Passwords

Your password, associated with your username, is the primary means of proving your identity to the system. In the future, there will be an increasing use of biometrics-based identification systems, but for the foreseeable future, passwords will continue to be one of the primary means of user authentication.

Anyone who learns your password will have access to the full range of services available to you. Further, any security incidents occurring from your account will probably be traced back to you, an uncomfortable position in which to find yourself.

Don't reveal your password to anyone. A stolen or guessed password is an easy way for a cracker to gain access to a system. Crackers have been known to place telephone calls to employees of a company, pretending to be members of the system operation staff or a repair organization, and simply ask users for their passwords. It works an alarming number of times.

Don't make your password easy to guess. Passwords based on your birthday, name, make of car, favorite food, or anything identifiable with you in any way make poor passwords.