Password Tips

Tools

Changing your password is easy...Choosing a good password is not.

Many times people choose passwords that are easy to remember. Unfortunately this also means they are easy to guess. At the School of Architecture we enforce the following password policy:

7 Character Minimum
Complexity
120 Day Maximum Age
3 Password Remembered

This means that when you choose a password the following must be true:

It has to be at least 7 characters long
It cannot contain your username or first or last name
It has to have characters from 3 of 4 set s as follows
- Uppercase(A,B,C,D,...etc)
- Lowercase(a,b,c,d,...etc)
- Symbols (!,@.#,$,...etc)
- Numerals (1,2,3,4,...etc)
You cannot use the same password for at least three rotations
Your password will expire every 120 days

Seem confusing? Just use a password that is easy to remember and then add a couple of things. For example if your password is icecream. Change it to ILicecream! or Icecre@m! this meets all the requirements of the policy and is a much better or stronger password.

To change your password simply press CTRL-ALT-DEL keys on the keyboard, enter your old password and then enter and confirm your new one. Remember this is only your password to login to the computers in the SAUP Network....not your email password or any other password for that matter. Simple variations of the above example can make it easy to remember passwords. Here are a few dont's regarding passwords:

Don't write it on a sticky note and put it by your computer
Don't use the same password for everything
Don't tell anyone your password
Don't pick a password that is easy to guess based on your other personal info. EX. Don't use your address as your password or your username backwards.

If you get stuck stop by room 222 Marvin Hall for assistance.