Creating
& Maintaining
Secure Passwords
Passwords and access codes
are used to prevent unauthorized access to restricted information.
Examples include, ATM PIN, Home$Banking, Online Shopping,
Online Visa Information, SunState Electronic Bill Pay, and
privacy code for telephone information.
The following are guideline for creating a
secure password or access code.
- Passwords should never be shared with
or revealed to others. Sharing your password effectively
authorizes all of the actions and transactions thereafter
by that party.
- Don't allow Windows or any other software
to "remember" password.
- Passwords should not be written down in
a readily decipherable form or left in a place where unauthorized
persons might discover them.
- If a member believes that the Home$Banking
access code (or any other private PIN or access code) has
been compromised immediately notify the Credit Union at
the published number.
- Passwords should be difficult to guess
and must be adequately protected. The use of the following
is discouraged:
- Words found in a dictionary
- Names of family members or pets
- Names of sports heroes or teams
- Birth dates or other significant dates
- Previously used passwords
- License plate number
- Single number or letter in a series
(22222 or bbbbbb)
- Consecutive letters or numbers (1234567
or abcdefg)
- Keyboard progression passwords (qwertyui
or lkjhgfds)
- Activities associated with the user
such as sports team, hobbies, car model;
Be creative and imaginative when selecting
passwords. One technique that has proven very effective in
creating secure passwords is to think of a “pass-phrase”,
create an acronym from that phrase, and add a few numbers.
For example, your pass-phrase may be, I always like to play
golf on Saturdays. Replace the word “to” with
the number “2” and now you have I always like
2 play golf on Saturdays. Take the first letter of each word
in that phrase to create the acronym ial2pgos. You now have
a very secure 8-character password. If you capitalize the
letters that would ordinarily be capitalized, you get Ial2pgoS.
You now have a very secure password that has eight characters,
upper and lower case letters, and numbers.
Remember:
- Do not write down, post, or store your
password where it could be discovered.
- Do not share your password.
- If you believe someone else is using your
access code/password, notify SunState immediately by telephone
and ask your account be blocked. Be sure to check transactions
for fraud and report to law enforcement.
|
