How-To Change Your USM Password
August 2, 2009
Working in a multiple-platform environment, with Microsoft Windows, Apple Macintosh, Linux, web-based applications, and all the mobile devices in the marketplace is a complex problem. First and foremost, how do you log in? Keeping that one password working wherever you connect to the University infrastructure is a task we spend a lot of time on within Computing Services.
To ensure your password does stay in sync with itself across our systems you should be using the password change web page within the computing services site. This page is secure (https) and simple to use.
When you do change your password, remember use a strong password containing letters, numbers, punctuation, and mixed case. Make it as long as you can remember, but no less than 8 characters. Don’t use a word or slight variation thereof and don’t use dates of your life’s important events.
Also, don’t fear writing passwords down so you can remember them, just make sure you keep them safely in your wallet, purse, or other secure location. For more on how to safely do this read security expert Bruce Schneier’s blog entry Write Down Your Password or Microsoft’s security guro Jesper Johansson urging people to Jot Down Your Passwords.
Never give out your password or leave it written down where someone else, friend or foe, can find it.
