The only thing between malicious hackers and all your personal, sensitive information is one password. If that password isn’t strong, you can become a victim of credit card fraud or identity theft.  But coming up with new passwords isn’t always easy.  We’ve put together this guide to show you some common mistakes that result in bad passwords and how to avoid them, so let’s get started! Including Your Name (Or Part of Your Name)  It can be tempting to put your name in your password because it’s easy to remember. It also happens to be a common password habit, which makes it easy for hackers to guess. Because of this, you should keep your name (and the names of your family members, friends, and pets) out of your passwords.  Choosing Characters That Are in Succession on Your Keyboard  You might think choosing a character pattern on your keyboard is a clever trick. It’s a bunch of random letters, but you’ll never forget it because you can see it every time you look at your keyboard.  Think again.  Keyboard patterns, such as 123456 and qwerty, are some of the most common passwords out there. They also hold the record for the internet’s most vulnerable passwords. Unless you want to leave all your personal information at risk, never use this type of password, not even for a temporary placeholder.  Using Important Numbers  Just like the names of loved ones, important numbers are easy for hackers to guess, as well. You should keep the following things out of your passwords:  Birthdays  Phone numbers  Addresses  Social security numbers Etc.  It is especially dangerous to use any part of your social security number in your passwords. If hackers get their hands on it, you’ll find yourself dealing with even bigger problems.  Making It the Same as Your Login Information  If you have to think of a password quickly and don’t have any ideas, you might decide to retype the username or other login information you used for the account.  This creates a huge risk.  If hackers get your login information (which is much easier than figuring out your password), they’ll suddenly have access to your entire account. Your login information is also one of the first things they’ll try when attempting to decode your password.  Keeping Them Short and Simple  The shorter the password, the weaker it is. You should always do your best to make your passwords as long as possible. The ideal length is 12 to 16 characters, and you should avoid anything under eight characters.  Putting “Password” as Your Password  There’s no other way to say it. This simply isn’t a smart choice. Using the word “password” for your password is one of the easiest passwords for hackers to crack. When you combine that with the fact that it’s one of the most used passwords on the internet, you’re basically asking for someone to take your information.  Only Have a Few Passwords You Use on Repeat  The average internet user has about 90 online accounts. That’s far too many passwords to remember.  However, you should avoid creating a few passwords (no matter how strong they are) and using them on repeat. If a hacker figures out just one of these passwords, they suddenly have access to a large number of your accounts.  Always do your best to have as many passwords as possible (we’ll talk more about a safe way to store them all below so you don’ have to try to remember each one).  Sticking to Lowercase Letters  It’s a lot easier for hackers to guess passwords that are all lowercase. Because of this, you should always add a few random uppercase characters, numbers, and other symbols. Even mixing up just a few characters will make the entire password much more secure.  Writing Them Down or Storing Them on Your Device  Since you have so many passwords, you probably have a list of them all written out somewhere along with what account they go to. Even worse, you might store this list on your device itself.  This is a bad idea.  If someone hacks into your computer, it will be a piece of cake for them to find your Rosetta Stone and break into all your accounts. Keeping the list on paper is better, but it can still be easily lost or stolen.  Expecting yourself to remember them all isn’t reliable either. So what are you supposed to do instead? Sign up for a password manager. These will keep all your passwords in a secure vault, which is extremely difficult (even impossible) for other people to open. You can get a password manager for free, and it is a safer option than any alternative.  Saving Your Passwords on Your Browser  Many browsers give you an option to save your login credentials. This makes logging in quick and easy, but it also gives anyone else who uses your device access to your accounts. Because of this, you should especially avoid choosing this option on mobile devices you leave the house with. Sharing Your Them With Others  Never share your passwords with anyone else, even your friends. Unless you trust that person completely, you should keep your passwords to yourself. This will make you and your information much, much safer.  How to Turn a Bad Password Into Strong Security  If you want to get rid of all your bad passwords, you have to stop using these unsecured password habits first. The best way to do that is to create randomized passwords and use a password manager to help you remember them.  Do you have questions or concerns about our password manager? Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us! We’ll explain anything you want to know in detail and help you pick the best security method for your needs. 

Did you know the biggest data breach in history by a hacker compromised over 3 billion people? Hacking is a growing problem in a world that’s becoming increasingly digital. How worried should you be? The good news is that preventing hackers from stealing your data is just a matter of finding the right software. Who Are Hackers? Simply put, a hacker is someone who uses computers to gain unauthorized access to information. They tend to steal passwords to obtain credit card and banking information. They usually do a good job at concealing their identity and location throughout the process. They know how to manipulate computer systems and traditional tracking methods, which makes them very difficult to catch. That’s why preventing hackers by securing your password is such an effective way to protect yourself. Why Do People Hack? Hackers can have very different motives. You can get a good sense of the reasons people hack by learning about the different types of hackers there are. Some of the reasons people hack include stealing money and information, harassment, and revenge. Types of Hackers There are many different types of hackers out there. Some of the different types of hackers include: black hat white hat grey hat red hat green hat blue hat Black hat hackers are hackers with a devious agenda. Their ultimate goal is to steal information to make money. Sometimes they steal information and then sell it on the black market to others, who then use that information to continue stealing resources. White hat hackers are the polar opposite: they use their savvy computer skills to fix security issues. White hat hackers use their knowledge to find risky areas in computer systems and work on solutions to make them more secure. Grey hat hackers fall somewhere in between black hat and white hat hackers. They have the same skill set, but their motive tends to be driven by the entertainment value they find in hacking. Red hat hackers are viewed as more heroic since their mission is to stop black hackers from wreaking havoc on the general population. Green hat hackers are new to hacking. They are still learning how to gain access to passwords and computer systems. Blue hat hackers use their hacking skills to seek revenge against a person or a business that has wronged them in some way. Cyber Crimes Cyber crime is a criminal activity that uses computers as a tool in some way to break the law. Preventing hackers from accessing your information will also prevent a range of cybercrimes from being committed. There is a range of different cyber crimes that hackers can commit, including identity theft, phishing, cyberstalking, and social engineering.  Identity theft is a very common cyber crime committed by hackers. Identity theft occurs when a hacker gains access to personal information. They use personal information for different purposes, such as opening up bank accounts or credit cards in their victim’s names. Phishing is another tactic that hackers use. Hackers employ phishing by sending emails to victims that entice them to click links. Once clicked, hackers gain access to the victim’s computer system and comb through sensitive information to steal data.  Cyberstalking can take different forms, but it usually entails harassment through email, social media accounts, and other online channels. The contact initiated is usually strange and unpleasant. Some victims may not even realize they’re being stalked. Social engineering is a way that hackers access their victim’s personal information. The hackers in this scenario tend to trick their victims into divulging personal information that gives hackers access to confidential data. With so many different ways to get hacked, preventing hackers is more important than ever. How to Know You’re Hacked If your personal information has been compromised by a hacker, how can you know for sure? One of the clearest signs you’ve been hacked is if you can no longer login to your accounts using your username and password. This most likely means that a hacker retrieved this information and locked you out of your own account. If you’re locked out of your account, one of the first things you should do is notify the company that owns your account. Businesses have policies on how to handle these situations and usually have a way to guide you back to access. There may be a different process for account recovery and the timeline it will take from business to business.  Preventing Hackers In today’s age, preventing hackers is something you should be proactive about. If you wait until you’re already hacked, it’s too late. One of the best ways to prevent hackers is through password protection software. When hackers get access to your password, they can easily block you out of your account, make purchases, and worse. Password protection software can keep your password safe and guard your personal information against being compromised. Stay Safe Online Our lives will only become more intertwined with the digital world over time. As world markets continue to make this transition, it’s more important than ever to stay safe online. Preventing hackers should be a top priority for everyone. If you’re looking to secure your personal information and safeguard your data from hackers, you should invest in password and identity protection software. Reach out and get in touch with us to let us know how we can help you. If you found any of these tips useful, feel free to explore the rest of our site for more information about the services we provide.

Small business owners too often think that they are immune to cyberattacks. After all, it’s the international conglomerates that make the news when their databases are compromised, not the mom-and-pop insurance agency down the street.   However, hackers are actively targeting small businesses because they typically have far less sophisticated digital protection in place. You don’t want to make the mistake of thinking that it can’t happen to you. Instead, be proactive and take action. You can begin by understanding seven types of cyber threats that digitally steal and vandalize small businesses just like yours. 1. Easy Passwords  Each year there’s a list published of the year’s worst passwords. Perennial winners (actually, losers) include such clunkers as “password” and “1234567.”   Routinely, employees ignore the counsel not to use passwords that include personal data that are readily available such as birthdates, graduation dates, wedding dates, names of family members, names of pets, street addresses, and telephone numbers.   Employees also make the mistake of using the same password for multiple accounts. Hackers know that if they can crack your password for your social media account, they can probably use that same password for your sensitive business accounts.  More and more companies are now employing password management systems that enforce the use of safer passwords and can even eliminate the need for employers to remember and reenter their passwords each day. 2. Phishing  Daily small businesses receive emails from what appears to be legitimate wholesalers, retailers, insurance companies, legal offices, and almost anything else imaginable. The emails are carefully designed to imitate the look and style of actual companies. They can even appear to be emails from your own company.  GoDaddy controversially emailed its employees a phishing test. The phony email had the overall look of a legitimate GoDaddy communication, but its email address was bogus. Company executives wanted to see how many of its employees would take the bait. According to the company, around 500 of its employees flunked the test.  Phishing messages urge you to click, link, or answer a few questions. In the case of GoDaddy, the email enticed employees to click on a link and submit a few details to qualify for a $650 holiday bonus. 3. Malicious Code  Hackers have little difficulty creating new computer code capable of stealing and destroying your data. Their real challenge is getting their code onto your computer network.  Sometimes hackers will build websites for the express purpose of infecting computers. The websites will typically offer free downloads of apps, games, movies, television shows, music, or pornography. The malicious code travels along with the download, nestled deep within the computer code.  The virus can either immediately spring to life and begin its mission, or sit idle until triggered later. By the time the company discovers the infection, it has likely spread through the network, infecting both employee workstations and servers. 4. Ransomware  In July 2020, ransomware crippled Garmin, the company known for its GPS and fitness-related equipment. The malicious code shut down the company’s call center, stopped its email, and took its cloud platform offline. Airline flights relying on Garmin’s equipment and navigation service were canceled.  Hackers cleverly encrypt the data on your computers so that only they have access to it. Imagine burglars locking your valuables in a new safe. However, it’s safe for which only they have the combination.  The hackers hold your data for ransom, hoping that you will be willing to pay a sum of money to regain your data and save your company. Some companies have no choice due to the critical nature of their records. For example, ransomware puts doctors and lawyers in an incredibly uncomfortable position. 5. Disgruntled or Reckless Employees  Don’t forget to look within your organization when accessing potential cyber threats. An employee upset over a failed promotion could do just as much damage as a typical hacker.  Often when employees are demoted, suspended, or fired, the administration fails to alert the IT team quickly. The time-lapse allows angry and upset but computer-savvy individuals to reap digital revenge while still having access to sensitive areas of the company’s network.  However, sometimes the damage is done, not by vengeful employees but by careless ones. If even one employee has access to files that they don’t need, you’re asking for trouble. 6. Attacks Through Third Parties  Few businesses operate without meaningful digital interaction with other companies. For example, you might use a shipping firm, a payment processor, and an email marketing service. If any of your business partners suffer malware attacks, hackers might be able to use your digital interface with those partners to attack you.   The situation is similar to an old-fashioned heist. Instead of directly targeting a jewelry store or bank, thieves might obtain access to an adjoining business and then tunnel their way to their real target. 7. Flaws in Existing Software  Do you immediately install security patches when they’re released by the various software manufacturers whose products you use? If not, you’re leaving the front door open for burglars.   Businesses should never ignore security patches. Sometimes software firms release them as the direct result of a hack that exposed a flaw in their code. In other words, by ignoring the patch, you’re exposing your company to a known threat.  You should install security patches quickly, even if the software firm found the flaw before a known hack occurred. Once the company releases the patch, hackers who didn’t know about the flaw become well aware of it. They will race to find companies that are slow to make the upgrade.  Don’t Let Cyber Threats Ruin Your Business  Don’t make it easy for hackers to damage your business. Take immediate steps to protect what you’ve worked so hard to build. Make cyber threats a priority.  The first thing you can do to make your business safer is to begin using a dependable password management system for secure, reliable logins. If you’re new to password management systems, try our free 14-day trial.

Cybersecurity has always been a concern for businesses, but never has it been such a threat until recent years. Countless organizations and websites have been compromised, and it’s important that your enterprise doesn’t suffer an attack.  This concern goes for mobile devices as well. As an increasing number of workplaces utilize mobile devices for their business, keeping track of your mobile device security is essential.  Here are seven ways to boost your security and keep your information safe. 1. Monitor Your Network If your business utilizes the internet, then that is one of the most important parts to keep track of to keep your information secure.  You send contact information through your emails, transfer payments, record transactions, and more depending on what your service is. All it takes is one hacker piggybacking off your internet for everything you do to become public information.  Your internet provider can warn you when those kinds of threats pop up, but it could very well be too little too late. Even your phone’s 5G network isn’t safe from attacks.  According to an audit by Positive Technologies, attacks on standalone 5G networks can be performed from the international roaming network, the operator’s network, or partner networks.  The best way to keep your network secure is to utilize Network Detection and Response (NDR) solutions to analyze mobile traffic and look for patterns. You should also encrypt any high-importance documentation that is being sent over the internet. 2. Two-Factor Authentication 2FA Passwords have been a standard affair since the very first computer was released. Like any lock, a person should only be able to access the system if they know the code.  However, hackers have developed programs that can try passwords a countless number of times until they crack it. That’s why when you set up an account on a website, you’ll often see it rate your password from weak to strong.  If your password is too weak, then the program can more easily figure it out.  Even assuming you make a more complex password, it’s still possible for a hacker to access your information. Use that same password on multiple websites and your entire internet history is now at risk. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) has become the most popular way to solve this problem. Instead of requiring only a password, MFA requires you also perform a supplementary task, such as type in a pin sent directly to your phone. Or you might have to use your fingerprint in addition to the password, preventing someone from hacking your device remotely.  3. Enterprise Password Management Enterprise password management refers to software that helps consolidate your different passwords, making everything much easier and more secure for users. When your everyday internet or program use requires multiple passwords, most people tend to pick the simplest one and use them for all their programs. While that makes it easier to remember, it also makes your overall internet presence more easily hacked.  A password manager for business will use military-grade encryption software and unique user keys to allow a single-click login and logout without compromising your security. 4. Centralize Your App Usage One look at your phone’s app store is enough to see the hundreds of productivity apps available. There’s one that can be used for every facet of your enterprise, but there’s a danger in spreading your workflow across too many apps. For one, as mentioned before, if you use the same passwords on multiple apps, then if one gets hacked they all get hacked. And managing multiple passwords can be tedious. Your best option is to find an online service that does many things at once. Failing that, you can utilize LogMeOnce to help connect those different apps under a single click login.  5. Mobile Device Security Programs When securing your enterprise, you also have to consider the fact that mobile device security doesn’t start and stop at the workplace. When employees take them home, you can’t monitor their network.  Luckily, there are security programs recommended by network providers for mobile devices. These allow an extra level of security when accessing websites, downloading apps, and usually provide password protection.  You can also mitigate risks by routinely wiping mobile devices that are issued out by your company or even prohibiting employees from taking them home.  6. Limit Their Use Modern mobile devices are very powerful and easy to take with you on your travels. You can send important emails through your phone and hold meetings over your tablet.  However, working off of too many different devices opens you up to attacks because it makes it harder for you to manage threats. Additionally, if you’re using a mobile device, you’re likely not in the security of your workplace, using your internet. A public network is useful and convenient, but not secure, even if it’s the one you pay for at home.  7. Educate Your Staff Arguably the most important and overlooked step for mobile device security is educating your staff.  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, cybercrime has increased by up to 600%. Over the past ten years, the total number of malware infections has risen from 12.4 million to over 800 million. Most of them were delivered by email.  These threats are constantly updating and getting more dangerous, and so are the security systems that are made to combat them. A yearly training session won’t be enough. Continuous education, such as phishing simulations, will help keep your employees prepared for all types of scams that go around.  Secure Password Manager While these tips will help you enhance your mobile device security, don’t be afraid to reach out for help. A centralized access management system will make sure your employees can access your systems easily without compromising on security.  Sign up for a free 14-day trial today for your enterprise and see what we have to offer.

Cloud computing has gone mainstream in the United States, with over 96 percent of organizations using it in some form. Currently, more than 81 percent of US enterprises have implemented a multi-cloud strategy. The benefits of cloud computing are many. Any business that’s yet to embrace this revolutionary technology will lag behind in today’s increasingly competitive marketplace. With cloud computing, you can operate at scale regardless of the size of your business. Cloud computing also helps you manage your IT infrastructure while keeping your capital overheads low. But there are security risks involved, which makes cloud encryption an essential security measure to keep your business safe from cyber-attacks. Indeed, any business needs a foolproof IT security strategy in place, with such practices as cloud encryption and password management among the best practices for safeguarding business data. But exactly what does cloud encryption mean? Why is encrypted cloud storage essential? How can you make cloud encryption more effective? If you’re asking yourself these questions, you’ve come to the right place. In this comprehensive guide, we tell you all you need to know about cloud encryption so you can make informed decisions. 1. Encryption Guards Against Breaches Data breaches are more common than you may imagine. In 2020, the total number of records exposed globally grew to a staggering 36 billion.  It’s a worrying statistic, given that a single breach usually sets back the business several million dollars. The losses are more substantial when the breach takes a considerable time to detect.   When you store your data in the cloud, you’re no longer in complete control of what happens to it. Assuming you run your applications on a hybrid or public cloud, you’re forced to put your trust in a third-party. For this reason, you need to stay on top of everything security-wise. Choose a cloud service provider who understands their responsibility when it comes to security. More importantly, go the extra mile to keep your data encrypted.  When you utilize cloud encryption management tools, you secure your business and prevent unauthorized people from accessing your private business information. In other words, data breaches are just about impossible. But even if someone does steal the data, it’s hardly possible for them to read it if it’s encrypted.  2. It’s Easier to Manage Remote Work Many organizations today have remote workers spread all over the world. Cloud computing has significantly boosted the remote work arrangement by making it easy for employees to access critical business applications no matter where they are across the globe. This boosts flexibility in both hiring and working hours.  The main challenge with having remote offices is keeping your business information secure. Some of your employees may not adhere to IT security best practices, which poses an inherent risk to your data. Many of them might be using personal laptops or phones to do business tasks and surfing on public Wi-Fi. Think about what would happen if sensitive financial or organization service data landed in the wrong hands. Thanks to cloud encryption, you don’t need to worry too much about these incidents. You can encrypt all your data and deliver encryption keys to your remote workers during office workers only. Once office workers are over, the data becomes utterly unusable to anyone. 3. It Helps With Disaster Recovery Cloud encryption is only part of a more comprehensive disaster recovery strategy. No one knows when disaster will strike, which is why you need to stay prepared at all times. In case of a fire, flooding, or some other natural cause, essential business data could get wiped out in the process. Organizations that securely store their data in the cloud do not need to worry about losing their data in case of a disaster. You can easily access the files you need to keep operations running when the unexpected happens.  4. Encryption Helps You Comply With Regulations There are protection standards in place that you need to take seriously. Such standards include GDPR and HIPAA and are meant to ensure the security and integrity of customers’ data. Failing to adhere to these regulations can lead to serious consequences, including hefty fines.  Given that much of the business information you store in the cloud is customer data, you need to go above and beyond to protect it. If this information becomes compromised, you’ll be answerable to the regulator. For businesses in highly regulated sectors such as health, insurance, finance, and banking, the standards are even more exacting. The risks involved in these sectors multiply the importance of cloud encryption.  5. Control Access levels A significant percentage of organizations that use the cloud accidentally leak data to the public from time to time. This can severely compromise business integrity and give competitors an edge.  Most leaks aren’t caused by malicious intent. They result from poor cybersecurity best practices. If the data is encrypted, it’s no good to the public even when leaked. Go a step further to control who accesses which data. Once you’ve encrypted data, you can give the encryption keys to only individuals who need them. This way, it’s easier to prevent errors that may lead to data leaks. Cloud Encryption Can Keep Your Data Safe Any organization that uses the cloud must come up with a sound cloud security strategy to keep essential data safe from unwanted access. At the center of this strategy should be cloud encryption due to its effectiveness in rendering records useless for anyone without the required decryption key. Are you interested in reliable cloud security solutions? Please, contact us today.