Step 1: Put A Lock On Your Password — Keep It A Secret

Your NetID and password are powerful assets and give you access to the NU Network, your financial records, private e-mail, and more. By sharing your password with anyone, you jeopardize your security and the security of the NU Network. And since sharing your password is against Northwestern policy, you also risk losing network access, fines, or worse. Only you should know your password—keep it secret.

• Create a strong, complex passphrase/password

  Having trouble coming up with a password that's complex enough to be secure and also memorable so you don't have to write it down? Try using a passphrase!

  Think about it this way: a passphrase is a phrase or sentence from which you can generate a password. For example, the passphrase “I have money for two pizzas” becomes the password “Ihv$42pz”.

  Using a phrase as the basis of your password makes it harder to crack and also means you're less likely to forget it. Visit NUIT's Web page about secure passphrases/passwords to learn how to make your passphrase/password secure.

• Never share your passphrase/password with anyone

  Sharing your NetID passphrase/password puts your personal information and the NU Network at risk. It provides access to your financial information, your grades, and all the resources on Northwestern’s Network.

  Keep in mind that it is against NUIT policy to share your password with anyone, even your parents. If someone uses your NetID and passphrase/password, and violates University policy, you could be held accountable.

  Parents looking to access CAESAR billing information can obtain their own login information. Students can register parents as authorized payers and sign them up for online access.

• Memorize your passphrase/password

  Your memory is the safest place for your password. A piece of paper could be found or a computer file compromised—your memory cannot. That’s why it’s important to use a passphrase/password that you’ll have no trouble remembering.

  If you forget your password, call 847-491-HELP (4357), or reset it online with your previously set PIN number or security question/answer. After a reset, change the password immediately to something you can remember. If you do not have a PIN or a question/answer combination, you must bring your WildCARD to the NUIT Support Center on the Evanston campus.

• Log out completely, especially on public computers

  You've probably used a friend's computer before, maybe just for a minute to read e-mail, sign into FaceBook, or check a bank account before going to dinner. But did you make sure you logged out of those accounts before giving the computer back?

  Forgetting to sign out of your accounts means you've given the next person to use that computer access to your information. Whenever you use a computer that doesn't belong to you—whether it's a friend's or if you use a computer at a computer lab, coffee shop, or library—take an extra moment to be sure you've logged out of anything that could contain personal information.

Continue to Step 2: Stop Malware