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Use Secure Passwords

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Stump the chumps. Create strong passwords and use Multifactor Authentication (MFA).

Your password tells us that you are who you say you are.

A bad password keeps scammers in your rearview mirror. A better password places them in another state.

The best passwords use Multifactor Authentication (MFA). This one-two punch adds a layer of protection, making it almost impossible for them to catch you.

From November to February we are running our Use Secure Passwords campaign! Use this page to educate yourself on how to Use Secure Passwords then apply what you learned on our toolkit. Complete the toolkit activities for your chance to win exclusive cybersecurity swag! 

Visit our Use Secure Passwords toolkit

 


The best passwords use a passphrase.

Create secure passwords

Did you know that the standards for creating passwords have evolved over time? Today you can protect yourself and your data by upping your password game.

Bad passwords

  • Use common words: baseball or doorbell
  • Don't contain special characters or numbers: handsomedan
  • Easy to guess: yale1234
Your password is your business. Yale ITS will never ask for your password by phone or email.

Information to avoid

  • The names or initials of you, your kids, pet, partner, or celebrities
  • Numbers like your birthday, anniversary, or important year
  • Letter or number sequences (e.g. 1234, qwerty, abcd)
  • Personal information like your email, phone number, or address 

Better passwords

  • Use less common words or phrases
  • Use upper and lower case letters and/or special characters (@, !,*)
  • Harder to guess: BigBlue17dog

Best passwords

  • Use diverse compositions including alpha, numeric and special characters
  • Are between 8-127 characters
  • Use a passphrase: ImgoingtoDisneyWorld1022!YesIam!*! 

Password hygiene

Don’t

  • Re-use your NetID password on non-work-related websites such as Amazon or Facebook.
  • Display your password in a location where others can find it—this happens more than you think!
  • Share your password with anyone. Your password is your business. Yale ITS will never ask for your password by phone or email.
  • Include your NetID in your passwords. Your NetID password cannot contain your NetID. 

Do

  • Use a unique password for each site you log into.
  • Consider using a password manager to keep all your passwords in one place.
  • Use a passphrase that is long in length but easy to remember. This way you don't have to write your password down. 
Using MFA is one of the easiest ways to boost security on the sites you access.

Change my NetID password

You can change your NetID password at any time, a simple process that only takes a few moments.

Use Multi-factor Authentication (MFA)

MFA adds a second layer of security to your accounts. It makes it more difficult for hackers to sign in—even if they know or guess your password.

Using MFA is one of the easiest ways to boost security on the sites you access. MFA is now available for both off-campus and on-campus access.

My Identity and Access at Yale

Net IDs are the main way to manage your access to Yale's online resources. The My Identity and Access at Yale section helps you manage your Net ID and password. It also provides helpful information for creating Net ID accounts for others.