All users of information resources are responsible for assisting in the protection of the systems they use. Many intruders enter systems simply by guessing passwords and even the best passwords can eventually be defeated mathematically, given enough time. The use of strong passwords acts as a firm deterrent against password guessing attacks, and buys additional time against other attacks.
Do’s and Dont’s in creating a password:
DO use a password with mixed-case letters. Use uppercase letters throughout the password.
DO use a password that contains alphanumeric characters and include punctuation, where supported by the operating system.
DO use a password with mixed-case letters. Do not just capitalize the first letter, but add uppercase letters throughout the password.
DO use at least six characters, eight characters for Windows NT.
DO use a seemingly random selection of letters and numbers.
DO use a password that can be typed quickly, without having to look at the keyboard. This makes it harder for someone to steal your password by looking at your keyboard (also known as "shoulder surfing").
DO NOT use a network login ID in any form (reversed, capitalized, or doubled as a password).
DO NOT use your first, middle or last name or anyone else’s in any form. Do not use your initials or any nicknames you may have or anyone else’s.
DO NOT use a word contained in English or foreign dictionaries, spelling lists, or other word lists and abbreviations.
DO NOT use other information easily obtained about you. This includes pet names, license plate numbers, telephone numbers, identification numbers, the brand of your automobile, the name of the street you live on, and so on. Such passwords are very easily guessed by someone who knows the user.
DO NOT use a password of all numbers, or a password composed of alphabet characters. Mix numbers and letters.
DO NOT use dates e.g., September, SEPT1999 or any combination thereof.
DO change passwords regularly. The more critical an account to network integrity (such as root on a Unix host or Administrator on Windows NT), the more frequently the password should be changed. This change stops someone who has already compromised an account from continued access.
DO NOT use keyboard sequences, e.g., qwerty.
DO NOT use a sample password, no matter how good, that you’ve gotten from a book that discusses information and computer security.
DO NOT use any of the above things spelled backwards, or in caps, or otherwise disguised.
DO NOT write a password on sticky notes, desk blotters, calendars, or store it online where it can be accessed by others.
DO NOT use shared accounts. Accountability for group access is extremely difficult.
DO NOT reveal a password to anyone.
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