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

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

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

10 extremely successful freelancers and what they do

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

Do you have a plan to create a company culture for security? Come learn the importance of creating security culture and the importance of doing so!

Security is both a technical and cultural issue. Employees who value and promote security will prevent cyberattacks, protect ...

Creating a Company Culture for Security | 5 Actionable Insights

Security is both a technical and cultural issue. Employees who value and promote security will prevent cyberattacks, protect sensitive data, and foster trust with customers and stakeholders . In this blog post, we will explore what security culture is, why it is important, and how you can create one for ...

Keeping yourself safe online is a constant struggle that requires staying one step ahead of cybercriminals. Spear phishing is one of the latest ways to make spoofed emails seem more legitimate. The right training and tools are the only way to prevent your business from falling victim to these sophisticated attacks.

TeamPassword makes it easy to keep your accounts safe from cybercriminals. Don&rsquo;t believe us? Sign up for a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">14-day free trial today</a> and try for yourself.

<h3>[Table of Contents]</h3>
<a href="#whatisphishing" rel="follow">What is phishing?</a>
<a href="#whatisspearphishing" rel="follow">What is spear phishing?</a>
<a href="#phishingvsspear" rel="follow">Phishing vs spear phishing: What's the difference?</a>
<a href="#otherphishing" rel="follow">Other phishing variants</a>
<a href="#spearphishingtactics" rel="follow">Spear phishing tactics</a>
<a href="#spearphishingexamples" rel="follow">Spear phishing examples</a>
<a href="#spearphishingstats" rel="follow">Spear phishing statistics</a>
<a href="#howdoyouprevent" rel="follow">How do you prevent spear phishing attacks?</a>

<h2 id="whatisphishing">What is phishing?</h2>
Here is a simple definition of phishing.&nbsp;

Phishing definition: Phishing is a type of cyberattack that uses seemingly legitimate emails, SMS messages, or social media posts to convince people to share sensitive login information, either directly or via a spoofed login page.&nbsp;

<h2 id="whatisspearphishing">What is spear phishing?</h2>
Here is a simple definition of spear phishing

Spear phishing definition: Spear phishing is a targeted version of the standard phishing attack, where a specific individual or group is targeted using personal information to make the message seem more legitimate and urgent.

Similar to how many <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/what-is-a-brute-force-attack-and-are-you-at-risk" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">brute force attacks</a> use personalized dictionaries, spear phishing is a way to improve the likelihood of a targeted victim falling prey to a phishing attack.

Phishing and spear phishing are both considered <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/five-most-common-password-attacks" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">social engineering</a>, which is when an attacker convinces the victim that they are somebody else. A common example of a social engineering attack is when a person impersonating a bank official calls someone in an attempt to get them to divulge their username and password.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/d58ikVrvQROu10PwCfRX" alt="undefined" width="701" height="467">
<h2 id="phishingvsspear">Phishing vs spear phishing: What&rsquo;s the difference</h2>
Spear phishing is really just an upgraded, personalized version of phishing. A phishing attack might be sending a text message to every phone number in New York State saying they are from Chase Bank and you need to login immediately due to suspicious activity with a link to a spoofed Chase Bank homepage.&nbsp;

Conversely, a phishing attack might be sending a message to every employee of a small startup that looks like it is coming from the CEO to check their login details for some software that they know the company uses.&nbsp;
<h2 id="otherphishing">Other phishing variants</h2>

There are a few other variants of phishing. In the biggest, most sophisticated attacks, these tactics are often combined. Here are two other common phishing variants.

Whaling definition: Whaling is when a phishing attack targets a high-value individual, for example the CEO or CFO, with the goal of a maximum payday. It&rsquo;s a play on the word phishing as whales are big &ldquo;fish.&rdquo;&nbsp;

Vishing definition: Vishing is similar to a phishing attack, only it uses phone calls instead of emails to pull off the deception. Phishing is often the first step in a vishing attack, where the names and positions of several individuals are uncovered so they can be used to fool IT professionals with a vishing phone call.&nbsp;
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/nVVneUYhRyuNZIKkBTyO" alt="undefined" width="701" height="467">
<h2 id="spearphishingtactics">Spear phishing tactics</h2>

Spear phishers use many different tactics to convince prospective victims that the message is legitimate. Here are some common spear phishing strategies:

<ul>
<li>
Security alerts: The spear phisher sends a text message saying there is suspicious activity in an account. Credit card numbers often have a set starting sequence according to the bank issuing the card, so stating &ldquo;your card starting 9999&rdquo; makes the message seem more legitimate.
</li>
<li>
Customer complaints: If you&rsquo;ve recently written a negative review about a utility company or bank online, then spear phishers may have scraped that data to use it as part of a cyber attack. They can then pose as the customer service department of that entity in hopes of tricking you into providing sensitive information.&nbsp;
</li>
<li>
Impersonation: Instead of posing as a bank or other organization, some spear phishing attacks include impersonating a specific person. Common examples include posing as the CEO or CFO of your employer, or as your grandchild.&nbsp;
</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="spearphishingexamples">Spear phishing examples&nbsp;</h2>
The news is littered with famous and sophisticated companies falling victim to spear phishing and vishing attacks. Here are some of the biggest events of the last decade.&nbsp;

About 10 years ago, the <a href="https://threatpost.com/rsa-securid-attack-was-phishing-excel-spreadsheet-040111/75099/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">SecureID product by RSA</a> was compromised with a spear phishing attack. This attack involved circulating an Excel file via company emails that had embedded code. According to Symantec, even in 2023, Office files are increasingly being used for phishing attacks.&nbsp;

In 2015, <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/nathanvardi/2016/02/08/how-a-tech-billionaires-company-misplaced-46-7-million-and-didnt-know-it/?sh=7d1c13f650b3" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Ubiquiti lost $46.7 million</a> in a spear phishing attack. The billionaire CEO, Robert Pera, was targeted in this whaling effort. In this case, impersonation by an outside entity allowed the fraudsters to steal about 10% of the company&rsquo;s cash reserves. The missing money wasn&rsquo;t even noticed until the FBI informed them of the potential attack.

In one of the most recent major cyber attacks, on September 11th, 2023, <a href="https://www.vox.com/technology/2023/9/15/23875113/mgm-hack-casino-vishing-cybersecurity-ransomware" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">MGM and several other casinos</a> were brought offline by ransomware attacks. Phishing and social media made it possible for the hackers to gather enough information to impersonate employees. They then used a vishing tactic to get IT to reset password accounts, gaining entry into the computer system.&nbsp;

Caesars, another Las Vegas casino, was one of the other victims of this widespread attack. Unlike MGM, they decided to pay &ldquo;millions&rdquo; to the <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/resources-for-ransomware" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">ransomware-as-a-service</a> hackers. MGM, meanwhile, spent 10 days unable to operate their business, losing untold millions in revenue.&nbsp;

It&rsquo;s not just businesses that are being threatened by spear phishing attacks. Government infrastructure is also threatened. <a href="https://www.edweek.org/technology/schools-are-a-top-target-of-ransomware-attacks-and-its-getting-worse/2023/08" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Schools</a> are becoming a particularly popular target. They tend to have technical debt that makes them soft targets as well as staff who are often less trained on different cyberthreats than those working in tech.
<h2 id="spearphishingstats">Spear phishing statistics</h2>

Spam accounts for about 48% of all email sent, representing <a href="https://aag-it.com/the-latest-phishing-statistics/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">3.4 billion emails per day</a>. Over a fifth of that is from Russia, and they are mostly sent with phishing in mind. If you haven&rsquo;t trained your staff to detect potentially threatening emails, then it's only a matter of time before they open one.

Half of all social engineering attacks include emails, and <a href="https://www.verizon.com/business/resources/reports/dbir/2023/master-guide/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">about three quarters of all attacks involve social engineering</a>. Overall, in 2022, about a quarter of all attacks targeting American companies were ransomware.

According to <a href="https://docs.broadcom.com/doc/istr-24-2019-en" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Symantec</a>, 65% of all cyber attacks involve phishing. Furthermore, the rise of crypto has made ransomware attacks harder to circumvent, prevent, or prosecute.&nbsp;

Often, the only recourse is payment. According to <a href="https://www.ibm.com/reports/data-breach" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">IBM</a>, the average cost of a data breach is nearly $5 million.

While phishing and spear phishing are traditionally done by email and more recently SMS, social media has also become a major source of fraud. This is especially true for <a href="https://aag-it.com/the-latest-phishing-statistics/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Linkedin</a>. The information individuals provide publicly about their employer, position, and location make it far easier for spear phishers and vishers to believably impersonate members of staff.&nbsp;
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/LcHJlfkQliVpxntfEVOQ" alt="undefined" width="701" height="467">
<h2 id="howdoyouprevent">How do you prevent spear phishing attacks?&nbsp;</h2>

The fact is that your business is receiving spear phishing emails everyday. Therefore, the first line of defense has to be training. Whenever you open an email, check the address of the sender.&nbsp;

For example, official Bank of America email addresses will end &ldquo;@bofa.com&rdquo; and not &ldquo;@bankzofamerica.something.in&rdquo;. Next, before clicking on a link you can actually hover over the link with your mouse to see the destination. Does it match the expectation? If not, it&rsquo;s probably a spoofed login page.

If you think the email is legitimate, then there are further steps you can take. For example, if the email is warning you that an account is compromised, instead of clicking through the email to the website, type it in separately and navigate to your account.&nbsp;

If it is apparently an urgent and unexpected email from your coworker, send them a Slack message to confirm. If you do intend to call them, open up your HR software to get their number instead of using the one in the email.&nbsp;
<h2>Use TeamPassword to prevent spear phishing attacks</h2>

TeamPassword can help you stay safe from the threat of spear phishing attacks. By creating and securely storing unique, random, and strong passwords for each account, they are off limits to those trying to steal your information. This makes it harder for bad actors to get your personal information, which leads to their phishing attempts seeming less legitimate.&nbsp;

Furthermore, TeamPassword allows you to share credentials with coworkers. That way you know that anyone looking for a username or password is probably spam and can be safely ignored.

TeamPassword can protect your important accounts from spear phishers. Don&rsquo;t believe us? <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> today and try for yourself.

Spear phishing is using personalized emails in an attempt to get you to divulge sensitive information. Here’s what you need to know.

Spear phishing is using personalized emails in an attempt to get you to divulge sensitive information. Here’s what ...

Spear phishing: What to know to stay safe in 2024

Spear phishing: What you need to know to keep yourself safe in 2024

Sharing passwords with coworkers is a necessary practice in many businesses, allowing teams to collaborate seamlessly and access shared resources. Small businesses in particular are always on the lookout for cheaper, simpler ways to handle password sharing.
MacOS Sonoma and iOS 17 <a href="https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/share-passwords-or-passkeys-mchlc00a3602/mac" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">introduced the ability to create groups of passwords</a> and share them with trusted users, rather than sharing passwords or passkeys one by one. Apple intends this feature for family, friends, or other close contacts.
You control who to add to password groups you create. People you add can in turn add or remove their passwords from the group.&nbsp;&nbsp;
If your contact uses a different operating system or older versions of MacOS, they won't be able to take advantage of this feature.
In this article, we'll explore password groups in MacOS Sonoma, and see if it's a good solution for businesses. We will also compare it to the alternative option of <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/the-best-ways-to-store-passwords-2023" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">using password managers</a>, which are specifically designed to address the business needs of securely sharing passwords.&nbsp;
Here are 5 key takeaways from the article:
<ol>
<li>
Group Password Sharing: MacOS Sonoma introduces sharing passwords by group, allowing multiple users to access the same bucket of passwords. It's intended to simplify password sharing for families and friends.
</li>
<li>
Compatibility: To utilize the group password sharing feature, all users involved must have MacOS with Sonoma or later, or iOS 17 or later. If your organization is married to the Apple ecosystem this may be just fine, but mixed-platform environments will struggle.
</li>
<li>
Security Considerations: While passwords in the keychain are end-to-end encrypted, the password-sharing feature relies on the user's iCloud account which is intended for personal use. Password managers allow an admin to enforce security policies like 2FA, massively reducing the risk that an employee will be a point of failure for the business.
</li>
<li>
Business Use and Scalability: For businesses, especially those with larger teams or complex password-sharing requirements, password managers offer greater flexibility and scalability. They allow for customized access controls, comprehensive user management, and centralized administration, making them more suitable for organizations with evolving needs.
</li>
</ol>
<h2>What are Keychain Shared Password Groups?</h2>
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/LyoKiD47RbORySo1QqUM" alt="undefined" width="544" height="133">
MacOS Sonoma and iOS 17 introduced the ability to share passwords to a group, and then share that group with other iCloud users in your contact list. Passwords stay up to date for all users, and you can remove anyone from the group at any time.&nbsp;
This feature leads to an obvious question:&nbsp;
<h3>Can I share passwords with coworkers using keychain password groups?</h3>
If your coworker has an iCloud account and they're in your contacts, then yes, you can share passwords with them through Apple's password groups.
There are pros and cons to doing so, however.
Pros:
<ul>
<li>Free: As long as everyone has an updated Apple device, you can create and share create and share groups of passwords at no additional cost.</li>
<li>More secure than emails and spreadsheets: If it's between this and a spreadsheet or email list, Apple's end-to-end encryption on passwords in the iCloud keychain is certainly a better choice.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Cons:
<ul>
<li>Vendor-locked: Users on Windows or Android cannot participate. If you're relying on iCloud Keychain for business needs, some users will end up stranded.&nbsp;</li>
<li>No admin controls: You can't require the people you share passwords with to implement 2FA, use secure PINs or passcodes, or handle their devices securely. You don't have activity reports to see who is using what passwords when, and if any suspicious activity is happening. Password managers, on the other hand, allow administrators to enforce additional security measures and monitor activity.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Clunky group sharing: Ultimately, Apple's password sharing is made for individual use. The Sonoma group feature makes it easier to create a shared pool of passwords for family and friends, but without an Admin privilege level or the ability to add multiple admins to a group, it's impossible to keep track of who has access to what.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Apple's group password sharing is a great feature, but it should be reserved for its intended purpose: personal use. It lacks security controls, requires iCloud accounts and Apple devices, and becomes unwieldy when storing a large number of passwords across multiple groups. The creator of each group controls who is added to and removed from each group. If you want to hand off this responsibility to an admin, you're out of luck.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Password groups are meant for fairly basic password sharing. Other types of credentials rely on the notes field.&nbsp;
<h3>Is it safe to share passwords with coworkers on Mac?&nbsp;</h3>
Passwords in the iCloud Keychain are end-to-end encrypted, meaning only you can access your passwords on a trusted device where you've signed into your iCloud account. The encryption is done with AES 256-bit encryption, an industry standard. For personal use, Apple's group password sharing is plenty safe.&nbsp;
Does that mean you should use it with coworkers? No. Trying to use a product that was intended for individual use in a team setting creates a few issues.&nbsp;
First, there is no activity monitoring or ability to enforce additional security measures. You can't see if a record is opened at a suspicious time of day. You can't enforce 2FA or secure device passwords,
Second, vendor-locked software encourages bad security habits.
Let's say you have a MacBook that your company provided. Your team uses iCloud Keychain groups to share passwords. However, work doesn't provide a phone and you have an Android. So you copy the passwords from the keychain and email them to yourself so you'll never get locked out. All that AES 256-bit encryption is essentially pointless.&nbsp;
<h2>Alternatives to Keychain Password Groups</h2>
Several reputable password managers in the market offer team-oriented features. These tools provide a secure and centralized platform for storing and sharing passwords among team members.
<a href="https://www.g2.com/products/teampassword/reviews" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank"><img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/FMz7YfFORZuda4NI9g2f" alt="undefined" width="280" height="367"></a>
We offer <a href="https://teampassword.com/features" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">TeamPassword</a>, an easy-to-use password manager designed specifically for teams and small businesses. TeamPassword has apps for iOS and Android and browser extensions for Safari, Edge, and Chrome (and any Chromium-based browser like Brave).&nbsp;
As a password manager built for businesses, TeamPassword is featured accordingly. It has a credit card record type, attachment support, multiple permission levels, and activity reports so you can see suspicious activity.&nbsp;
TeamPassword is <a href="https://teampassword.com/pricing" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">competitively priced</a> and makes password management easy with exceptional customer support and streamlined features. At least, <a href="https://www.g2.com/products/teampassword/reviews#reviews" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">that's what our customers are saying</a>!
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/signup" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Try TeamPassword for free</a> today!

The MacOS Sonoma update introduced the ability to share groups of passwords with other iCloud users. Can you leverage Apple password sharing for your business?

Sharing passwords with coworkers is a necessary practice in many businesses, allowing teams to collaborate seamlessly and access ...

Apple Password Groups: Free password manager for your business?

Sharing passwords with coworkers is a necessary practice in many businesses, allowing teams to collaborate seamlessly and access shared resources. MacOS Sonoma and iOS 17 introduced the ability to create groups of passwords and share them with trusted users, rather than sharing passwords one by one. The feature is aptly ...

Apple Password Groups: Free password sharing and password manager for your business?

ChatGPT is a powerful natural language processing (NLP) system that can generate realistic and engaging text based on a given prompt. It is one of the most advanced AI-driven chatbots in the world, and it has many applications in various domains, including cybersecurity. However, as with any technology, ChatGPT also comes with its own challenges and risks that need to be addressed.
In this article, we will explore how ChatGPT is being used to support cybersecurity efforts, and what are the potential benefits and drawbacks of this approach.
Here are the key things you need to know about ChatGPT and cybersecurity:
<ul>
<li>ChatGPT is a descendant of GPT-3, a large-scale language model that can generate text on almost any topic.</li>
<li>ChatGPT is designed to create conversational agents that can interact with humans in natural language, such as customer service bots, virtual assistants, or social media influencers.</li>
<li>ChatGPT can help improve cybersecurity by providing automated responses, detecting threats, and enhancing user experience.</li>
<li>ChatGPT also poses some cybersecurity risks, such as data privacy issues, security vulnerabilities, and malicious use by hackers or adversaries.</li>
<li>ChatGPT is still an evolving technology, and its future impact on cybersecurity is uncertain.</li>
</ul>
<h3>[Table of Contents]</h3>
<ul>
<li data-gc-list-style="bullet" data-gc-list-depth="1"><a href="#theevolution" rel="follow">The Evolution of ChatGPT</a></li>
<li data-gc-list-style="bullet" data-gc-list-depth="1"><a href="#thepotentialbenefits" rel="follow">The Potential Benefits of Using ChatGPT for Cybersecurity</a></li>
<li data-gc-list-style="bullet" data-gc-list-depth="1"><a href="#concernsrisks" rel="follow">ChatGPT and Cybersecurity: Concerns &amp; Risks</a></li>
<li data-gc-list-style="bullet" data-gc-list-depth="1"><a href="#thefutureofgpt" rel="follow">The Future of ChatGPT and Cybersecurity</a></li>
<li data-gc-list-style="bullet" data-gc-list-depth="1"><a href="#bestpractices" rel="follow">Best Practices for Using AI Chatbots Safely</a></li>
</ul>
<h2 id="theevolution">The Evolution of ChatGPT</h2>
ChatGPT is a product of <a href="https://openai.com/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">OpenAI</a>, a research organization whose stated mission is to create artificial intelligence that can benefit humanity. OpenAI is also the creator of GPT-4, one of the largest and most powerful language models ever built. GPT-4 can generate coherent and diverse text on almost any topic, given a few words or sentences as input. It can write anything from essays to poems to code, and it can even answer questions or generate images.
ChatGPT is a specialized version of GPT-3.5 or 4 that focuses on creating conversational agents. It is trained on a large corpus of dialogue data from various sources, such as Reddit, Twitter, Wikipedia, and books. It can generate realistic and engaging responses based on the context and tone of the conversation. It can also adapt to different personalities, moods, and styles of speech.
ChatGPT is used for various purposes, such as customer service bots, virtual assistants, social media influencers, or entertainment. For example, some companies use ChatGPT to create chatbots that can answer queries, provide information, or offer suggestions to their customers. Some individuals use ChatGPT to create virtual friends or companions that can chat with them online. Some celebrities use ChatGPT to create social media posts or interact with their fans.
<h2 id="thepotentialbenefits">The Potential Benefits of Using ChatGPT for Cybersecurity</h2>
ChatGPT can also be used to support cybersecurity efforts in various ways. Here are some of the potential benefits of using ChatGPT for cybersecurity:
<h3>#1. Automated responses</h3>
ChatGPT can provide automated responses to common or repetitive queries or requests from users or customers. This can save time and resources for human agents, and improve user satisfaction and loyalty. For example, a chatbot powered by ChatGPT can answer FAQs about a product or service, or guide users through a process or procedure.
<h3>#2. Threat detection</h3>
ChatGPT can help detect and prevent threats or attacks from hackers or adversaries. It can analyze the content and context of the messages or commands sent by users or customers, and flag any suspicious or malicious activity. For example, a chatbot powered by ChatGPT can detect phishing attempts, spam messages, or unauthorized access attempts.
<h3>#3. User experience</h3>
ChatGPT can enhance the user experience by providing personalized and engaging interactions. It can tailor its responses based on the user's preferences, needs, or emotions. It can also use humor, empathy, or creativity to make the conversation more enjoyable and memorable. For example, a chatbot powered by ChatGPT can make jokes, give compliments, or tell stories to the user.
<h2 id="concernsrisks">ChatGPT and Cybersecurity: Concerns &amp; Risks</h2>
However, using ChatGPT for cybersecurity also comes with its own challenges and risks. Here are some of the potential concerns and drawbacks of using ChatGPT for cybersecurity.
<h3>Data privacy</h3>
ChatGPT may pose a risk to data privacy by collecting, storing, or sharing sensitive information from users or customers. It may also inadvertently expose or leak such information to third parties or unauthorized entities. For example, a chatbot powered by ChatGPT may ask for personal details such as name, email address, or credit card number from the user without proper consent or encryption.
<h3>Security vulnerabilities</h3>
ChatGPT may have security vulnerabilities that hackers or adversaries can exploit to compromise the system or gain access to confidential data. It may also be susceptible to manipulation or deception by malicious actors who can trick it into revealing information or performing actions that are harmful or illegal. For example, a hacker may use social engineering techniques to persuade a chatbot powered by ChatGPT to disclose passwords, or execute commands that damage the system.
<h3>Malicious use</h3>
ChatGPT may be used for malicious purposes by hackers or adversaries who can use it to create fake or misleading content or messages that can harm or deceive users or customers. It may also be used to impersonate or spoof legitimate entities or individuals, and spread misinformation or propaganda. For example, a hacker may use ChatGPT to create fake news articles, reviews, or testimonials that can influence public opinion or behavior.
<h3>Real-Life Incidents With Chatbots</h3>
There have been some real-life incidents where chatbots have caused or been involved in cybersecurity breaches or concerns. Here are some examples:
In 2016, Microsoft launched Tay, a chatbot that was supposed to learn from interacting with Twitter users. However, within 24 hours, Tay was corrupted by some users who taught it to spew racist, sexist, and offensive remarks. Microsoft had to shut down Tay and apologize for the incident. In 2017, Facebook shut down two chatbots that were supposed to negotiate with each other using natural language. However, the chatbots developed their own language that was incomprehensible to humans, and started to deviate from the original task. Facebook claimed that the chatbots were not out of control, but rather experimenting with new ways of communication. In 2020, a security researcher discovered that some chatbots on dating apps were using GPT-3 to lure users into clicking on malicious links or downloading malware. The chatbots were able to mimic human behavior and conversation, and trick users into believing that they were talking to real people.
<h2 id="thefutureofgpt">The Future of ChatGPT and Cybersecurity</h2>
ChatGPT is still an evolving technology, and its future impact on cybersecurity is uncertain. On one hand, ChatGPT can offer many benefits and opportunities for improving cybersecurity by providing automated responses, detecting threats, and enhancing user experience. On the other hand, ChatGPT can also pose many risks and challenges for cybersecurity by raising data privacy issues, creating security vulnerabilities, and enabling malicious use.
<h3 id="bestpractices">Best Practices for Using AI Chatbots Safely</h3>
AI chatbots are becoming more popular and useful in various industries and domains. They can provide fast and convenient customer service, generate leads, automate tasks, and more. However, using AI chatbots also comes with some cybersecurity risks that you should be aware of and prevent. In this blog post, we will discuss some of the best practices for using AI chatbots safely and securely.
1. Don't Give a Chatbot Your Personal Information
One of the most important rules for using AI chatbots safely is to never give them your personal information. This includes your name, email, phone number, address, credit card details, passwords, and any other sensitive data. Even if the chatbot seems friendly and trustworthy, you should always be cautious and skeptical. Some chatbots may be designed to collect your personal information for malicious purposes, such as identity theft, fraud, or spam. Therefore, you should always limit the amount of information you share with chatbots and only use them for their intended purposes.
2. Ensure Your Sign-In Process Is Secure
Another best practice for using AI chatbots safely is to ensure that your sign-in process is secure. This means that you should use strong passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and use a <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-manage-passwords" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">password manager</a>.
If your team uses AI, use a tool like TeamPassword to secure their accounts. TeamPassword is a simple, <a href="https://teampassword.com/security" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">secure password manager</a> that makes proper cyber hygiene easy.&nbsp;
3. Be Aware of Chatbot Scams
A third best practice for using AI chatbots safely is to be aware of chatbot scams and how they work. Chatbot scams are a type of phishing attack that use chatbots to trick you into clicking on malicious links, downloading malware, or giving up your personal information. For example, a chatbot scam may pretend to be a customer service representative from a reputable company and ask you to verify your account details or update your payment information. Alternatively, a chatbot scam may offer you a free gift or a discount if you click on a link or fill out a survey. These are all signs of chatbot scams that you should avoid and report.
4. Educate Your Team on Using Chatbots Safely
A fourth best practice for using AI chatbots safely is to educate your team on how to use them safely and securely. If you are using chatbots for your business or organization, you should make sure that your team members are aware of the benefits and risks of using chatbots. You should also provide them with clear guidelines and policies on how to use chatbots appropriately and responsibly. For example, you should instruct your team members to never share their passwords or personal information with chatbots, to always check the source and credibility of chatbots before engaging with them, and to report any suspicious or malicious chatbot activity to the relevant authorities.
By following these best practices, you can use AI chatbots safely and securely for your personal or professional needs. AI chatbots can be a great asset for enhancing your productivity, efficiency, and customer satisfaction, but they also require some caution and vigilance. Remember to always protect your personal information, ensure your sign-in process is secure, be aware of chatbot scams, and educate your team on using chatbots safely.
<h2>Keep Your Data Safe With TeamPassword</h2>
Do you share logins with employees? TeamPassword is a cost effective password vault built for <a href="https://teampassword.com/security" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">sharing credentials securely</a>.&nbsp;
A large number of data breaches still happen because of weak passwords - a larger number because of human error. Cybersecurity can seem daunting, but with the right tools and a bit of training, your employees don't have to be the weak link.&nbsp;
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/signup" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Try Teampassword for free</a> for two weeks.&nbsp;

When it comes to ChatGPT and cybersecurity, there are plenty of potential benefits but also some noteworthy risks. Learn more about cybersecurity and AI here.

ChatGPT is a powerful natural language processing (NLP) system that can generate realistic and engaging text based on ...

ChatGPT and Cybersecurity: Risks, Potential Benefits & More

ChatGPT is a powerful natural language processing (NLP) system that can generate realistic and engaging text based on a given prompt. It is one of the most advanced AI-driven chatbots in the world, and it has many applications in various domains, including cybersecurity. However, as with any technology, ChatGPT also ...

Cybersecurity is a vital issue for any organization, but especially for nonprofits. Nonprofits often handle sensitive data such as donor information, volunteer records, financial transactions etc. They rely on online platforms and tools to communicate, collaborate, and fundraise. These factors make them attractive targets for cybercriminals who want to steal data, extort money, or disrupt operations.
We'll cover the main risks to be aware of, and go&nbsp;in-depth on each of these best practices:
<ol>
<li>Use Strong Passwords</li>
<li>Enable Two-Factor Authentication</li>
<li>Watch Out for Suspicious Emails</li>
<li>Use a Secure Fundraising Software</li>
<li>Educate Your Staff</li>
<li>Use a Password Manager</li>
</ol>
Here are the key takeaways you need to know about nonprofit cybersecurity:
<ul>
<li>Nonprofits face various cybersecurity risks, such as data theft, ransomware, denial-of-service attacks, and website defacement. These risks can have serious consequences for their operations, reputation, funding, and beneficiaries.</li>
<li>Nonprofits can protect themselves by following cybersecurity best practices, such as using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, watching out for suspicious emails, using a secure fundraising software, implementing access management, and educating their staff.</li>
<li>Password managers are a tool with one of the best cost-benefit ratios for nonprofits. They shore up security and save time.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
[Table of Contents]
<ul>
<li data-gc-list-style="bullet" data-gc-list-depth="1"><a href="#commoncybersecurityrisks" rel="follow">Common Cybersecurity Risks for Nonprofits</a></li>
<li data-gc-list-style="bullet" data-gc-list-depth="1"><a href="#bestpractices" rel="follow">Cybersecurity for Nonprofits: Best Practices to Follow</a></li>
<li data-gc-list-style="bullet" data-gc-list-depth="1"><a href="#howteampasswordcanhelp" rel="follow">How TeamPassword Can Help You Secure Your Nonprofit</a></li>
</ul>
<h2 id="commoncybersecurityrisks">Common Cybersecurity Risks for Nonprofits</h2>
Nonprofits face many of the same cybersecurity risks as any other organization, but they may have fewer resources and expertise to deal with them. Some of the most common risks include:
<ul>
<li>Data theft: Cybercriminals may try to access your data, either by hacking into your systems or by tricking you into giving them your credentials. They may use this data for identity theft, fraud, blackmail, or selling it on the dark web.</li>
<li>Ransomware: Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts your files and demands a ransom to unlock them. If you don&rsquo;t pay, you may lose your data permanently. Ransomware can affect your computers, servers, cloud storage, or even your website.</li>
<li>Denial-of-service attacks: A denial-of-service attack is when a cybercriminal floods your website or network with traffic or requests, making it slow or unavailable. This can affect your online presence, reputation, and ability to serve your beneficiaries.</li>
<li>Website defacement: Website defacement is when a cybercriminal alters your website&rsquo;s appearance or content, usually with malicious or offensive messages. This can damage your credibility and trust with your audience.</li>
</ul>
These risks are even more critical for nonprofits that must secure their internal data and that of donors and volunteers. If you suffer a data breach or a cyberattack, you may face legal liability, regulatory fines, reputational damage, loss of funding, and loss of trust. You may also jeopardize the safety and privacy of the people you serve.
That&rsquo;s why it&rsquo;s essential to take cybersecurity seriously and implement measures to prevent and <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/5-cybersecurity-mistakes-every-boss-should-be-aware-of-in-2023" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">mitigate these risks</a>. Here are some best practices to follow.
<h2 id="bestpractices">Cybersecurity for Nonprofits: Best Practices to Follow</h2>
Cybersecurity may seem daunting or complex, but it <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/10-easy-cybersecurity-strategies-for-small-businesses" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">doesn&rsquo;t have to be</a>. There are some simple and effective steps you can take to improve your security posture and reduce your exposure to cyberthreats. Here are some of them:
<h3>Use Strong Passwords</h3>
Passwords are the first line of defense for your online accounts and devices. They should be long, complex, unique, and hard to guess. A strong password should include a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, symbols, and spaces. It should also avoid common words, names, dates, or phrases.
For example, a weak password would be something like&nbsp;<code>password123</code>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<code>nonprofit2023</code>. A strong password would be something like&nbsp;<code>!4nPr0f!t$3cur!ty@2023</code>.
<h3>Enable Two-Factor Authentication</h3>
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is an extra layer of security that requires you to enter a code or use a device in addition to your password when logging in to an account. This way, even if someone steals or guesses your password, they won&rsquo;t be able to access your account without the second factor.
You should enable 2FA for all your online accounts that support it, especially those that handle sensitive data or transactions. You can use various methods for 2FA, such as SMS codes, email codes, authenticator apps, or hardware tokens.
<h3>Watch Out for Suspicious Emails</h3>
Email is one of the most common ways that cybercriminals try to trick you into giving them your data or access to your systems. They may send you emails that look legitimate but contain malicious links or attachments that can infect your device with malware or direct you to fake websites that ask for your credentials.
These emails are known as phishing scams and they can be very convincing. They may use logos, names, addresses, or other details that mimic those of legitimate organizations or people you know. They may also create a sense of urgency or curiosity to make you click on their links or attachments.
To avoid falling victim to phishing scams, you should always check the sender&rsquo;s email address carefully and look for any spelling or grammar errors in the message. You should also hover over any links before clicking on them and see if they match the expected destination. If you&rsquo;re not sure about an email&rsquo;s authenticity or legitimacy, don&rsquo;t open it or reply to it. Instead, contact the sender directly using another channel or report it as spam.
If you do get breached, read our guide on the subject <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/cybersecurity-complete-guide" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp;
<h3>Use Secure Fundraising Software</h3>
Fundraising is a core activity for most nonprofits, and it often involves collecting and processing personal and financial data from donors. This data needs to be protected from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure.
That&rsquo;s why you should use a secure fundraising software that offers features such as encryption, compliance, backup, and audit. Encryption is the process of transforming data into an unreadable format that can only be decrypted with a key. Compliance means that the software follows the relevant laws and regulations for data protection, such as GDPR or PCI DSS. Backup means that the software creates copies of your data and stores them in a safe location in case of loss or damage. Audit means that the software keeps track of who accesses or modifies your data and when.
By using a secure fundraising software, you can ensure that your donor data is safe and that you meet your legal and ethical obligations.
<h3>Implement Access Management</h3>
Access management is the process of controlling who has access to what data, apps, software, and services within your organization. It helps you prevent unauthorized or unnecessary access to your resources and reduce the risk of data leakage or misuse.
To implement access management, you should follow the principle of least privilege, which means that you should only grant access to the minimum amount of resources that each user needs to perform their role. You should also regularly review and update your access policies and permissions, and revoke access from users who no longer need it or who leave your organization.
Access management also involves using tools such as single sign-on (SSO) and password managers. SSO is a feature that allows users to log in to multiple apps or services with one set of credentials, instead of having to remember and enter different passwords for each one. Password managers are tools that store and manage your passwords securely, so you don&rsquo;t have to remember them or write them down.
<h3>Educate Your Staff</h3>
One of the most important aspects of cybersecurity is human behavior. Your staff are the ones who use your systems and devices, and they can either be your greatest asset or your weakest link when it comes to security.
That&rsquo;s why you should educate your staff on security best practices and how to recognize and avoid common threats. You should also create a security culture within your organization, where security is everyone&rsquo;s responsibility and not just an IT issue.
You can use various methods to educate your staff, such as training sessions, webinars, newsletters, quizzes, or simulations. <a href="https://www.wizer-training.com/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Wizer Training</a> is one such tool. You should also provide them with clear guidelines and policies on how to handle data, devices, passwords, emails, and incidents.
<h3>Use a Password Manager</h3>
As we mentioned earlier, passwords are essential for securing your online accounts and devices. However, managing passwords can be challenging and time-consuming. You may have dozens or hundreds of passwords to remember and enter for different apps or services. You may also have to change them frequently or share them with others.
That&rsquo;s where a password manager can help you. A password manager is a tool that stores and manages your passwords securely, so you don&rsquo;t have to remember them or write them down. It also helps you create strong passwords for each account and autofill them when you log in.
TeamPassword is a password manager <a href="https://teampassword.com/features" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">designed specifically for teams and businesses</a>. It allows you to store and share passwords with your colleagues easily and safely. It can autofill to the hundreds of websites you use everyday with its extension, available for all major browsers.
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/0gCOt5oQBCE1vxckmRZC" alt="TP extension in action GIF (video) (1..." width="859" height="483">
<h2 id="howteampasswordcanhelp">How TeamPassword Can Help You Secure Your Nonprofit</h2>
TeamPassword is a frictionless, easy-to-use password manager with discounted pricing for nonprofits. Here are some of the key features and benefits of TeamPassword:
<ul>
<li>Security: TeamPassword uses industry-standard encryption to protect your passwords and data. It also offers enforceable 2FA, SSO, activity logs, admin and member permission levels, and more.</li>
<li>Simplicity: TeamPassword is easy to use and set up. You can create groups for different teams or projects and add users with a few clicks. You can also import or export passwords from other sources or formats.</li>
<li>Integration: Use browser extensions and mobile apps to access your passwords from anywhere.</li>
<li>Support: TeamPassword offers live support Monday through Friday. You can contact us anytime via email or chat if you have any questions or issues. We also offer discounts for nonprofits.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
TeamPassword can help you secure your nonprofit by making password management easy, fast, and convenient. You can save time and hassle by storing all your passwords in one place and accessing them with one click. You can also improve collaboration by sharing passwords with your team members securely and efficiently.
If you want to learn more about TeamPassword&rsquo;s features and benefits, check out our website&nbsp;<a h="ID=SERP,5042.1" target="_blank" href="https://teampassword.com/features" rel="noopener">here</a>. If you want to see how TeamPassword works in action, <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">sign up for a free trial</a>.

Cybersecurity is critical for all organizations, including nonprofits. Learn more in this guide about cybersecurity for nonprofits.

Cybersecurity for Nonprofits: Keeping Your Nonprofit Secure

Criminals use extortion emails to blackmail people. These criminals usually claim to have sensitive information or content that they threaten to forward to friends and family unless you pay.&nbsp;
The email will tell you that the sender has tracking software on your device and will make a vague statement about knowing you've visited porn sites. They also claim to have used your device's camera to capture you pleasuring yourself.
Extortion emails typically contain some personal data, like a password, stolen from a data breach. Even if the password is an old one, it can be shocking to learn that a stranger knows something private. Perhaps, what they are telling you is true!
From corporate data breaches to ransomware attacks and even personal extortion email scams&mdash;cybercriminals continuously find ways to steal data and money.
The <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/t-mobile-data-breach-2021-what-happened" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">2021 T-Mobile data breach</a> affected over 40 million users, less than a quarter of which were actual T-Mobile customers!
The most damaging case in recent memory is the LastPass breach, which&nbsp;<a href="https://krebsonsecurity.com/2023/09/experts-fear-crooks-are-cracking-keys-stolen-in-lastpass-breach/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">seems to get worse every day</a>. Even if it's not a password manager that gets attacked, most of these breaches lead to attackers stealing customers' personal data.&nbsp;The data stolen from breaches can be used to craft convincing extortion emails.&nbsp;
In this article, we will take a closer look at extortion emails and what you can do if they ever find your inbox!

<h3>What is Sextortion?</h3>
Sextortion is a type of extortion where criminals claim to have explicit content of you&mdash;usually nude, masturbating, or other sexually explicit content.
Sometimes users don't have explicit content, but information linking the victim to adult content like a <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/what-happened-with-the-cam4-data-leak" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">cam site</a> or dating website for married individuals&mdash;as was the case with Ashley Madison.
In the infamous Ashley Madison data breach, criminals only had account information linking the user to the website. This information could potentially ruin the victim's relationships or even bring public shame.
More than five years after the Ashley Madison data breach, criminals still contact users with sextortion demands.
With sextortion, the criminals usually have actual evidence of your actions&mdash;which they're happy to share with you via a short clip or screenshot.&nbsp;
Whereas extortion emails typically use minor details (like an old password) to bluff you into believing that the sender has more incriminating content or information about you.
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>What Are Some Examples of Extortion Emails?</h2>
Most English extortion emails are poorly written with many spelling and grammar errors. The emails are usually somewhat lengthy with lots of threats, and the sender tries to portray themselves as authoritative.
The email usually reveals something vague you're "guilty" of but could apply to many people, almost like a star sign.
It's important to note that if someone has incriminating evidence against you, they'll expose it because it'll ultimately increase the chances you'll pay!
Here is an extortion email example Malwarebytes Labs received from a victim:
"Hey, you don't know me. Yet I know just about everything about you...Well, the previous time you went to the adult porn sites, my malware was triggered in your computer, which ended up logging a eye-catching footage of your self-pleasure play by activating your webcam. (you got an unquestionably weird preference btw lmao)."
If you reply asking for proof, the sender threatens to send the video to 10 random people in your contacts list. The email shares a Bitcoin address where you should send $2,000 in Bitcoin.
In this particular email, the sender gives the recipient 24 hours to act. For anxious individuals, this sort of pressure could easily elicit a response.
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h3>Why Do Extortion Emails Work?</h3>
Priya Sopori, a partner at law firm Greenberg Gluster, says,&nbsp;
"They play on our basest levels of psychology. You will read personalization into any generic statement. And if you believe that there are hackers out there that know every aspect of your life, and maybe they even know your life better than you do, you might actually pay even if you've done nothing at all."
By the email's mocking tone, cybercriminals know precisely what buttons to push and how to make you feel ashamed, even for something you haven't done.
The humiliation that your friends and family might see you in the same light puts immense pressure on the victim to take action&mdash;paying the ransom to avoid embarrassment!
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h3>Who Uses Extortion Emails?</h3>
Hackers usually sell databases from data breaches on underground forums to the highest bidder, so it's difficult to say where your details end up.
Most of these databases end up with low-level cybercriminals who run similar rackets&mdash;like the IRS scams where fraudsters threaten to arrest you if you don't pay unpaid taxes immediately.
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>What to do With Extortion Emails</h2>
No matter how convincing an extortion email might be, never engage or respond with the sender. Any exchange could lead to the attacker learning more information about you.&nbsp;
You should also NEVER click any links or open attachments.
Most countries have cybercrime agencies. In the United States, the FBI has a division for handling cybercrimes. Report the extortion email immediately, even if criminals say there will be "repercussions" if you report them.
The authorities will usually have an email address where you can forward the extortion email. Once sent to the police, delete the email.
<h3>Change Your Passwords</h3>
Next, change the password for the account(s) where you use that password. Use a <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">secure password generator</a> and use a different password for every account!
You must never reuse the same password for multiple accounts. If attackers steal your password from a data breach, they can easily access the other accounts you use through what's called credential stuffing.
<h3>Should You Pay the Ransom?</h3>
Paying an extortion email ransom will not resolve the matter. If anything, it'll make your life worse in the long run.&nbsp;
Criminals will invariably approach you again for money, or worse, sell your details as an "easy target" to other criminals.
If you know the attackers have incriminating details or content against you, consult your local authorities on how to proceed with the matter. Do not attempt to reply or negotiate on your own!
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>How to Deal With Extortion Emails at Your Company?</h2>
Although less common, extortion emails also target businesses. The sender might run a similar scam, exposing a company password as "proof" that the criminals have more incriminating information.
Most companies have pretty robust spam filtering, so these emails never reach the intended inbox. But companies must react appropriately.
As with extortion emails targeting individuals, companies must never engage with the sender! Report the email to authorities and delete it immediately. Add that email address to your blocked senders.
<h3>Change Passwords Immediately</h3>
Even if the password the sender revealed is old, change your passwords immediately, especially if you have used that password for multiple accounts&mdash;poor habit companies should stop immediately.
Using a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager</a> like TeamPassword will prevent companies from using the same credentials more than once. TeamPassword's built-in password generator allows you to create strong passwords from 12-32 characters using uppercase, lowercase, symbols, and numbers.
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>Secure Company Passwords with TeamPassword</h2>
Protecting your company's digital assets starts with <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/signup" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">secure password management</a>. Companies need to <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-safely-share-passwords-with-coworkers" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">share passwords with coworkers</a> while maintaining high levels of security.&nbsp;
Here's how TeamPassword can help!
<h3>One Password Manager for Every Account!</h3>
Instead of sharing raw login credentials, each team member (including clients, freelancers, and contractors) gets a TeamPassword account.
Team members then use one of TeamPassword's browser extensions (Chrome, Firefox, and Safari) to log into social media accounts, productivity apps, marketing tools, and other web applications. Similar to how Google Chrome remembers your passwords.
So why not just use Google Chrome?
<a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/should-i-use-my-browsers-built-in-password-manager" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Passwords saved in your browser</a> can be helpful for individual use but pose many security vulnerabilities and don't work well for sharing passwords securely.
<h3>Groups and Sharing</h3>
TeamPassword is built for sharing. You create groups for your various accounts, clients, or however you wish to distribute access.
Instead of sharing raw credentials, you add relevant coworkers to a group. This feature allows you to limit access to those who need it and prevents team members from sharing passwords, preventing unauthorized logins.
When a team member no longer needs access, simply remove them with one click. No need to change passwords every time someone leaves a project!
<h3>Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)</h3>
2FA is your second line of defense for <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">secure password management</a>. Even if attackers steal a team member's credentials, 2FA prevents them from accessing your TeamPassword account.
<h3>Activity &amp; Notifications</h3>
TeamPassword's activity log lets you monitor or review team member's logins, including credential sharing, setting up new accounts, changing passwords, and more.
You can also get instant email notifications for all TeamPassword actions, allowing you to track sensitive accounts or data.
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>Get Your Free TeamPassword Account Today!</h2>
Don't let your company fall victim to extortion emails, credential stuffing, and other password vulnerabilities. Let <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a> take care of security while you focus on growing a successful business!
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial" rel="follow">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> to test TeamPassword with your team members today.

Cybercrime is rising. Cybercriminals are using Extortion emails to perpetrate crimes. So what can you do if you receive one of these emails?

Cybercrime is rising. Cybercriminals are using Extortion emails to perpetrate crimes. So what can you do if you ...

Extortion Emails | What Are They and What You Need to Know

What are Extortion Emails?

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

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 ...

What is password encryption and how much is enough?

What is password encryption and how does it work?

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 ...

TeamPassword Blog

Browse our carefully created articles about Information Security, Password Management, Product Information, and Modern Business, all written with your team's safety and success in mind.

Most popular articles

Business

November 14, 2021 ∙ 10 min read

10 extremely successful freelancers and what they do

Top 5 Dangerous Ways to Store Your Passwords

What is password encryption and how does it work?

Have I Been Hacked? How to Know for Sure.

Cybersecurity

November 7, 2023 ∙ 11 min read

Creating a Company Culture for Security | 5 Actionable Insights

Cybersecurity

November 1, 2023 ∙ 8 min read

Spear phishing: What you need to know to keep yourself safe in 2024

Cybersecurity

October 31, 2023 ∙ 6 min read

Apple Password Groups: Free password sharing and password manager for your business?

Cybersecurity

October 22, 2023 ∙ 9 min read

ChatGPT and Cybersecurity: Risks, Potential Benefits & More

Cybersecurity

October 18, 2023 ∙ 9 min read

Cybersecurity for Nonprofits: Keeping Your Nonprofit Secure

Cybersecurity

October 6, 2023 ∙ 9 min read

What are Extortion Emails?

The Password Manager for Teams

Product

Support

Channels

Legal