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Maintaining secure passwords in an electronic environment is becoming increasingly important. Here are some guidelines about creating and using passwords.
The DO NOTs
- DO NOT use your logon name in any form (for example, as-is, reversed, capitalized, doubled).
- DO NOT use your name or any family member’s name (first or last name, spouse’s name, or your children's name) in any form.
- DO NOT use other information easily obtained about you. This includes license plate numbers, telephone numbers, social security numbers, the brand of your automobile, the name of the street you live on, your birth date, etc.
- DO NOT use a password of all digits or all the same letter.
- DO NOT use a word contained in dictionaries (English or a foreign language), spelling lists, or other lists of words. Trivial changes to a dictionary word, such as adding a digit to the beginning or end, are not secure either.
- DO NOT use a password shorter than six characters
The DO’s
- DO use a password with a combination of upper- and lowercase letters.
- DO use a password with digits and punctuation as well as letters (but do not simply add a digit to the beginning or end of a dictionary word or proper name).
- DO use a password that is easy to remember so you do not have to write it down; however, if you do write it down, treat the paper with your password as you would a credit card.