Password-handling Tips
Password should always be well protected. Some guidelines for password selection are provided below:
DON'Ts
- Do not use your login name in any form (as-is, reversed, capitalized, doubled, etc.).
- Do not use your first, middle or last name in any form.
- Do not use your spouse's or child's name.
- Do not use other information easily obtained about you. This includes ID card numbers, license plate numbers, telephone numbers, birth dates, the name of the street you live on, etc.
- Do not use a password with the same letter like "aaaaaa".
- Do not use consecutive letters or numbers like "abcdefgh" or "23456789".
- Do not use adjacent keys on the keyboard like "qwertyui".
- Do not use a word that can be found in an English or foreign language dictionary.
- Do not use a word in reverse that can be found in an English or foreign language dictionary.
- Do not use a well known abbreviation. This includes abbreviation of bureau or department name, project name, etc.
- Do not use a password with fewer than six characters.
- Do not reuse recently used passwords.
DOs
- Use a password with a mix of at least six mixed-case alphabetic characters, numerals and special characters.
- Use different passwords for different systems.
- Use a password that is difficult to guess but easy for you to remember.
- Use a password that you can type quickly, without having to look at the keyboard.
Password handling for end users
DON'Ts
- Do not write down your password unless with sufficient protection.
- Do not tell or give out your passwords even for a very good reason.
- Do not display your password on the monitor.
- Do not send your password unencrypted especially via Internet email.
- Do not select the "remember your password" feature associated with web sites that contain your personal particulars (e.g. ID card number) and disable this feature in your browser software.
- Do not store your password in any media.
DOs
- Change your password regularly (e.g. every 90 days).
- Change the default or initial password the first time you login.
- Change your password immediately if you suspect that it has been compromised.