The greater variety of characters that you have in your password, the harder it is to guess!
Having a long password makes it even harder to crack but they may be more difficult to remember. Here we've outlined a few pointers.
- Ensure your passwords are at least 12 characters long.
- Be sure to use uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols.
- Use a three word phrase and substitute letters with numbers and symbols.
- Use a different password for every account.
- Don’t write down or share your passwords with anyone else.
- With so many passwords to remember consider using a password manager.
Do not use personal information
- Don’t use your name or names of family members or pets in your passwords.
- Don’t use your birthday, phone number, or other identifying numbers.
This information can often be found online from a variety of sources, such as through your Social Media pages.
Change your password regularly
It is best to change your password as often as possible, in case your password has been stolen via a phishing attempt, or has been leaked in a data breach for a website you have signed up to.
St Mary's accounts will automatically prompt you to renew your password every 180 days (90 days for staff).