such as social media or a productivity app.
Password managers prevent unauthorized sharing and access for companies that regularly share credentials with coworkers, outside contractors, and freelancers.
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<h2>Saving Passwords in Chrome: What Chrome Can and Can't do</h2>
Most modern browsers, like Google Chrome, feature a password manager for convenience.
We have so many password-protected digital assets these days. Social media accounts, streaming services, online banking, cloud storage, email, and more&mdash;and that's just personal accounts!
Most people can't remember every password, so saving passwords in Chrome is somewhat secure and convenient.
<h3>The Advantages of Saving Passwords in Chrome</h3>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Saving passwords in Chrome is convenient. When you need to log in to an account, Chrome's password manager is there with your credentials.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Chrome's password generator ensures you use secure passwords.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">You can protect your Chrome browser with multi-factor authentication, preventing criminals from logging into your Google account, even if they steal your password.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Chrome has a Check Passwords feature to scan your credentials for weak passwords so you can change them.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Chrome has an Unknown Login feature to alert you when it suspects unauthorized access.</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Disadvantages of Saving Passwords in Chrome</h3>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">No functionality to safely share passwords with other users&mdash;not suitable for <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-safely-share-passwords-with-coworkers">sharing passwords with coworkers</a>.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Chrome doesn't force you to use secure passwords or unique credentials for every account&mdash;cybercriminals regularly breach accounts through credential stuffing or brute force attacks.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Chrome lets you export all of your passwords to CSV, making it easy for hackers to steal all of your passwords at once!</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">You can view stored passwords in Chrome, which is acceptable for individual use but poses a cybersecurity risk for companies.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Changing your passwords in Chrome is not obvious or easy. Most users don't know how to do this or even bother trying.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Chrome doesn't have an activity log for logins or sharing. You also can't set up email notifications for logins to your most sensitive accounts.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Most Chrome passwords are 12-15 characters long with no functionality to increase the character count to <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/lets-talk-about-password-complexity">create complex, more secure credentials</a>.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">You can only use Chrome passwords in Google's browser. To use credentials in another browser, you have to expose the password, copy/paste it into Safari or Internet Explorer. If you're working in a public space, exposing your password on the screen could pose a security risk.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Chrome often saves passwords with an "Unknown" username, forcing you to reset the password for future logins.</li>
</ul>
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<h2>How to Save Passwords in Chrome</h2>
Google makes it easy to save passwords in Chrome. There are two instances where you can save passwords:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Creating passwords in Chrome for a new account</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Saving existing credentials in Chrome</li>
</ul>
Before you start, you'll need to enable Chrome to save your passwords.&nbsp;
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Make sure you are signed in to your Chrome browser using your Google account credentials.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Click the menu icon (three vertical dots) to the right of your profile pic and select Settings.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Click Passwords in the menu.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Make sure the toggle is on (illuminated blue) for Offer to save passwords.</li>
</ol>
Chrome will now suggest and store your passwords in the browser.
<h3>Creating Passwords in Chrome for a New Account</h3>
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Using Chrome, go to the website where you want to create a new account.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">After entering your username or email, a prompt will appear from Chrome with a secure password.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">To accept Chrome's password suggestion, click Save.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">A popup will appear to the right of your address bar, indicating that Chrome has saved your new password.</li>
</ol>
<h3>Saving Existing Credentials in Chrome</h3>
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Using Chrome, go to the website or app where you have an existing account.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Enter your credentials and login</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">A popup will appear to the right of your address bar, indicating that Chrome has saved your credentials</li>
</ol>
You can view any of your Chrome passwords in the settings menu:
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Click the menu icon (three vertical dots) to the right of your profile pic and select Settings.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Click Passwords in the menu.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Scroll to find the password you want or use the search feature at the top of the page.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Click the Preview icon (eye) next to the password you wish to view.</li>
</ol>
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<h2>Why You Shouldn't Save Passwords in Chrome</h2>
Saving your passwords in Chrome poses many cybersecurity risks, especially for businesses! For one, Chrome's password manager is unencrypted, making it easy to view saved passwords in the browser's settings.
Another major vulnerability for anyone saving passwords to Chrome is the ability for someone to download all of your passwords into CSV with one click! If an employee has company passwords saved, this puts your business, coworkers, and clients at risk too!
Many team members work in coffee shops, coworking offices, and other public spaces where Google's password download feature is susceptible to attack.&nbsp;
If an employee leaves their PC to go to the toilet or make coffee, anyone could insert a removable USB drive and download their Chrome passwords in less than a few seconds!
If an employee doesn't have multi-factor authentication set up, hackers could breach their Google account through a phishing attack&mdash;and again use Chrome's password download feature to steal all the browser's passwords.
Google built Chrome's password manager for convenience, not security!&nbsp;
Individuals can save personal passwords to Chrome at their own risk, but companies should never allow team members to share exposed credentials or save passwords to a browser.
So, what is the alternative?
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<h2>Better Password Management with TeamPassword</h2>
Most cyberattacks happen as a result of compromised login credentials. Companies need to set up multiple layers of security to prevent criminals from stealing passwords.
Your team members are the first line of defense! So, <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/cybersecurity-for-small-businesses">educating employees about cybersecurity</a> and password protection should be priority number one.&nbsp;
Cybercrime is constantly evolving, so it's crucial you maintain ongoing training and even have a #cybersecurity messaging channel (Slack, Notion, etc.) for regular updates and vulnerabilities.
<h3>Protecting Passwords with a Password Manager</h3>
Combining a vigilant workforce with a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager like TeamPassword</a> will mitigate many cybersecurity risks.
TeamPassword is a secure password manager designed to make credential sharing safe and easy. No more password spreadsheets or sharing credentials over email or messages!
Instead of sharing exposed passwords, team members use TeamPassword's browser extensions (Chrome, Firefox, and Safari) to log into accounts.&nbsp;
The browser extension! But isn't that the same as Chrome?
No, your passwords are encrypted and cannot be previewed like they can in the Chrome browser. Employees protect their TeamPassword account with two-factor authentication&mdash;so even if someone steals their TeamPassword credentials, criminals can't log in and access your company's passwords.
In the unlikely event that someone breaches your TeamPassword account, the attackers cannot view your passwords. You can also set up email notifications to stay on top of unauthorized sharing and access.
TeamPassword's best feature is the ability for managers to create groups for sharing access. Within a group, you can have multiple accounts, making it easy for employees to log in.&nbsp;
For example, you might have Hootsuite, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and other relevant accounts in your "TeamPassword Social Media Group." Only employees on the social media team have access to that group.
If someone no longer needs access (like an employee leaving the company or after a freelancer finishes a task), you can remove that person with one click&mdash;no need to change passwords every time someone leaves!
And, if you do need to change a password, TeamPassword's built-in <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">secure password generator</a> lets you create new credentials in seconds. TeamPassword updates the new credentials to your whole team without any disruptions to productivity.
<h3>How Secure is TeamPassword?</h3>
TeamPassword is an internationally accredited secure hosting provider using state-of-the-art encryption technology.&nbsp;
We also follow strict security protocols when deploying code and updates and provide frequent vulnerability sweeps to scan our systems for viruses and ensure no backdoors lead to your sensitive data.
We hashed, salted, and encrypted passwords locally on your computer and then transmitted them to TeamPassword's server via an encrypted connection&mdash;not even TeamPassword can view your passwords!
Whereas anyone with access to your Google account, including select Google employees, can open and preview passwords saved in Chrome!
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<h2>Sign Up for a Free Trial!</h2>
Still not convinced <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a> is right for your business? Why not sign up for a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">14-day free trial</a> to test our secure password manager with your team.

Google's Chrome has a password manager but is it really the best option? Learn about Chrome's password manager and what the alternatives are

Google's Chrome has a password manager but is it really the best option? Learn about Chrome's password manager ...

How to save passwords in Chrome and alternatives?

The First American Corporation data leak is a wake-up call for regulators to clamp down hard on organizations that fail to protect their customers.&nbsp;
<a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/category/data-breaches">Data breaches</a> are one thing, but leaving customer data unprotected online is highly negligent and questions an organization's competence!
Any time criminals steal data from organizations like First American Corporation, it's the customers (including businesses) who suffer most!
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Don't let your business suffer the fallout from a data breach. Use <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a> to protect your company's digital assets. <a href="about:blank">Sign up for a free trial</a> today!
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<h2>What is First American Corporation?</h2>
Founded in Orange County, California, in 1889, First American Corporation is a financial services company in the real estate industry.
The Fortune 500 company is valued at over $7.5 billion (in 2021) and employs just under 20,000 people.
First American Corporation has several subsidiaries, including a subsidiary in India, employing more than 4,000 employees.
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<h2>What Happened at the First American Corporation Data Leak in 2019?</h2>
The First American Corporation Data Leak is a shocking example of corporate negligence. Luckily, it appears First American Corporation's customers managed to avoid having their data end up in the hands of criminals.
In May 2019, Ben Shoval, a Washington state real estate developer, stumbled upon approximately 885 million files containing customer data dating back to 2003!
You had to have a specific URL to find the files on firstam.com. But, once you had one URL, all you had to do was increment or decrement the URL to access other records.
Many of First American Corporation's exposed records were wire transactions between property buyers and sellers with account numbers and other financial information.
<h3>Leaked, Not Stolen!</h3>
It's important to note that although the First American Corporation data was freely available, it doesn't appear that anyone stole any of the company's records.
Unlike a data breach where criminals hack into a network, human error usually causes a data leak.
In First American Corporation's case, a website configuration error called Insecure Direct Object Reference (IDOR) allowed customers to view private information without any authentication.
First, American Corporation's records are sequential, so Mr. Shoval could change the number in the URL to access other customer records.
It's unclear how long First American Corporation's data was available online, but a search on archive.org revealed the company's records were available to around March 2017!
<h3>What Kind of Data Was Leaked?</h3>
Most of the files appeared to be scans of original documents, including property buyer and seller forms, IDs, SSNs, driver's licenses, account statements, internal corporate information for small businesses, physical addresses, contact numbers, email addresses, and other sensitive information and documentation.
Essentially a treasure trove for criminals to carry out identity theft, spear-phishing attacks, and other social engineering attacks.
<h3>Early Warnings Ignored!</h3>
Penetration tests flagged First American Corporation's exposed records in 2018, but the problem remained unfixed due to a comedy of errors and administrative blunders.
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<h2>What was the Fallout of the First American Corporation Data Leak?</h2>
You'll be sad to learn that the $7.5+ billion First American Corporation got a mere slap on the wrists for its negligence.&nbsp;
The New York State Department of Financial Services found First American Corporation had breached new cybersecurity protections implemented in 2017.
First American Corporation was the first company to receive enforcement action under the new cybersecurity law, reluctantly agreeing to a fine of $487,616 with The New York State Department of Financial Services.
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<h2>Is Your Company Prepared for a Data Leak?</h2>
Data leaks like the First American Corporation in 2019 or <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/what-happened-with-the-cam4-data-leak">CAM4 in 2020</a> put customers at severe risk of cyberattacks.
This sort of personal information gives criminals the means to impersonate companies and individuals or even target them through various social engineering attacks.
<h3>Spear-Phishing Attacks</h3>
One of the most significant risks from a leak like this is that criminals have enough personal information to carry out a successful spear-phishing attack.&nbsp;
Using data from First American Corporation, criminals could pose as the organization sending spear-phishing emails replicating the bank's correspondence.
The email might include personal information that only the bank would know, increasing the likelihood of a victim clicking a link or opening an attachment&mdash;most likely containing malicious packages giving criminals access to the victim's device and network!
Once attackers breach a user's device, they steal data and passwords to access other accounts, devices, and networks.
Protecting your company's passwords is crucial to preventing a full breach of your systems and accounts!
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>Protecting Passwords with TeamPassword</h2>
TeamPassword is a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager</a> designed for small businesses to share credentials safely amongst team members.
You never have to share raw login credentials. Instead, all of your <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-safely-share-passwords-with-coworkers">passwords are safely stored and shared with TeamPassword</a>. Employees use one of TeamPassword's browser extensions to log in&mdash;exactly as you would with a <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/should-i-use-my-browsers-built-in-password-manager">password saved in a browser</a>.
With two-factor authentication 2FA, even if attackers steal a team member's password through a phishing attack, they won't have access to <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">your TeamPassword account</a>.
<h3>Creating, Storing, &amp; Saving Passwords</h3>
TeamPassword features a built-in password generator, so you never have to worry about <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/10-things-you-need-to-do-to-keep-passwords-safe">weak passwords or reusing credentials</a>. You can create passwords from 12-32 characters using uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols.
Once a new password is created, TeamPassword automatically updates the new credentials for all users so team members can continue working without interruption.
<h3>Groups &amp; Sharing</h3>
You can create groups for your various accounts and only provide access to those who need it.&nbsp;
If you work with freelancers or contractors, you can add them to a group for the duration of their employment and remove them when the job is done&mdash;no need to change credentials when a team member leaves!
<h3>Keep Track of TeamPassword Activity</h3>
TeamPassword's activity log provides you with dates and times of login history. You can also set up email notifications for every <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a> action, allowing you to stay on top of your most sensitive data and accounts.
<h3>Accredited Secure Hosting Provider</h3>
<a href="https://teampassword.com/security">TeamPassword uses state-of-the-art encryption technology</a> and holds several internationally recognized security accreditations.\
Our team regularly conducts vulnerability sweeps to ensure our systems are watertight against breaches and attacks.
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>Get TeamPassword for Free!</h2>
Don't let your business become another data-breach statistic! Sign up for a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">14-day free trial</a> and secure your company's digital assets with <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a> today!

The First American Corporation data leak in 2019 left thousands of customer's data unprotected. What happened, and what was the fallout?

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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.
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<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.

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

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

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

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