PASSWORD POLICY
Dear account holders,

When you change a password for your account make sure it is difficult enough to guess. The Linux lab server periodically runs special software which looks for bad passwords. We will begin running this software at the end of this week. If your password is cracked, your Linux lab account will be locked next morning and you will have to see Irina (Room 433) or Jef (evenings and nights, Room 439) to gain access to your account again. When creating a new password you must use the following guidelines:

DO NOT

• choose a word, in any language
• use personal information such as your name, girlfriend/boyfriend/pet's name, make of car, etc.
• use only lower case letters
• tell anyone your password
• use the password you were given when you first got your account on the system

DO

• choose an obscure password preferably between 6 and 8 characters in length, of mixed case and containing at least one numeric character in the middle of the password and/or one non-alphanumeric character such as (!, @, =, ,, +, -, :, etc.).

A good way to compose an easy-to-remember, but difficult to exploit password is to think of a line from a song or poem and use the first letter of each word. (But don't forget to include a number or non-alphanumeric character!)

Thanks for your cooperation.

Department Staff.