Strong Passwords

Your passwords access personal information that you have stored on your computer and in your online accounts.

If someone steals this information, they can pose as you in online transactions. In many cases you may not know about these attacks until it is too late. Create strong passwords and keep them secure.

How To Make Passwords More Secure

• Create strong passwords by using a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters (where allowed).
• Avoid passwords that are based on personal information that can be easily accessed or guessed.
• Use numbers and symbols to create words that can't be found in any dictionary of any language.
• Develop a technique for remembering complex passwords.
• Use both lowercase and capital letters.
• Use different passwords on different systems.
• Never share passwords with others.
• Change passwords regularly.
• Store passwords in a safe place.
• Refrain from leaving passwords where others can find them.

Strong Passwords

For more information on creating strong passwords please review these resources:

• What Are Strong Passwords?
• Why Is It Necessary To Have Strong Passwords?
• How to Protect Your Passwords

What if someone requests my password via email? Any e-mail that requests your password or requests that you to go to a website to verify your password is almost certainly a fraud. This includes requests from a trusted company or individual. E-mail can be intercepted in transit, and e-mail that requests information might not be from the sender it claims. Internet "phishing" scams use fraudulent e-mail messages to entice you into revealing your user names and passwords, steal your identity, and more.

What if I'm using a public computer? Computers such as those in Internet cafes, computer labs, and airports should be considered unsafe for any personal use other than anonymous Internet browsing. Do not check online e-mail, chat rooms, bank balances, or any other account that requires a user name and password. Hackers can purchase inexpensive keystroke logging devices which take only a few moments to install. With these devices hackers can harvest all the information typed on a computer from across the Internet.

What if my password is stolen? If you believe your UCO password has been compromised, please contact the UCO service Desk immediately.

Be sure to monitor all the information you protect with your passwords, such as your bank account statements, credit reports, credit card accounts, etc. Strong passwords can help protect you against fraud and identity theft, but there are no 100% guarantees. No matter how strong your password is, if someone breaks into the system that stores it, they will have your password. If you notice suspicious activity on your accounts that could indicate that someone has accessed your information. Notify authorities immediately.