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:

  1. Add words to create a phrase - ilovethebobcats
  2. Add capitals for emphasis - ILoveTheBobcats
  3. Add punctuation for a creative flair - ILoveTheBobcats!
  4. Add block capitals to go a step further - ILOVEtheBobcats!
  5. Make your passphrase even longer for added security - ILOVEtheBobcats!GoCatsGo!

Starting June 27, you can change your NetID password into a passphrase:

  1. Log into the Online Toolkit.
  2. Click Change Password.
  3. 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.