Overview
A good password is strong, so it can’t be easily cracked, and easy to remember, so you won’t forget it. Creating a good, memorable password is as simple as typing a phrase or sentence – no need to use mnemonics or acronyms that are difficult to memorize. If you create a password that is 16 or more characters, it will never expire.
Texas A&M criteria allow phrases or sentences using natural language and spaces. A series of words makes your password stronger and easier to remember. Your password must contain at least eight characters, including a mix of upper- and lowercase letters and at least one non-alphabetic special character (any character on a standard keyboard, including a space).
Good password, easy to remember:
- My dog has 101 spots.
- Fear=Mind-killer
Good password, hard to remember:
NOTE: A single dictionary word is not allowed, even when combined with special characters or numbers. Do not use repeated letters or numbers or simple patterns, because these passwords are easily hacked.
Bad passwords:
- Spots101 (single dictionary word)
- Abcd1234 (easily guessed pattern)
- T3rR1bL3 (single dictionary word, “terrible”, with vowels replaced by letters)
NetID password requirements
- Must contain at least eight and at most 128 characters
- Must contain at least one uppercase and one lowercase letter
- Must contain a non-alphabetic character, such as numbers or any special characters on a standard keyboard, including a space
- Cannot use commas (,) or backslashes (/) in your NetID password
- Cannot consist of a single dictionary word, but can contain multiple dictionary words
- Cannot contain words connected to Texas A&M culture, including but not limited to aggie, whoop, hullabaloo, bonfire, and reveille
- Cannot contain your birthday, UIN, or NetID
Keep it private
Under no circumstances should you share your password with anyone, including students, employees, parents, spouses, other family members, or Help Desk Central. Also, because social media has decreased privacy, passwords should not contain personal information. Do not include names of your spouse, children, pets, or friends. Passwords should not contain you home address, license plate, phone number, or social security number. Keep your password secret. Do not send it through electronic mail or regular mail, or give it out over the phone.
You can also set up Self-Service Password Reset. This allows you to reset your password without needing to contact Help Desk Central. This change can be updated by going to http://services.tamu.edu/password-settings and entering a mobile device and/or alternate non-TAMU email address under the Self-Service Password Reset section.
Password vaults are permitted. Read more at http://security.tamu.edu/protect_my_gear/Protect_Mobile_Devices.php.
NOTE: You should always enter “No” when asked to have a password “remembered”.