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Email Accounts - New Passwords and Security Questions Required SoonContributed by Karen Compton on 02/15/08 In a continuing effort to increase the security of Ithaca College systems, stronger passwords and security questions will soon be required for all Ithaca College email accounts. Beginning in mid-March, a new Email Account Utility will be released to the campus community. This online utility will initially be used to set security questions and a stronger password for each email account. It will also be used on an ongoing basis as a self-service tool for updating security questions and changing passwords, as well as resetting forgotten or expired passwords. The utility will also allow new campus community members to activate their college email account. Students who are graduating this semester (May 2008) will not be required to use the new utility, but are still encouraged to do so in order to take advantage of the self-service password feature. For people who don't regularly use their Ithaca email account (but remember, it's the college's official method for communicating with students, faculty and staff so it's a good idea to use it), they'll still need to follow the procedures for setting security questions and a stronger password since the email username and password are also used for accessing many other campus systems:
Guidelines for safeguarding passwords as well as tips for how to create a secure password that is easy to remember can be found in this guide. The strategies in the guide will be helpful for creating a great password when users are required to do so in March. Note that if an email password is changed now, it will have to be changed again when the new password utility is released next month. These new email account requirements are a necessary change toward better security for our most sensitive information systems and data. In an era when college and university computers and networks are under frequent attack by those seeking unauthorized access to confidential information, increased security measures must be taken to protect our systems. And remember, this isn't just a "better safe than sorry" change. There have been numerous incidents of compromised email accounts right here at Ithaca College. We know there'll be many questions about this change so the new utility will include an FAQ section to provide you with answers. Please look for more Intercom articles in the coming weeks. ITS Helpdesk |
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