This article describes how to keep your computing ID secure.
1. Never ever share your Computing ID or password
Your SFU Computing ID will be disabled if it's discovered that your account has been compromised or suspicious activity has been detected. Your SFU Computing ID and password is assigned specifically to you. It should never be shared with anyone else.
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.
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.
5. Set up multi-factor authentication (MFA)
Setting up MFA helps prevent unauthorized access to your computing ID. Learn more about MFA and how to set it up.
Related resources