Description
In today's digital realm, the risk of cybercrime is ever-present, with the likelihood of at least one of your websites being compromised. Avoiding password reuse across accounts is vital, as it grants cybercriminals easy access to sensitive information.
Despite continuous efforts by various organizations to educate users about the importance of using difficult-to-guess passwords, the list of most frequently used passwords has changed little. One analysis of 10 million breached accounts last year found that 17% were protected by the password "123456."
Password Standards and Tips
Make sure your college password/PIN is at least 10 characters long and uses a combination of at least three of the following:
The best option for a strong password is to create a passphrase instead. Passphrases are sequences of words that may contain mixed case letters, numbers and punctuation. They are longer than passwords, but easier to remember because you can associate them with a situation that’s familiar to you, e.g., IamaStarTrekFan->, LiveLong&Prosper!, or Kierkegaard. in.Denmark.1813 — these examples would take thousands of years to crack!
Use the recommended password manager to securely store all your passwords. Find more information in the "Password Managers" attached document on the right. Take the Password Test to validate the strength of your password or passphrase.
Wi-Fi and USB Security
Exercise caution when connecting to external Wi-Fi networks, especially public ones, to prevent unauthorized access to your data. If you are studying or visiting a partner institution, Douglas students and employees have access to secure, free Wi-Fi through the Eduroam network.
Exercise caution with found USB drives, as they may contain malware that could compromise your device and personal information. If you encounter a stray USB, avoid plugging it into your devices and promptly turn it over to campus security for proper handling.
Password protects (encrypt) your USB devices
How Cybercriminals may Compromise Your Device?
Educate yourself on potential cybersecurity threats by watching informative YouTube videos demonstrating common hacking techniques employed by cybercriminals.