Password Security
Strong Passwords
Strong passwords are needed to protect your GVSU and personal data. Our goal is to help you find ways to establish strong passwords and remove the ‘painful’ thoughts that most have when they are asked to remember one or more complex passwords. Check out our Password Creation Do’s and Don'ts
Passwords and Passphrases
Passphrases
A passphrase is a sequence of words or other text used to control access to a computer system, program, or data. A passphrase is used just like a password but is generally longer for added security. When selecting a passphrase, avoid hobbies or information that may be publicly known on social media. A passphrase can be a group of random words, such as: "materialstoryproposemark". Adding uppercase, numbers or special characters adds to the complexity.
A passphrase can be created by picking a topic, event, or interest that is not known by others such as Smcsmpnz75. This passphrase is based on favorite wines along with a significant year. By taking the first letter of each wine: Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet, Sauvignon, Malbec, Pinot Noir, and Zinfandel along with the best aged year of a wine, you have creating a passphrase that is easy to remember and fun at the same time!
You can also use a mix of random words, nonsense words, and special characters like: shimbofried$r!ce .
Password Manager Software
If you are still having problems remembering multiple passwords, try a password manager. A password manager stores your passwords for various accounts, websites, and applications. You only need to remember one master password to retrieve the saved passwords for all your accounts.
The IT Security team recommends 1Password as a password manager option for faculty and staff who wish to use one. Please use the link below to sign up.