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IT Help Desk

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Important News! Helpful Hints Contact Us IT Home

Choosing and Changing Passwords

  • IT passwords expire every 90 days and cannot be reused.
  • This policy applies only to the following services.
    • Logging into the UFP domain in your office
    • Logging into the labs/smart classrooms in the Library and Columbine Hall
    • Logging into the podiums in classrooms
    • Logging into the following Excel Centers
      • Language Tech Center
      • Math Learning Center
      • Oral Comm Lab
      • Science Learning Center
      • Writing Center
    • Connecting to the FrontPage server (web.uccs.edu) to create/update webpages
    • Logging into UCCS email
    • Logging into CyberClass
    • Logging into the Unix server (brain.uccs.edu) using SSH, FTP, or Telnet
    • Logging in remotely using Virtual Private Networking (VPN)
  • This does NOT affect EAS servers or online programs (WebCT, eCompanion, and eCollege). See below.
  • Default passwords. New staff, faculty, and students are set to MmmssssN where:
    • Mmm = birthmonth (e.g. January = Jan, February = Feb)
    • ssss = last 4 digits of student ID number (employee ID number for staff and faculty)
    • N = first initial of last name
    • (Upper and lowercase where indicated)
  • Instructions for choosing a new password and changing your IT password
  • DO NOT use easy to guess passwords ... Change your password frequently and protect it. (Policy and Guidelines for Responsible Computing at CU Colorado Springs, July 2, 2002)
  • Software for cracking passwords is marketed for the legitimate purpose of recovering lost passwords, but this doesn't prevent people from using it for improper purposes. Therefore it's necessary for users to use good passwords to protect their data and their computers, as well as the university network.
  • Password-cracking software tries millions of word combinations per second. In one test, the password "larry" was found in 3 seconds; using "123word" as the password required 29 hours to break. (Thanks to PC Magazine, February 12, 2002, "Password Crackers")
  • The following rules must be used in selecting a new IT password.
    • Use 8 or more characters
    • Cannot include your first or last name or your username as part of the password.
    • Use all three of the items below in your password:
      • One or more uppercase letters
      • One or more lowercase letters
      • One or more numbers (can NOT be at the beginning or end of the password)
    • (Some special characters are acceptable. However, many of these characters cause problems so we do not recommend using them. If you want to do so, do NOT use * @ # % & = : ; " ' ? / \ or a space.)
  • These rules don't necessarily make passwords harder to remember. Select a 7 character (or longer) word and insert a number in the middle (e.g. Oper2ate) or take two small words and put them together with a number between them (e.g. Cats4dogs).
  • For security purposes, you should choose a unique password for each login. Please use your IT password only for UCCS.
  • The instructions below assume you know your current password. If you have forgotten your password, you must bring a picture ID card to the IT Help Desk on the first floor of the El Pomar Center. We're open on Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm, except for staff holidays.
  • Changing the password from on-campus: (If you're unsure of which version of Windows you're using, use the second method below.)
    • Windows 2000 and XP Professional - After logging in, hold down the Ctrl and Alt keys and press the Delete key. Click the Change Password button. Type in your old password and new password twice. Click the OK button.
    • Other Windows (95, 98, Me, and XP Home) and Macintosh systems - Click on the link below, scroll to the bottom of the left column and click on the Change IT Password link. Type in your old password and new password twice. Click the OK button.
  • Changing the password from off-campus:
  • You must be connected to the internet. Click on the link below, click on the yellow "Change IT Password" link on the upper left. Type in your old password and new password twice. Click the OK button.
  • Many people save their email password. If this applies to you, you'll need to change this as well. Instructions below cover the most commonly used email software.
    • Outlook Express: Click on the Tools menu and select Internet Accounts. With your email account highlighted, click the Properties button. Click the Servers tab. Change the password and click the OK button. Click the Close button.
    • Outlook: Click on the Tools menu and select E-mail Accounts. With "View or change existing ..." marked, click the Next button. With your email account highlighted, click the Change button. Change the password and click the Next button. Click the Finish button.
  • WebCT passwords are set to same IT default when created. The WebCT database is reloaded each semester. Therefore, the passwords return to default at the beginning of each semester. Changing the IT password will not change the WebCT password. To change the WebCT password, log into WebCT. Click the Change Password link. Type in your old password and new password twice. We recommend you use your new IT password. Click the Update Password link.
  • eCompanion and eCollege user names are your student ID number. The default password is UCCS (capitalized). To change the eCompanion/eCollege password, log in and click the User Profile tab at the top of the page. We recommend you use your new IT password.