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Passwords, passphrases and passkeys

Passwords, passphrases and passkeys

Purpose

Unique user names and secure passwords and passphrases are used by systems to distinguish between authorized users and unauthorized individuals. Weak passwords can be cracked by a threat actor within a matter of seconds or minutes, merely delaying their access to your systems and data, rather than preventing it.


Audience

faculty researchers Admin staff IT staff students


On this page


Initial considerations

Do NOT share your password with anyone, regardless of their stated intent. Your supervisor, manager, colleague, nor IT staff should ask you to provide it.

Follow the University’s safe password practices when protecting institutional accounts and systems.


What can I do?

New account, new password (or passphrase).

  • For every account you have, you should use a unique password or passphrase to help limit the exposure caused by a breach or theft to just one account.

Use passphrases.

Long

  • Create a passphrase made up of 5 or more words.