Passphrase Best Practices
Longer passwords are harder to crack, but they can also be difficult to remember. Instead of a password, try creating an easy-to-remember passphrase - a string of words with no spaces.
Features of a strong passphrase:
- at least 15 characters (longer is better)
- uppercase and lowercase letters
- numbers and symbols
- easy to remember
Steps to building a strong passphrase:
- Add words to create a phrase - ilovethebobcats
- Add capitals for emphasis - ILoveTheBobcats
- Add punctuation for a creative flair - ILoveTheBobcats!
- Add block capitals to go a step further - ILOVEtheBobcats!
- Make your passphrase even longer for added security - ILOVEtheBobcats!GoCatsGo!
Starting June 27, you can change your NetID password into a passphrase:
- Log into the Online Toolkit.
- Click Change Password.
- Follow the prompts to create a passphrase.
Learn more
NOTE: Once you've created a new passphrase, consider these tips to make sure you're ready to log everywhere needed.