Computer Security Handbook, Part 7 - Creating Effective Passwords

Our resources represent valuable assets. Just as it is prudent to lock your house when you are away, it is important to protect access to our resources. A single account with an easily guessable password is a danger to the entire university network.

A password should:

• Not be your name (nickname), the name of a family member or pet
• Not be found in the dictionary
• Not be a cultural word (e.g., Batman, hacker)
• Not be a geographical word (e.g., Lubbock, Beaumont)

Ideas for creating easy-to-remember passwords

Choose a password with an embedded number that looks the same as the letter:

• Tran5fer (the numeric five "5" replaces the alphabetic "S," transfer)
• F1ower (the numeric one "1" replaces the alphabetic "L," flower)
• Educat1on (the numeric one "1" replaces the alphabetic "I," education)

Choose a combination of numbers and letters that produce a sentence:

• get2work (Get to work)
• osacanuc (Oh say can you see)

Remove all vowels from a common word:

• rspnsblt - responsibility

Use double words:

• babyburp

Use obscure, personal facts about yourself:

• Your first car - 65Chevy
• Your favorite snack - 7layerdip

Introduce "silent" characters into the word:

• va7ni9lla

Use a reference from a familiar document:

• John316
• 23Psalm

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