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OIT Home > Security > Computer Security Handbook > Creating Effective Passwords

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