February 9, 2018
Some of the most important security practices you can observe are related to your passwords. Follow these suggestions to protect your identity, prevent unauthorized access, and secure the information on your computer:
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Always treat your passwords as private and confidential. Never share your password with anyone. The University of Guelph will never ask you for your password. If you receive an email or phone call requesting your password it is mostly a scam.
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Do not write down your password. Instead consider using a password manager tool to organize and store your passwords. Check out our recent blog post on how to get started - https://www.uoguelph.ca/ccs/infosec/gettingstartedpwmgr [1]
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Do not let anyone see you type your password. Ensure no one is looking over your shoulder when entering passwords.
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Use strong passwords. Check out another one of our recent blog posts which helps you create complex passwords - https://www.uoguelph.ca/ccs/infosec/strongpassword [2]
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Don't reuse the same password for all of your accounts. In particular your University of Guelph password should never be used for anything else.
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Remember to log off when your device is unattended. Leaving your account logged in, especially on a banking website or work computer, is one way that your computer account can be compromised. Check that you're logged off before you leave the PC.
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Do not download programs from unknown / unrecognized sources on the internet. Malware downloaded from the untrusted sources is another potential method in which hackers can gain access to your accounts or capture your passwords.
Written by: Zahid Akhter (Cyber Security Analyst, Information Security)
Image Source: Freepik [3]