Guidelines for Creating A Good Password
Passwords are very important and having a strong password will better protect your dataand your network. Creating passwords may seem annoying, but they are necessary. Creating a strong password can be easy. The following guidelines have been created to assist you in creating a good password.
Password guidelines
- It must be at least 8 characters long
- It must contain at least one number and one character
- You cannot use a previously used password
- It must not contain your username, first name or last name
- It must contain at least three of the following four items:
- Upper Case Letters
- Lower Case Letters
- Number(s)
- Special Characters (Avoid these characters: &?<>, they mess with webmail passwords)
How to Avoid Bad Passwords
Avoid passwords that would be easy for someone to guess.
Don’t use:
- Phone numbers
- Names (salley)
- All uppercase or all lowercase words (money, MILLION)
- Short words (dog)
- Slang (moneygrip)
- Sequential letters or numbers (qrstuv, 123456)
- Personal information (birth dates, SS#, favorite color, pets name)
When to Change Your Password
Passwords automatically expire every 90 days, however you should change your password if:
- You have written it down and have misplaced it
- You have shared your password with anyone else
- You suspect someone has been using your computer without your consent
- You have been a victim of phishing or spam