Accounts Wiki

1. Memorize your password, don't write it down
2. Don't use passwords that use your name, license plate, or other easily obtainable information
3. DON'T SHARE YOUR PASSWORD WITH ANYONE
4. Must be different from your userid
5. Don't store passwords on your computer
6. Don't e-mail a password to someone, even if you trust them
7. Do use a lengthy password (within reason)
8. Age your password and change it regularly

1. Passwords that could easily be compromised such as:
   • Your name, and the names of immediate family.
   • House numbers
   • Social security numbers, birth dates, phone numbers, etc.
   • Other easily obtainable information about you.
2. Passwords that are words found in a dictionary
3. Passwords that are places and/or proper nouns
4. Single letter or number passwords
5. Simple strings of letters from the keyboard or keypad
6. Any of the above spelled backward or appended or preceded by a single digit

1. Passwords with upper and lower case letters
2. Passwords with digits and special characters
3. Passwords with eight characters or more
4. Passwords that can be quickly and easily typed and remembered by you
5. Passwords should include at least one special character (! # % $) or number

1. DO NOT ATTACH YOUR PASSWORD TO YOUR COMPUTER
2. Treat your password like the keys to your home or vehicle 
3. If you must write down the password, try to place it within a sentence of a document or note, or at least don't identify the system, address, or userid affiliated with the password

For more information about password security, please see the following web pages:

• GOT Passwords – do and don’ts:
• Microsoft's definition of a strong password
• SANS Password Policy - recommendations for a strong password:
  • http://www.giac.org/pratical/GSEC/Craig_Donovan_GSEC.pdf
  • http://www.sans.org/resources/policies/Password_Policy.pdf