Gcit Password Best Practices - Garrett College

Garrett College McHenry campus offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

The wearing of CDC-recommended face masks or face coverings is optional, except for individuals required to wear as part of the isolation or quarantine guidelines.

Employees and students are not required to be vaccinated at this time but are strongly encouraged to do so.

The most up-to-date information on Garrett College's response to COVID-19, can be found online at novel coronavirus/COVID-19 resource page.

Choosing Passwords

DO

  • Use a combo of words, numbers, special characters, and both upper and lower case letters
  • Develop a mnemonic (clever) for remembering complex passwords
  • Replace letters with numbers. (use 1 instead of the letter i)
  • Replace letters with special characters. (use @ instead of the letter a)

DO NOT

  • Use password that are based on personal information
  • Use your username as your password
  • Use words that can be found in the dictionary
  • Use long combinations of keys on the keyboard that are next to each other (asdfjkl;)

Protecting Passwords

DO

  • Change your password regularly
  • Choose passwords that you will remember
  • Use different passwords for different systems
  • Be alert for attachers attempting to obtain your password or other personal information via fake/spam phone calls, emails and/or text messages
  • Be alert for someone looking over your shoulder when typing your password
  • Always log off every program you are exiting
  • Always log off the comptuer you are using (even if its your own) when you are finished using it

DO NOT

  • Write your password down
  • Share or give your password with anyone
  • Store your passwords on your mobile device (phone, tablet, etc)
  • Just close the program you are using, log off of it