Your password should be strong, easily remembered, and never revealed or shared with anyone else. It's like your keys - hand it over to someone else, and you have handed them your identity and personal information.

Common dictionary words, your child or pet's name, your name or your account name are not acceptable as passwords. Think of establishing a password as getting the chance to make up the license plate you always wanted but couldn't get. Make it a play on a favorite phrase that you will easily remember and not have to write down. A password isn't secure if it's written on a sticky note attached to your monitor or stuck under your keyboard. Passwords should be:

• at least 8 characters in length
• comprised of upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters.
• Spot1 is not a good password - sPoT#14Me is a better choice.

Use different passwords for different sites. You should NEVER use your RU username and password to establish accounts on other websites. Have a "throw away" username and password that you use on "unimportant" systems. If the passwords on those (possibly) poorly maintained systems are stolen (or sold), access to your important accounts (such as RU, banking, etc) are still secure.