Account and Password Security

  • Set strong passwords by meeting the following criteria:
    •  At least eight characters in length
    • One or more punctuation characters (non-letter, such as ! or &)
    • Can not contain a dictionary word (a word that can be looked up in a dictionary)
    • Can not contain any part of your name or account/login
  • Do not write passwords down
    • If you must write a password down, do not write the associated account
  • Never share password or account information
    • If someone else requires shared access to your computer, contact the ITS Support Center at support@colby.edu or 207-859-4222.
  • Never use a Colby account password with any non-Colby account (or non-Colby ITS managed account)
  • Use strong passwords (see the first line under Account and Password Security) on any account tied to personal, financial or otherwise sensitive information
  • Never use Colby passwords for such accounts on ‘junk’ accounts, such as Hotmail or Gmail
  • Never send account or password information (in text form) through electronic text communication (e-mail or chat/instant messaging)—use the telephone or deliver passwords in person
    • “Phishing” attempts (usually e-mail and web scams) often ask for passwords, account and/or financial information (credit card or bank account numbers). Visit the ITS fraudulent e-mail page for more information on e-mail scams
  • Never have web browsers, e-mail or other programs save (or ‘remember’) accounts and passwords
    • If a web browser prompts to ‘remember me,’ choose ‘never’
    • Regularly clear browser history, temporary files, and other stored information
      • Contact ITS for assistance in configuring these options. Contact the ITS Support Center at support@colby.edu or 207-859-4222.
    • Change your password often
    • If you suspect that your password has been compromised for any reason, change it immediately and notify the ITS Support Center at support@colby.edu or 207-859-4222.
    • Remember that if someone else can use your Colby computer because they have your password, they can also access all other campus resources to which you have permission.

Details

Article ID: 140847
Created
Mon 8/1/22 10:18 AM
Modified
Mon 9/25/23 2:41 PM