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

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

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

Top 5 Dangerous Ways to Store Your Passwords

The 2020 Twitter spear-phishing attack is a sobering reminder that cybercriminals will use every tool in the shed to infiltrate an organization.
On July 15, 2020, cybercriminals hacked Twitter's systems through social engineering to send Tweets from high-profile accounts, including Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Bill Gates, Elon Musk, Warren Buffett, Kanye West, Apple, and Uber, to name a few.
The Tweet from Barack Obama read:
"I am giving back to my community due to Covid-19! All Bitcoin sent to my address below will be sent back doubled. If you send $1,000, I will send back $2,000! Only doing this for the next 30 minutes! Enjoy."
All of the Tweets were in a similar vein. Encouraging people to act fast to donate money via Bitcoin under the guise of "doing good."
Twitter is referring to the incident as a "phone spear phishing attack" but is vague about the details of how cybercriminals <a href="https://www.teampassword.com/blog/the-biggest-data-breaches-of-2020">breached</a> the social network's systems.
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<h2>What is a Spear Phishing Attack?</h2>
You are probably familiar with a phishing attack, where cybercriminals send out a "spoofed" message (sometimes a phone call) encouraging the victim to click a link or share sensitive information.&nbsp;
In a typical phishing attack (a type of social engineering), criminals will send these messages en masse and see who "bites." There's no specific target.
A spear-phishing attack is far more sophisticated and targeted. Cybercriminals research an individual or an organization to find vulnerabilities.
These vulnerabilities might be personal information about an individual or how an organization communicates internally. With this information, criminals can customize their spoofed communication to convince the victim it's genuine.
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<h2>Twitter's Phone Spear Phishing Attack</h2>
For security reasons, Twitter is withholding the exact details of how the July 2020 spear-phishing attack happened. But from a July 30, 2020 statement, Twitter reveals phone spear-phishing was the method of attack:
"The social engineering that occurred on July 15, 2020, targeted a small number of employees through a phone spear-phishing attack. A successful attack required the attackers to obtain access to both our internal network as well as specific employee credentials that granted them access to our internal support tools."
It appears that criminals initially targeted a small group of employees via a phone phishing attack to access Twitter's systems. It's unknown if this was through text or voice calls.
In an official statement, the Department of Justice (DOJ) noted, "...the Twitter attack consisted of a combination of technical breaches and social engineering."
Speculation is that criminals contacted this small group of employees and tricked them into <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-safely-share-passwords-with-coworkers">sharing their login credentials</a>.&nbsp;
They then used these credentials to infiltrate Twitter's internal support tools to target employees with higher access privileges.
With these high-level credentials, hackers were able to access individual Twitter accounts and unleash their scam.
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<h2>What Information was Compromised in the July 2020 Twitter Hack?</h2>
Given the breach of high-profile Twitter accounts and the level of access these criminals had, the consequences of this attack were actually reasonably minor.
The July 2020 Twitter spear-phishing attack by the numbers:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">130 Twitter accounts targeted.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">45 accounts Tweeted from.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">36 accounts had the DM inbox accessed.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">8 accounts downloaded "Your Twitter Data." A feature that allows a user to download a snapshot of their account, including account personal information, login history, linked apps and devices, and interests and ads data.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">383 Bitcoin transactions were sent to the scammer's account.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">12.86 BTC (US$117,000 at the time) stolen from victims following the Tweets' instructions.</li>
</ul>
It appears the attackers got away with a minimal amount of data&mdash;36 DM inboxes and the eight accounts where hackers downloaded "Your Twitter Data."&nbsp;
According to Twitter, "None of the eight were verified accounts." Meaning that the data downloaded wasn't from any of the high-profile accounts with the verified "blue checkmark."
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<h2>Who was Behind the 2020 Twitter Spear-Phishing Attack?</h2>
To date (August 2021), four people have been arrested for the Twitter spear-phishing attack.&nbsp;
The mastermind behind the Twitter attack is Graham Ivan Clark of Tampa, Florida, only 17 at the time of the attack. Authorities believe Clark is responsible for the spear-phishing attack on Twitter employees, where he gained access to internal systems.&nbsp;
Clark then posed as a Twitter employee on chat forums selling Twitter handles and account access to the other three perpetrators who carried out the Bitcoin scams.
19-year-old Mason Sheppard and 22-year-old Joseph O'Connor of the United Kingdom were responsible for the Bitcoin scam, while 22-year-old Nima Fazeli acted as a broker for Clark.&nbsp;
O'Connor was the only perpetrator known to authorities before the 2020 attack. Under the online handle, PlugWalkJoe, O'Connor was allegedly involved in SIM-swapping attacks to access social media accounts.&nbsp;
In a bizarre interview with the New York Times shortly after the 2020 attack, O'Connor confirmed he was PlugWalkJoe and that Twitter staff credentials were stolen during the 2020 attack. He went on to say, "I don't care. They can come arrest me. I would laugh at them. I haven't done anything."
The police decided to take O'Connor up on that offer and arrested him in Estepona, Spain, on July 21, 2021. O'Connor is waiting for extradition to the United States on multiple cybercrime charges.
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<h2>What was the Fallout of the Twitter Spear Phishing Attack?</h2>
It's alarming how easy it was for a lone 17-year-old low-level hacker to access Twitter's systems. Tweeting from these authoritative accounts can crash financial systems or start wars, which is why the full arm of the law came down on these four young perpetrators.
The Twitter spear-phishing attack involved multiple federal agencies, including the FBI, IRS, US Secret Service, and Florida law enforcement. Not to mention the British and Spanish agencies responsible for apprehending the two British nationals involved.
There was a mix of anger and confusion from the public and those targeted. The most perplexing thing for many was that most of the verified accounts had <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/password-manager-with-2fa">two-factor authentication</a> set up on their accounts.
The criminals could change email addresses, and contact numbers on the accounts without a notification sent to the account holder. According to two ex-Twitter employees, more than 1,000 Twitter employees and contractors had access to change user accounts settings.
Edward Amoroso, a former chief security officer at AT&amp;T, told Reuters, "That sounds like there are too many people with access...In order to do cybersecurity right, you can't forget the boring stuff."
By Twitter providing such broad access, it makes it difficult to prevent an attack like this. Twitter has a logging system to aid with investigations but, at the time of the attack, nothing to alert or notify relevant departments when someone makes changes to a user's account internally.
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<h2>Action Taken by Twitter</h2>
In a blog post from July 30, 2020, Twitter announced they had taken access to limit access to internal systems. For a short time, some of Twitter's features were unavailable while they made security improvements.
"Since the attack, we've significantly limited access to our internal tools and systems to ensure ongoing account security while we complete our investigation... We are also improving our methods for detecting and preventing inappropriate access to our internal systems and prioritizing security work across many of our teams."
Twitter is also working on programs to educate its workforce on cybersecurity and how to avoid phishing.
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<h2>Is Your Business Protected Against Spear Phishing Attacks?</h2>
If this sort of spear-phishing attack could happen at Twitter, it could happen to any business. Luckily, it's not difficult to put simple measures in place to mitigate a breach like the Twitter hack of 2020.
<h3>Using a Password Manager to Control Access</h3>
Using a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager</a> is a secure way to share access with employees and freelancers. With TeamPassword, you can grant and revoke access with a simple click.
You can create groups inside your TeamManager account, so you only share access with those who need it. If you hire a <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/should-i-share-data-with-freelancers">freelancer or contractor</a>, you can add them to the group and remove them when they complete the job.
A detailed log records every action and user's activity, and you can set up email notifications for just about any action on TeamPassword. This tracking would allow you to stay ahead of any unauthorized sharing or access.
<h3>Secure 2FA</h3>
TeamPassword features 2FA to add an extra layer of security to your password manager. By adding an extra layer of protection, you minimize the risk of unauthorized access, even if an attacker steals an employee's password.
<h3>Creating Secure Passwords</h3>
One of TeamPasswords best features is its built-in password generator. Create robust 12-32 character passwords for any social media account, website, or application, and then share access to all users with just one click.
With TeamPassword, the passwords aren't visible to team members, so no need to worry about unauthorized sharing. When someone leaves your team, simply delete them from TeamPassword, and they no longer have access.
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<h2>Secure Your Business with TeamPassword</h2>
If there is one thing we have learned from Twitter's spear-phishing attack, it's crucial companies actively promote <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/cyber-security-awareness-month-and-teampassword">cybersecurity awareness to employees</a> and put systems in place to prevent cybersecurity vulnerabilities.

Start your<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial"> free TeamPassword trial today</a> and build a robust working environment with TeamPassword.

On July 15, 2020, Twitter was hacked using a spear-phishing attack. How did they do it? And how can Twitter protect its self in the future?

On July 15, 2020, Twitter was hacked using a spear-phishing attack. How did they do it? And how ...

What Happened During The Twitter Spear-Phishing Attack?

The modern workforce is a diverse mix of full-time and freelance talent from around the world. Some freelancers are hired to complete a specific task, while others work as part of your team for months or years.
Data sharing is a crucial element for these modern teams but creates security vulnerabilities for companies to manage. Being mindful of data sensitivity and limiting what you share with freelancers is key to avoiding breaches and, in some regions, maintaining data compliance regulations.
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<h2>What is Remote Data Sharing?</h2>
Remote data sharing is the act of <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">sharing passwords</a>, files (images, documents, etc.), client data, company data, and any other information required for teams outside of your secure business network to complete tasks and projects.
Data sharing is an unavoidable element for modern workforces, but many businesses still fail to mitigate <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/secure-remote-team">security risks for remote teams</a>.
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<h2>Managing Remote Data Sharing with Freelancers</h2>
While remote data sharing with freelancers might seem complicated, companies can minimize their risks significantly by implementing some basic data security protocols.
<h3>Categorize Projects by Security Level</h3>
Before companies even consider sharing data with freelancers, it's crucial first to create security levels and protocols. Once these standard operating procedures are in place, team members will have a basis for how and when to share data.
Security designations might include:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Sensitive</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Confidential</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Private</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Proprietary</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Public</li>
</ul>
Each project or task must receive one of these labels, so team members know what the protocols are for sharing:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Over company networks</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Within internal teams</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">To remote teams</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">To freelancers &amp; contractors</li>
</ul>
Companies might also consider creating "separation of duties" policies for highly sensitive tasks and projects.
<h3>Sharing Customer Information with Freelancers</h3>
When it comes to customer data, businesses must exercise the strictest "need to know" policies and procedures, especially when it comes to small businesses and agencies.
More than 70% of all cyber-attacks target small businesses, often using these companies as a conduit to larger organizations. So, sharing customer information with freelancers must be as limited as possible.
<h3>Sharing Login Details</h3>
The first rule for sharing login details is never to share login details. The only secure way to share passwords is with a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager like TeamPassword</a>.
With TeamPassword, you can add freelancers to groups giving them access to specific apps and tools. Once their task is complete, you can remove them again with one click.
With TeamPassword, you'll never expose login details, not even to your most trusted employees. By using a password manager, companies can eliminate <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-safely-share-passwords-with-coworkers">credential sharing</a>, one of the leading causes of data breaches.
<h3>Never Share Personal Customer Data</h3>
Under no circumstances should companies ever share customer's personal details with freelancers. In many US states, particularly in California, and the EU, sharing customer data with contractors and freelancers is illegal.
Even giving freelancers access to your email marketing software could be violating data privacy regulations. In the EU, this could lead to a &euro;10 million fine or 2 percent of your annual revenue.&nbsp;
Aside from the legal ramifications, companies must treat sharing customer data as an issue of ethics and do everything they can to protect their customers.
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<h2>NDAs &amp; Data Privacy Agreements</h2>
NDAs (non-disclosure agreements) and data privacy agreements must be standard practice at any business employing contractors and freelancers. No data should ever be deemed "unimportant," and these documents should be discussed and signed even before conducting interviews.
<h3>NDAs for Freelancers</h3>
NDA stands for non-disclosure agreement and is a legally binding document where both parties agree to keep confidentiality for a defined period, sometimes indefinitely.
Breaking a non-disclosure agreement won't incur any criminal charges, but it does provide the opportunity to sue an individual who breaches the contract. It's important to note&ndash;if you're a US-based company in an NDA with a party outside of the US, your chances of enforcing that contract in court are almost zero.
Still, if you use Upwork, Freelancer, or Fiverr, you might take action against freelancers breaching an NDA by filing a complaint with the platform.
<h3>Data Privacy Agreement (DPA) for Freelancers</h3>
Many companies fail to use data privacy agreements when hiring freelancers, and they actually could be violating laws in the US and EU.
As part of the EU's <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/gdpr-was-it-really-a-big-deal">GDPR compliance</a>, DPAs must be signed by any party processing data on behalf of a company. Meaning, even if you share your Google Analytics account with a freelancer, they must sign a DPA.
Where NDAs serve little or no interest for courts, violating a DPA could lead to severe fines and penalties for both parties.
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<h2>Sharing Tools with Freelancers</h2>
It's often the case that companies need to share access to tools and apps with freelancers. As we have established, sharing login credentials should never be an option.
Here are three important reasons companies should use <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a> to manage sharing tools with freelancers:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Accessibility - TeamPassword features Chrome, Firefox, and Safari extensions so freelancers can access tools no matter their preferred device or browser. Allowing freelancers to work on a device they're most comfortable with is vital for productivity and efficiency.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Groups and Sharing - Creating groups is another powerful TeamPassword feature. This type of sharing enforces a robust "need to know" policy by providing access only to those who need it. With a simple mouse click, you can add and remove access for team members, perfect for after a freelancer has completed a task.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Activity and Logging - Keeping an eye on who accesses and shares login credentials is an essential part of maintaining secure remote data sharing. Managers can monitor team member's movements and note any suspicious activity or unauthorized access. They can also set up email notifications for access to highly sensitive tools and data.</li>
</ul>
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<h2>Sharing Sensitive Information with Freelancers</h2>
Unfortunately, sharing sensitive information with freelancers comes down to trust. For this reason, it's crucial to build long-term relationships with freelancers, only hire people who come highly recommended or have extensive experience in working with sensitive data on sites like Upwork or Fiverr.
Suppose you have carried out proper risk assessments and categorized your projects by security levels. In that case, you'll have procedures in place to minimize the amount of sensitive data you share with freelancers.
If you share information via free cloud storage platforms like Google Drive or Dropbox, always remove access immediately after a freelancer completes a task.&nbsp;
For highly sensitive information about your clients or business, always use a secure file-sharing provider which provides corporate-grade security like:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Data encryption</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Firewalls (prevents freelancers and employees sharing unauthorized access)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Advanced folder permissions</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">User usage controls (based on time, location, etc.)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Identity-verification tools</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Activity monitoring</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">File-expiration</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Data wiping</li>
</ul>
Some examples of secure file sharing tools include:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Egnyte</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">SugarSync</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Citrix ShareFile</li>
</ul>
Using a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager</a> with these secure file-sharing tools will significantly increase data sharing security with freelancers.
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<h2>Sharing Press Releases and Product Releases with Freelancers</h2>
Sharing press releases and product releases with freelancers is problematic. Data leaks on these releases could cost you or your clients millions of dollars in lost revenue or ruin months or years of preparation.
One way to share information with freelancers before it's released to the public is by segmenting the work and hiring multiple freelancers to complete a single task.
Working this way could distort the full picture of the product and minimize the impact of a leak. Segmenting these tasks will also allow you to identify which freelancer leaked your information and, therefore, cannot be used for future projects.
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<h2>Risks Involved with Sharing Passwords with Freelancers</h2>
Sharing raw usernames and passwords is extremely dangerous, exposing businesses and their clients to all sorts of security risks. If exposed credentials access a client's personal data, a company could be liable for prosecution in the EU or California.
<h3>Release of Sensitive Data</h3>
The biggest concern for companies sharing passwords with freelancers is the possibility of sensitive data being exposed. Exposing sensitive information isn't always malicious, so companies must also look at how accidental exposure might happen and find ways to mitigate those possibilities.
<h3>Exposes Companies &amp; its Clients to Attacks&nbsp;</h3>
Another massive concern for businesses sharing passwords with freelancers and contractors is exposing your company or clients to cyberattacks. Usernames and passwords are often stolen and sold on the dark web to criminals for use in all sorts of nefarious cybercrimes.
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<h2>The RIGHT Way to Share Passwords with Freelancers</h2>
The safest way to share passwords with freelancers is by using a password manager like <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a>.&nbsp;
TeamPassword using Secure Encryption Technology, whereby sensitive information is hashed, salted, and encrypted locally on your computer and then transmitted to the server via an encrypted connection.
With TeamPassword, you never have to expose passwords to freelancers. Instead, freelancers can use TeamPassword's browser extensions to sign into tools and apps. When a task or project is complete, you can remove a freelance with a single click&mdash;no need to worry about changing login details for fear of stolen credentials.
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Freelancers are a great alternative to in-house employees. Due to them working on their own devices how much data should you share if any?

Freelancers are a great alternative to in-house employees. Due to them working on their own devices how much ...

Should I Share Data With Freelancers?

Nintendo has had a run of cyberattacks in recent years. In 2017 they were infamously hacked by a security researcher, Zammis Clark, who stole over two terabytes of data, including game source files, prototypes, game emulators, unreleased products, and more, some of which dated back to the 80s!
In April 2020, Nintendo was again at the center of a cyber-security controversy, this time involving 300,000 Nintendo Network ID (NNID) for Nintendo Switch accounts. Initially, Nintendo claimed it was only 160,000, but it discovered another 140,000 compromised accounts after further investigation.
While more than 300,000 Nintendo users were hacked, less than 1% were used to make fraudulent transactions. Nintendo has been vague about how attackers acquired user logins but did mention in a statement that data was "obtained illegally from other than our service by some other means."
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Try TeamPassword by trying a&nbsp;<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">free trial</a>&nbsp;and see for yourself what TeamPassword can do for you.
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<h2>A Rough Timeline of Events</h2>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">April 9, 2020 - Much to the confusion of its followers, Nintendo randomly Tweets: "You can help secure your Nintendo Account by enabling 2-Step Verification." with a link to instructions.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">April 19, 2020 - Founding editor of LootPots, a Nintendo fansite Tweets: "I suspect Nintendo may have had a major security breach. My account was accessed numerous times overnight. My password is a unique string, and my PC is definitely clean (not that I ever login via it). Lots of similar reports on Reddit/Twitter. Unlink PayPal &amp; enable 2FA folks!"</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">April 24, 2020 - Nintendo releases an official statement confirming 160,000 accounts have been compromised.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">April 27, 2020 - Nintendo confirms they have discovered another 140,000 accounts, taking the total to 300,000.</li>
</ul>
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<h2>What Account Information Was Compromised?</h2>
According to Nintendo, the NNID data breach included:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">The account owner's full name</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Email address</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Date of birth</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Their country of residence&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Fortunately, the billing information is hidden and cannot be extracted but can still be used to make purchases. Some users with linked payment methods reported fraudulent transactions at the My Nintendo Store or Nintendo eShop.
These transactions triggered initial suspicions of account breaches, with some users reporting strange behavior and purchases as early as March 2020.
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<h2>How Did Hackers Access Nintendo User Accounts?</h2>
For "security reasons," Nintendo hasn't disclosed how hackers access NNID accounts, but they do confirm there wasn't a breach of their servers, leaving three possible scenarios.
<h3>Credential Stuffing</h3>
Hackers use usernames (or email addresses) and passwords stolen from one application to perform automated large-scale application logins. These credentials are often stolen from the servers of games or applications with weak security.&nbsp;
Hackers rely on the fact that many people use the same username and password for multiple accounts. One possibility is that hackers may have gained access to a chatroom or application frequented by Nintendo users and stolen login credentials.
Cybercriminals would then need to test each username and password and see if anyone has used the same credentials for their Nintendo account.
We know that Nintendo encouraged users to use different passwords for their NNID and Nintendo Account to <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/are-hackers-really-trying-to-steal-your-password">minimize the risk of credential stuffing</a>.&nbsp;
<h3>Phishing</h3>
Another likely scenario, and one that's very common, is that Nintendo users may have been victims of a phishing attack. In a phishing attack, cybercriminals use a "spoof" message (text, email, etc.) to trick a user into clicking a link or revealing sensitive data.
On first inspection, phishing attacks are challenging to identify because hackers will mimic correspondence or even build a replica application or website login.
<h3>Brute Force Attack</h3>
A brute force attack is essentially a guessing game where hackers systematically try passwords until they gain access. They often start with common phrases and combinations and then use phrases relevant to a user's name or personal information.
Nowadays, most websites and applications prevent brute force attacks by limiting the number of times you can enter a correct password or requiring <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/password-manager-with-2fa">two-factor authentication (2FA)</a>.
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<h2>The Fallout of Nintendo's User Breach</h2>
Nintendo users were understandably upset, taking to Twitter and Reddit to vent their frustrations. Not only was this the second major breach for Nintendo in the space of three years, but the Japanese giant's lackluster response seemed to fuel anger and frustration.
Users were given no real explanation of how this happened, which would help knowing where they might be vulnerable.
Nintendo did offer to cancel and refund any fraudulent purchases, but according to several Reddit posts, this has not been easy with Nintendo denying some requests.
Nintendo now requires users to use two-factor authentication to prevent this type of breach from happening again.
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<h2>Protecting Yourself Against Unauthorized Logins</h2>
While companies are responsible for protecting our data, we must also take responsibility to protect ourselves. That means better <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password management</a>.
Companies will do everything they can to avoid refunds, so if they can prove you were negligent, there's a high likelihood you might never recoup some or all of your losses.
<h3>Stronger, Secure Passwords</h3>
The first step is creating <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-secure-is-my-password">secure passwords</a> for all of your accounts. A secure password should be unique, complicated, and ideally no less than 12 characters, so it's near impossible to guess.
One way to create stronger passwords is by using a <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">secure password generator</a>. These password generators produce a complicated series of randomized characters for you to copy/paste.
With <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a>, you get a built-in password generator capable of creating 32-character secure passwords. You can choose to include uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols to ensure you get robust passwords every time.
<h3>Create a Different Password for Every Account</h3>
Another huge mistake people make, using the same password across multiple accounts. Even if you have a 32-character, ultra-secure password, you should never use it more than once.&nbsp;
If a hacker steals that password during a breach or you fall victim to a cyberattack, criminals will have access to all of your accounts.&nbsp;
By creating a separate password for every account, website, and application, you're limiting your exposure and minimizing potential losses.&nbsp;
<h3>Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)</h3>
Once you have secure passwords and use different credentials for every login, you'll want to add another layer of security. Two-factor authentication (2FA) will prevent anyone from accessing your accounts, even if they have your login credentials.
<h4>What is 2FA, and How Does it Work?</h4>
2FA is a two-step process for logging into an account. The primary step is your password, while the second step is an action you need to take, which could include:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Possession factor - an authentication method linked to a person such as a 2FA device, text message, email, or application on one of your devices. For example, when logging in to your bank account, you might receive a text message with a code to enter after your password.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Knowledge factor - authentication through a memorable word or phrase. For example, your mother's maiden name or the name of your best friend in high school.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Biometric factor - authentication through fingerprints, retina shape, or facial and voice recognition.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Most applications use Google Authenticator (possession factor) to facilitate 2FA, but some companies might send a text or email or have their own applications or devices. Google Authenticator is popular because it's free and available for iOS and Android.
TeamPassword uses Google Authenticator for 2FA, and you can also generate backup codes to ensure you never get locked out.&nbsp;
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<h2>TeamPassword - A Comprehensive Password Management Solution</h2>
TeamPassword allows you to take the guesswork out of creating and saving passwords. With 2FA and backup codes, your accounts are more secure with TeamPassword.
We use the highest levels of security with the most up-to-date encryption technology.
<h3>Accessible Anywhere</h3>
With TeamPassword, you can access and manage your passwords anywhere and from any device. We even have Chrome, Firefox, and Safari extensions so you can log in to any account quickly and securely.
<h3>Groups and Sharing</h3>
One major vulnerability comes when you need to share logins and passwords. TeamPassword was built for collaboration allowing you to allocate credentials with other users securely. You can also remove a user with one click, providing maximum security and efficiency.
<h3>Built-In Password Generator</h3>
A built-in password generator allows you to generate robust, 12 - 32 character passwords on the fly quickly. TeamPassword will automatically save your new passwords, so you never have to remember or store them outside of the application.
<h3>Activity and Logging</h3>
When you manage teams with access to your accounts and those of your clients, it's crucial to keep track of who is logging in, viewing passwords, or sharing access.&nbsp;
With TeamPassword's activity log, you can keep track of all that data to minimize unauthorized access. You can also set up email notifications to get immediate activity updates, perfect for monitoring highly sensitive applications and data.
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Avoid becoming another data-breach statistic! Try TeamPassword with a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">free trial</a> today and take control of your password management!

Nintendo has had a run of cyberattacks in recent years, but what happened in 2021? What data was compromised? How could it be prevented?

Nintendo has had a run of cyberattacks in recent years, but what happened in 2021? What data was ...

What Happened During Nintendo's Data Breach in 2021?

What Happened During Nintendo's Data Breach in 2020?

Password security is a serious challenge for agencies and other small businesses employing freelancers and temporary contractors. People often think hackers only gain access by hacking logins with complex viruses and trojans.
But the truth is, most <a href="https://www.teampassword.com/blog/the-biggest-data-breaches-of-2020">data breaches</a> happen because marketing or design agencies don't take enough care when creating and sharing passwords.&nbsp;
Agencies must be aware that they're more vulnerable to cybersecurity threats than they might think! In fact, 70% of all cyber-attacks target small businesses. Hackers will often target agencies in an attempt to gain access to larger organizations.&nbsp;
It's much easier to hack a small agency where employees are unaware of sophisticated phishing attacks than a large corporation with a dedicated team of cybersecurity experts. For this reason, agencies need to make sure they have robust password security policies in place.
For starters, using a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager like TeamPassword</a> is critical to minimize exposure to password security vulnerabilities.
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<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> and see how you can keep your data private
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<h2 dir="ltr">Increase in Security Breaches at Small Businesses in 2020</h2>
According to <a href="https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2021/06/08/unauthorized-access-breaches/">Help Net Security</a>, a leading news publication on information security, small businesses experienced a significant 50% increase in data breaches for 2020.
Unauthorized access, where attackers use a username and password to gain access, is still the number one cause of breaches, which saw a surge of 450%.&nbsp;
"Questionable yet common security practices, like sharing or reusing passwords, gave bad actors an easy path to gaining access to personally identifiable information..."
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<h2 dir="ltr">Common Small Business Cybersecurity Issues</h2>
So, what can small businesses and agencies do to combat cyber attacks? Firstly, let's look at some of the <a href="https://www.teampassword.com/blog/common-password-problems-faced-small-organizations">common cybersecurity issues for small businesses</a>.
<h3 dir="ltr">Unsecure Devices</h3>
Most agency employees use their own laptops, tablets, and other devices to sign into company and client accounts. If your agency uses contractors and freelancers, then you're open to more networks and vulnerabilities.
<h3 dir="ltr">Shared or Default Passwords</h3>
Another major cybersecurity vulnerability for agencies is the sharing of passwords and using an application's default password.&nbsp;
When setting up a new account login, users must immediately reset to a long (minimum 12 character) secure password, preferably using a <a href="https://www.teampassword.com/password-generator">password generator</a>.
To minimize password security issues, users must <a href="https://www.teampassword.com/blog/how-often-should-you-change-your-password-the-importance-of-password-safety">change passwords at least once a month</a> and never share passwords with colleagues or contractors.
<h3 dir="ltr">Reusing Passwords</h3>
Agencies must also be cautious of reusing passwords across various accounts. When you reuse passwords, you're essentially creating a "master key," making it easy to access multiple logins with just one password.&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">Inadequate Training</h3>
For many agencies, cybersecurity training is not a priority. Most small teams are already pushed to capacity, and just the thought of training staff about cybersecurity threats and password management seems disruptive and unproductive.
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<h2 dir="ltr">Is Your Agency at Risk?</h2>
Many agencies assume hackers have no interest in infiltrating their systems and accounts because they're a small business. But this assumption is incorrect.
Agencies often service large corporations, the "big fish" that hackers want to infiltrate. It's much easier for a hacker to get into an agency's systems to gain access to one of their corporate clients.
The gateway into most systems and accounts is through staff (permanent employees, temps, freelancers, contractors). Agencies must brief team members about phishing tactics and use a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager</a> to mitigate password security issues.
Here are some key factors to consider when assessing your agency's cybersecurity risk.
<h3 dir="ltr">Does your agency use freelancers?</h3>
If your agency uses freelancers, it's doubtful that you have the means to vet these individuals or conduct background checks effectively. In most cases, freelancers are hired to complete a few tasks and are gone within a few days or a week.
Freelancers will often require access to accounts like content management systems, email marketing software, marketing tools, and more.&nbsp;
Make sure your agency is using a password manager to allocate passwords to temporary staff and freelancers.
<h3 dir="ltr">Sharing Passwords with Team Members &amp; Clients</h3>
Even if your agency doesn't use outside team members, sharing passwords internally or with clients creates vulnerabilities.
Sharing passwords over email or via a spreadsheet is quick and easy, but it's also extremely risky. Even if it's not malicious, emails and spreadsheets are easily shared and therefore highly vulnerable.
TeamPassword allows you to <a href="https://www.teampassword.com/features">create groups to share passwords</a> with team members and clients. This way, you only give access to team members and clients involved in the project.
<h3 dir="ltr">What Happens When Employees Leave Your Agency?</h3>
When an employee leaves a small business or agency, they might still have passwords saved in their browsers, emails, or notes. For companies that experience high employee turnover, this could be as many as 10 to 20 people a year.
Changing every password your company has access to each time an employee leaves is impractical and could lead to errors. It's much easier to remove access for a single individual than changing all your passwords.
With a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager</a>, you can do both. You can easily remove any user from a group of passwords and, to be extra cautious, generate new passwords with just one click. The passwords will update for all your users, and work can continue without any downtime.
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<h2 dir="ltr">Mitigate Security Risks for Teams with TeamPassword</h2>
No matter how big or small your business might be, hopefully, this article has demonstrated that effective cybersecurity is critical.
With unauthorized access being the number one cause of breaches, agencies must mitigate security risks with a robust password manager like <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a>.
TeamPassword allows small businesses to create multiple password groups for their teams and only allow access to those who need it. TeamPassword's activity log lets you monitor account logins, login updates, and sharing access with new members.
TeamPassword also features a built-in unique password generator to make it easy for team members to effortlessly create long, secure passwords.
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Ready to start creating strong passwords? <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> and see how TeamPassword can help your agency's team and clients work securely and efficiently.

Password security is a challenge for small businesses employing freelancers. Learn about how to protect your business with TeamPassword.

Password security is a challenge for small businesses employing freelancers. Learn about how to protect your business with ...

Cybersecurity For Small Businesses

Ransomware attacks&nbsp;happen all the time, with an estimated 4,000 attacks happening every day (one every 11 seconds). The Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack is just the most recent high-profile attack on a U.S. company, but it also sheds light on the real and present dangers of criminal hackers abroad.&nbsp;&nbsp;
At&nbsp;TeamPassword, we offer a Password Manager for teams. It&rsquo;s a fast and easy way to lock down your passwords and secure logins, so your team is in sync with your company&rsquo;s projects and directives, no matter where they are. So sign up to try out the&nbsp;<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">free trial</a>.
<h2>What Happened in the Colonial Pipeline Cyberattack?&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>
On May 7, 2021, a hacker attacked Colonial Pipeline, the largest American pipeline for refined oil products. The cyberattack affected the company&rsquo;s computer network, which forced Colonial Pipeline to shut down its operations as a precaution. Their cessation of fuel distribution, which amounts to approximately 45% of the East Coast fuel supply, quickly led to panic buying and widespread fuel shortages.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Colonial Pipeline worked with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to respond to the hacker&rsquo;s ransom note, with the payment of $4.4 million, or 75 bitcoin, shortly after the ransomware attack. The hackers sent a software application that slowly restored the network to Colonial Pipeline&rsquo;s control. The company took more than a week before returning operations to something akin to normalcy.&nbsp;&nbsp;
<h2>What Is a&nbsp;Ransomware&nbsp;Attack?&nbsp;</h2>
A ransomware attack is&nbsp;really&nbsp;just&nbsp;an extension of a hacker&rsquo;s malware attack. The attacker&nbsp;hacks into a computer system by exploiting security vulnerabilities and&nbsp;then seizes control over the device(s) and data. The ransomware occurs when the hacker demands a huge payout to release their hold on the company&rsquo;s network and devices.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Ransomware attacks are especially dangerous because hackers can easily bypass security and access the company&rsquo;s computer network, with all its apps, files, databases, etc., without top-level admin access.&nbsp;&nbsp;
<h2>Who Was Responsible for the Ransomware Attack?&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>
The FBI indicated that&nbsp;DarkSide, a Russian hacker group that&rsquo;s been under investigation, was responsible for the cyberthreat and ransomware attack, which shut down Colonial Pipeline and its 5,500 miles of distribution network.&nbsp;They are not the only famous <a href="https://www.teampassword.com/blog/who-can-hack-your-business-passwords" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hacking group</a>, but they have managed to quickly make a name for themselves.
DarkSide&nbsp;claims to be apolitical, without ties to any government or political group. They&rsquo;ve been around since August 2020, with the continued and ongoing pursuit of huge payouts&nbsp;via ransomware attacks on companies in the U.S. and Europe. They hack in and gain access to the network and all data, which they&nbsp;then use to extort money from companies with threats that they&rsquo;ll release the personal info.&nbsp;&nbsp;
<h2>What Makes a Company Susceptible to Ransomware?&nbsp;</h2>
Companies already face so many challenges even in the scope of&nbsp;&ldquo;normal&rdquo; business processes and procedures. After all, some of the biggest companies in the world have been attacked by ransomware, so it may seem impossible to stop a cyberattack.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The good news is that you can take steps to <a href="https://www.teampassword.com/blog/are-your-passwords-hacker-proof-a-checklist-to-help-you-decide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">minimize the risk of ransomware attacks</a> on your organization. First, you must&nbsp;understand that many of the challenges related to cybercrime and&nbsp;ransomware attacks are not impossible to stop. Still, you must also be willing to acknowledge that you will need to invest in data protection and security measures not only for your network but also&nbsp;for your team.&nbsp;&nbsp;
You must address the most basic misconceptions about cybercrime first. Then, with growing experience, awareness, and understanding of what you&rsquo;re facing, you can begin the concrete&nbsp;steps to address the lapses in security and training that make you most vulnerable to a cyberattack.&nbsp;Here&nbsp;are some top tips that should help you protect your company from ransomware and cyber threats.&nbsp;&nbsp;
<h3>Back-Up Your Files&nbsp;&nbsp;</h3>
It&rsquo;s not just a matter of backing up your files once a year or even once a month. You should back up files at least once a day, if not more, but you should also set up external&nbsp;backups that are offsite and offline to fully protect your company from cyberattacks. Ultimately, Colonial Pipeline was able to get back up and running with their own backups, even after they paid the hackers.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Hackers can more easily maintain long-term control of a company&rsquo;s network when there are no current&nbsp;backups. If you think about it, the company may be over a barrel when they are not able to access current company records, including sales information, customer details, and inventory breakdowns.&nbsp;&nbsp;
<h3>Update Your Security Protocols and Systems</h3>
You should use top-notch cybersecurity measures for your network and computers, including up-to-date antivirus software. Regularly check those computer measures and verify that you have the latest versions for your operating system, along with the patches for all the software applications, widgets, and programs you and your team use.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Part of updating your security should include training as well as frank and ongoing discussions with your team and with any individual associated with your company, including board members. People are your greatest vulnerability, which is why hackers are so often able to take advantage of security lapses and risks that are directly related to the people who work for a company.&nbsp;&nbsp;
<h3>Use Strong Passwords</h3>
It&rsquo;s often easier and even faster to reuse passwords across an organization. Then anyone can access the files you all use, without the hassle and slowdown of copying, sharing, or looping others into the workflow. Of course, we now know that the ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline succeeded because of their lapses in password security.&nbsp;&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s important to use strong passwords, but also to <a href="https://www.teampassword.com/blog/common-password-problems-faced-small-organizations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">change them regularly and keeping them secure</a>. Creating and maintaining insecure passwords is one of the most basic ways that a hacker can successfully break into a company&rsquo;s network and cause havoc, which is why Team Password offers a&nbsp;<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">free trial</a>&nbsp;to show you just how much a comprehensive password manager will help your team with its password security needs.&nbsp;&nbsp;
<h3>Test for a Cyberattack</h3>
With so many attacks happening every day, your company is under constant threat. While there&rsquo;s not a lot you can do to prevent hackers from trying to break&nbsp;into&nbsp;your network, you can continually test your security measures to make sure that you&rsquo;ve got them locked down as much&nbsp;as possible.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The more you do to prepare, prevent, and mitigate the effects of a cyberattack, the better off your company will be when a hacker launches a full-scale attack. Constantly testing and being aware of new cyber threats also means that you&rsquo;ll be more likely to see incursions into your network security and be prepared to stop them.&nbsp;&nbsp;
<h2>What Was the Resolution of the Colonial Pipeline Ransomware Attack?&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>
Ransomware attacks can bring a company&rsquo;s operations to a standstill. The true resolution of a ransomware&nbsp;attack breaks down in a few different ways. In the case of the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack, the company paid the hackers nearly $5 million, but that wasn&rsquo;t the end of the story.&nbsp;
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) was able to recover part of the ransom money. Still, it&rsquo;s also a wake-up call for not only Colonial Pipeline but also all major companies and corporations. This case has blown up in the news because it is such a serious breach. The event was also not something that Colonial Pipeline could easily hide, with the fuel shortage and the potential for further damages.&nbsp;&nbsp;
<h2>What Makes the Colonial Pipeline Ransomware Attack Different?&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>
When hackers attack prominent companies, it&rsquo;s not always public knowledge that it&rsquo;s happening. In fact, some of the most prominent cases weren&rsquo;t publicized until long after the incidents happened. It&rsquo;s understandable in most cases that the company wants to keep the security breach quiet, particularly when the customer data at major financial institutions have been compromised.&nbsp;&nbsp;
In the Colonial Pipeline incident alone, the hackers stole 100 gigabytes of data and threatened to release it on the internet. We&rsquo;d have to assume that the hackers still have possession of all that data or can use it for their own&nbsp;purposes. It&rsquo;s important to recognize that cases like this happen every day, but that this case encouraged us all to talk about what we can do to prevent cyberattacks like this from happening.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
<h2>Next Step: Sign Up for a Free Trial at&nbsp;TeamPassword&nbsp;</h2>
The&nbsp;Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack highlights the importance of maintaining excellent digital &ldquo;hygienic&rdquo; practices. In other words, it&rsquo;s important to do everything you can to protect your company from attack. Still, some of the most basic principles of digital security (like password reuse) can be overlooked. That&rsquo;s where&nbsp;TeamPassword&nbsp;comes in.&nbsp;&nbsp;
At&nbsp;TeamPassword, we offer the tools to ensure that your&nbsp;team has the safest and most secure passwords and logins possible with our Password Manager for teams. It&rsquo;s our goal to make sure that one of the basic security measures (making sure you don't reuse passwords) is locked down.&nbsp;
Our goal is to help you protect your company and your team, so you can focus on the other essential aspects of supporting your company&rsquo;s growth and development. Find out more about how your&nbsp;<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">free trial</a>&nbsp;can help your team combat the dangers of cyberattacks today!&nbsp;&nbsp;
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sign Up for a Free Trial at TeamPassword </a>&mdash;<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Secure Your Company&rsquo;s Future Against Cybercrime</a>

The Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack demonstrates how reusing passwords can affect your company’s cybersecurity and private information.

Colonial Pipeline Ransomware Attack: Don't Reuse Passwords

Cybersecurity is big business. Cyberthreats and breaches happen every day, which is why TeamPassword offers a&nbsp;<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">free trial</a>&nbsp;to show you how a comprehensive <a href="https://www.teampassword.com/blog/top-5-safest-password-managers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">password </a>manager can&nbsp;help your business with its password security needs. After all, basic security measures start with you and your team.
Many employees use the same passwords for their work accounts as those they&rsquo;ve set up for their personal&nbsp;accounts. What&rsquo;s most troubling about password security is that many people use the same or very similar passwords, even after they&rsquo;ve experienced a scam. Just as bad, about 23 million Americans still use &ldquo;123456&rdquo; or another default password to access their accounts.
Companies may have hundreds, or even thousands, of passwords that employees use to secure and share data. It&rsquo;s complicated, but that&rsquo;s why&nbsp;TeamPassword&nbsp;makes it easy to secure your logins and&nbsp;lock down your passwords. We speed up the process of&nbsp;getting your team secure and in sync with your company&rsquo;s projects and directives, no matter where they are.
Try securing your companies passwords with a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">free trial</a>
<h2>Why Securing Your Company Passwords Is So Important&nbsp;</h2>
Passwords are a line of defence between your company and the world of cyberthreats. With so much of your data now available via cloud computing, a hacker can access client files, financial records, customer data, employee files and even medical records. With this real and present threat, it&rsquo;s more important than ever that you secure company passwords.
Most cybersecurity breaches (an estimated 81%) are due to weak or stolen passwords. Once you understand how vulnerable your passwords really are, the next logical step is to find out how to create strong and secure company passwords.
<h2>What Makes for a Great Password?</h2>
Most of us will agree that passwords like&nbsp;&ldquo;123456&rdquo; and default passwords are not secure, but you may&nbsp;not be sure what you should include in a good password. As a first step, look at your own passwords to check just how secure they are.
Think about why you chose the passwords&nbsp;and how long ago you created them. By extension, if your passwords are really that insecure and you're more aware of password security than most of your staff, what might that mean for the passwords that you are providing your organization?
It may be time to make a change. Here are a few quick tips that will help you and your team avoid crafting insecure company passwords.
<h3>Can You Guess&nbsp;It?</h3>
Take the guess test to see if the password is secure enough. You may have included common words and phrases, the local zip code, a project name or company-related terminology. If it&rsquo;s easy for you to guess, you can bet that a hacker may&nbsp;figure it out as well. That's what they do.
<h3>Is It&nbsp;Personal?</h3>
Your passwords&nbsp;are probably not safe if you&rsquo;ve used the names of your kids, your pets, important dates, your favourite colour, where you live or your favourite places. A hacker can find out that information with a few quick strokes of their keyboard. If you will use words when securing your company passwords, try a combination of unusual words and misspellings in combination with off-kilter capital letters, numbers and symbols.
<h3>Is It Long and Complex?</h3>
You can always rely on a random string of letters and numbers, but such a password won't always be easy to remember. There&rsquo;s a lot of room for creativity if you use the maximum of 127 characters, which is allowed for the password field in some account access. It&rsquo;s true that some accounts only allow 8-10 characters for the password field, but that still allows you to cobble together a complex series of characters for your secure company passwords.
<h3>Are You Managing Your Password Security?</h3>
A password manager will help you remember your secure company passwords, so you can quickly and easily <a href="https://www.teampassword.com/blog/how-to-keep-my-companys-passwords-accessible" target="_blank" rel="noopener">access accounts</a> without hassle or delay.&nbsp;TeamPassword&nbsp;offers a&nbsp;<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">free trial</a>&nbsp;to show you just how much a comprehensive password manager will help your team with its password security needs.
<h3>Is the Password Unique?</h3>
One of the most common ways to lapse in security is to use the same password for all logins related to an organization. While a single password may make it easier to remember, it would also be&nbsp;opening the gates of the entire enterprise to any hacker who gets access to one account.
<h3>When Did You Last Change It?</h3>
It&rsquo;s important to use strong passwords, but you also need to change them regularly. These password changes should be something you schedule on your calendar and enforce across the company. You might even enforce password changes every 30 days across your employees via administrator privileges.
<h3>Do You Share It?</h3>
It may seem easier to just <a href="https://www.teampassword.com/blog/how-to-safely-share-passwords-with-coworkers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">share the password</a> for a single account across the organization, but that&rsquo;s not the best way to ensure the security of your passwords. Encourage absolute password security practices by making it part of your company&rsquo;s policies and procedures to keep and maintain security without sharing.&nbsp;
<h2>Next Step: Having a look at TeamPassword</h2>
Securing your company passwords is such an essential part of your cybersecurity efforts. Still, it&rsquo;s not always easy to control the complexity of the passwords that your team selects for network access. That&rsquo;s why we offer a different (and better) password solution that takes the work out of your cybersecurity efforts.
Our Password Manager for teams ensures you have the most secure passwords and logins possible. We'll take care of protecting your company passwords, which frees you up from worrying about whether hackers are breaching your security with a bunch of misused characters in an insecure password. Test our solution for yourself with a&nbsp;<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">free trial</a>. You&rsquo;ll see what a difference we can make for your success!

Securing your company passwords is one of the best ways to prevent cyber threats. Learn different tips when it comes to your passwords.

Securing your company passwords is one of the best ways to prevent cyber threats. Learn different tips when ...

Secure Company Passwords

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

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

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

Have I Been Hacked? How to Know for Sure.

Learn what to do if you forgot your Facebook password and how to use TeamPassword to make sure you never forget a password again.

Learn what to do if you forgot your Facebook password and how to use TeamPassword to make sure ...

What To Do If You Forgot Your Old Facebook Login

What To Do If You Forgot Your Old Facebook Login | TeamPassword

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>
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<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>
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2 id="5commonpasswordencryptionmethods">5 Common Password Encryption Methods</h2>
<h3>1. Data Encryption Standard (DES)</h3>
While applications no longer use Data Encryption Standard (DES), it's important to mention this password encryption method because of its history and influence on more secure modern standards.
IBM developed DES as a 56-bit encryption technology in the early 1970s. The NSA adopted and improved DES before it was approved worldwide as the encryption standard.
However, since the late 70s, hackers have been able to break DES encrypted passwords. In 1999, ethical hackers managed to break a DES key in under 24 hours.&nbsp;
To make DES more secure, engineers created Triple DES and later Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), which we still use today.
<h3>2. Triple DES</h3>
Triple DES uses three 56-bit keys (blocks) to create 168-bit encryption (some security experts argue that Triple DES is only 112 bits strong). Although Triple-DES is slowly being phased out, many financial institutions still use it to encrypt ATM PINs.
<h3>3. Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)</h3>
AES is the new encryption standard&mdash;trusted by the United States Government and many other prominent organizations globally. At 128 bits, AES is sufficiently secure, but most organizations prefer heavy-duty 256-bit encryption.
At <a href="https://teampassword.com/security">TeamPassword</a>, we use 256-bit encryption to store passwords, ensuring the highest levels of security for our clients. We're also a <a href="https://teampassword.com/security">secure hosting provider</a> holding multiple security accreditations.
Hackers can only break an AES encrypted password through a brute-force attack&mdash;trying password combinations to find the right one.
To counter brute-force attacks, applications will lock an account after a certain number of attempts or use tools like Google's reCAPTURE.
<h3>4. Blowfish</h3>
American cryptographer, Bruce Schneier, designed Blowfish in 1993 as an antidote to the weak DES encryption. Blowfish uses a 64-bit block and variable key length of 32 to 448 bits.
Although Blowfish is more robust than its DES predecessor, the 64-bit block is still vulnerable to attacks, most commonly birthday attacks&mdash;a cryptographic attack that exploits the mathematics behind the algorithm.
To solve Blowfish vulnerabilities, engineers created Twofish in 1998 (128-bit blocks with 256-bit keys) and Threefish in 2008 (256, 516, 1024-bit blocks with 256, 516, 1024-bit keys).
<h3>5. Rivest-Shamir-Adleman (RSA)</h3>
RSA is one of the oldest and widely used to transfer data securely. The encryption works with two keys, two large prime numbers, and an additional auxiliary value.
Due to the complicated encrypting and decrypting process, there is no known method for breaking RSA encryption.&nbsp;
Although widely used for transferring data, RSA is slow and not suitable for password encryption.
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2 id="whystrongpasswordsmatter">Why Strong Passwords Matter</h2>
Password encryption can only prevent criminals from viewing saved credentials stored on a server&mdash;but cannot prevent hackers from guessing weak/commonly used passwords. If you <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/colonial-pipeline-ransomware-attack-dont-reuse-passwords">reuse the same password for multiple accounts</a>, this also puts you at risk!
Encryption is most effective when users create robust, unique passwords for every account. For example, a random 32-character password with letters, numbers, and special characters hashed and salted is near impossible to guess or decode, even using a computer!
In another scenario, let's assume you have a strong 32-character password, but you use it for every account. If hackers manage to steal that password, they have access to every account using the same credentials! Your strong password is effectively useless.
<h3>Improving Your Password Management</h3>
Now that you understand password encryption and the associated vulnerabilities, you can see why strong passwords are essential.
Effective password management is crucial to protect yourself against cyberattacks or in the highly likely event of a data breach where hackers steal your credentials.
Criminals are after the low-hanging fruit&mdash;people who use weak passwords!
5 tips for creating stronger passwords:
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Create strong passwords for every account. The easiest way to do this is using a password generator. <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">TeamPassword has a free password generator</a> anyone can use to create passwords from 12-32 characters using uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and special characters. We recommend creating passwords as long as the application will allow.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Never create passwords shorter than eight characters, with 12 being our recommended minimum.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Never reuse the same password for multiple accounts.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Never create passwords with your name, family member's names, or pet's names. With social media, this information is freely available. Criminals can add those names to algorithms for brute-force attacks.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Don't store passwords in digital notepads or spreadsheets. We recommend using a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager like TeamPassword</a> to create and store your credentials.</li>
</ol>
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>Why You Need a Password Manager like TeamPassword</h2>
We have so many accounts these days; it's almost impossible to create unique, memorable, secure passwords for each one. A password manager solves this problem.
Instead of remembering the credentials for every account, you only need to memorize the one to log into your password manager.&nbsp;
TeamPassword keeps all of your credentials safely stored and encrypted, so you never have to memorize a password again. Instead of entering your credentials, you use one of TeamPassword's browser extensions (Chrome, Firefox, and Safari) to log into accounts.
<h3>Built for Teams</h3>
TeamPassword's best feature is its ability to share credentials with team members securely. Instead of sharing passwords, you provide access through TeamPassword.&nbsp;
Employees <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">use TeamPassword</a> to log in, meaning you never share raw passwords&mdash;no more worrying about unauthorized access or sharing.
You can create groups in TeamPassword to share access with employees, clients, contractors, and freelancers. When someone no longer needs access, remove them from the group with a single click. No need to change passwords every time someone leaves a project!
<h3>Built-In Password Generator</h3>
TeamPassword features a built-in secure password manager so you can create robust passwords for every account. TeamPassword also ensures you never reuse the same credentials so that you won't fall victim to credential stuffing attacks!
With a built-in password generator, you can change passwords regularly, and TeamPassword will update the new credentials for all users!
<h3>Monitor Login Activity</h3>
TeamPassword's activity log keeps track of every action across all of your accounts&mdash;logins, password changes, new team members, sharing access, and more.
You can also set up email notifications for all TeamPassword actions so that you can react fast to any suspicious activity.
<h3>Get Your Free TeamPassword Trial</h3>
Password encryption is not enough to protect your business from password vulnerabilities! You need a robust password manager like TeamPassword to create, store, and share credentials securely.
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> and let TeamPassword secure your company's digital assets.

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

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

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