Passwords

Creating strong passwords is an essential step to protecting yourself online. Passwords are your first defense against criminal access to your devices, accounts and personal information.

Warning Signs

It is easy for hackers to go unnoticed at first, but the implications of someone getting into your account are still very real. There are some obvious and other not-so-obvious signs that your account has been hacked. If you experience any of these signs, the best thing to do is reset your password immediately and keep an eye on your accounts for unusual activity moving forward.

 

Suspicious Activity

Have you noticed odd activity on your account? Small things like emails in your sent folder that you did not write or a comment on a social media account that you did not leave to big things like spam sent to your friends and purchases you did not make are all signs that someone may have access to your account.

 

Password Denied

If one of your passwords suddenly stops working, a hacker may already have access to your account. If so, they likely changed your account’s login information, essentially locking you out of your account.

 

Access Confirmation Message

Many accounts now have 2-factor authentication enabled to ensure you—and only you—are signing in to the account. You may receive a message that says, “Your ID was used to sign in to …” or “A new sign-in was detected for …” If you see a message like this and did not try to access the account, deny entry and change your password immediately. Never accept a push notification you did not request.

 

Slow Computer

Internet connectivity gets better and better with time. If you notice your computer slowing down, someone else may be using your bandwidth. A neighbor may be using your unsecured wireless connection, or a hacker may be downloading data from your hard drive. Either way, you need to take action and secure your account.

 

Antivirus Disabled

Your antivirus should always be on. If you notice it is off, it is likely the work of a hacker’s malware installed on your device.

Tips

 

Use a passphrase—a string of words or a sentence—rather than a single password

 

Add numbers and special characters (e.g., !,@,#,$,%,^,&,*,?)

 

Avoid using common words or phrases that anyone would know

 

Avoid consecutive keyboard combinations (e.g., QWERTY, ASDFG, 1234)

 

Do not use easy-to-find personal information such as your date of birth or pet’s name

 

Select “Never” when your web browser asks to remember a password on a shared device

 

Always sign out when finished using an account, especially on shared networks or devices

 

Enable 2-factor authentication to double your protection

 

Avoid entering passwords when connected to public Wi-Fi, such as at an airport or coffee shop

 

Use different passwords for different accounts

 

Utilize a secure password manager to remember all your long passwords, like LastPass

 

Never share your passwords with anyone

What to Do

If your FSU password has been compromised:

If another password has been compromised:

  • Reset your password 
  • Clear your browser cache 
  • Log out of all devices, if available 
  • Turn on 2-factor authentication for the account, if available  

Resources

Change Your Password

Inspired to create a stronger password? Put your new skills to use and change your FSU password

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Creating Strong Passwords

Watch this short LinkedIn Learning video to learn more strategies for creating strong passwords and passphrases

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Have I Been Pwned?

Find out if your email or phone number has been exposed in a data breach

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