Tips on Changing and Remembering Passwords
Your passwords protect your accounts, files, and email, and, by extension, the university's computer system. Do not tell anyone else what your password is. When selecting a password, choose one that you will remember, but do not use obvious ones that others can easily figure out like your name, address, or your pets' names.
Secure Passwords
One of the most important parts of an account is the password; your accounts (including the local accounts on your machine) must be secure. Remember, your system, no matter how inconspicuous, is part of a vast public network. Your machine can be compromised even when you are present, so shutting it off when you are out of the office is insufficient protection. This is akin to working in your basement with your front door left open.
Suggestions:- Your password should be at least eight characters long (if you use a Mac on campus, it can only be a maximum of eight characters).
- Alternate using upper and lower case letters.
- Substitute numbers and/or symbols (!, @, #, etc.) for letters
- DO NOT use simple dictionary words, names of pets, or personal data easily obtained about you (names of pets, street address); this applies to words both forward AND backward.
- DO NOT use only one number (such as placing the number one on the end of a word); this is common and easily guessed.
- DO NOT leave a written copy of your password anywhere near your computer.
There are programs that test dictionary words (backwards and forwards), names, and typical number combinations and will crack easy passwords in mere moments.
| Examples of passwords: | |
|---|---|
| INSECURE | helpdesk or helpdesk1 |
| SECURE | h31PdezK or H3!|*De5k |
To change the Administrator or other local account password in Windows XP:
- Open the Control Panel from the Start menu. Open the User Accounts control panel.
- Highlight the account (e.g., Administrator), and press the Reset Password button:
- Create a new, secure password. If you are a faculty or staff member at your own machine and do not have the access to change this password, please call 6-TECH Technical Support at 336-256-TECH(8324). Since most staff should have these rights on their machine, you may need to discuss this with your department.
Remembering Your Password
There are also several good ways to remember your password and to work numbers into them. One is to use mnemonics - mental tricks to help you remember important things. For example, the sentence "I Love My Three Very Smart German Shepherds" becomes ilm3vsgs. Or "I Go To Bed At 11 PM" becomes ig2ba11pm. Or "I Am Too Smart For My Own Good" becomes ia2s4mog.
You can also work numbers into your password by substituting them for letters or words: the letter O becomes the number zero, B becomes 8, for becomes 4, E becomes 3, etc. The key is to choose something that will be easy for you to remember and hard for anyone else to figure out.
If you write your password down or a hint to remind you what it is (such as "Ben & Jerry's" if your password is il2ebjic - "I love to eat Ben & Jerry's ice cream"), be sure to keep it in a very secure place. If you lose it, change your password immediately.
You will be required to change your Novell Netware password periodically. Be sure to change it when prompted, or you may get locked out of your account.
If you forget your Novell NetWare or UNIX password, you can reset it yourself by using the Self-Service Password Reset Request (reset.uncg.edu).
More Help
For more help, go to the SuperLab Help Center in Jackson Library or call 6-TECH Technical Support 336-256-TECH(8324).