Keeping your Computing ID secure

2. Create a secure password

Recommended methods for creating a password 

• Combine the first letters and punctuation of a phrase. For example: 

The phrase: Hail the Gophers, they're my heroes!  

The password: HtG,tmh!

• Link two short misspelled words with other characters. For example: 

The original words: Big Ten 

The password: Byg,Tyn!

Things to avoid 

Generally, avoid information anyone else may know:

• Avoid any word or series of words in any dictionary of any language, including any prefix, suffix, etc.  

• Avoid any personal information, such as social insurance number, names of relatives, birthday, names of pets, license plate number of your car, etc. 

• Avoid any password that someone suggested to you or that you've seen written down. 

• Avoid any sequence of adjacent keys on the keyboard, for example, "Qwerty".

Things to include 

Some of these rules are enforced by the system when you create a password:

• Be as long as possible.

• Be easy to remember.  

• Check out the recommended methods for creating a secure and easy-to-remember password.

3. Log out on public computers  

To prevent accidental or deliberate use of your account by others, never leave a computer unattended while you are logged in. Ensure that you log out on public computers after you are finished, including those in SFU computer labs.  

4. Remember: SFU will never ask you to provide or confirm your Computing ID or password

Never give your SFU Computing ID and password to anyone under any circumstances. If you receive an email asking you to confirm your Computing ID and password, simply delete the message. Do not reply or click on any links within the message, no matter how official the message appears to be.  

Learn how to protect yourself from phishing scams and messages.