Use Strong Passwords and a Password Manager
This Week 1 is focused on聽鈥淯se Strong Passwords and a Password Manager.鈥�聽Strong passwords should be long, random, unique to each application/service, and incorporate all four character types: uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols. Password managers are an essential tool to help you generate and securely store strong passwords for each of your accounts.
Passwords Resources:
- You can find more information on聽聽and a聽聽on the National Cybersecurity Awareness Alliance site
- Secure Our World: Passwords Tip Sheet鈥�(CISA)
- 鈥�(Consumer Reports)
Helpful Password Tips:
- Make passwords long:聽At least 13 characters (the longer, the better!)
- Use random strings or passphrases:聽Mix letters, numbers, and symbols or use unrelated words
- Create unique passwords for each account:聽Never reuse passwords across different accounts
- Use complex combinations:聽Upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and special characters
- Use a password manager:聽Simplifies password management, storing unique, complex passwords securely
Password Facts and Figures:
The National Cybersecurity Alliance 2023 Oh, Behave! report lists the following cybersecurity survey responses:
- 翱苍濒测听38%聽of people use unique passwords for all their accounts
- 60%聽of people use strong passwords, indicating a gap in password security practices
- 46%聽of people create passwords that are 9 to 11 characters long, shorter than the recommended 13 characters
Our emails and supporting information are available from the 聽page on the CUNY website. We also provide a growing security resources list on the聽聽pages. You may also want to visit the聽聽website to read recent security articles or subscribe to the world鈥檚 leading, free security awareness newsletter designed for technology users.
If you have any questions about any of this information, please contact your college’s聽Information Security Manager.