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.
Security Handbook
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