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Does someone know your password?

If you think someone knows your university password, change your password immediately and phone us on 0115 95 16677

 

Choose a strong password

Having a unique, strong password and maintaining its confidentiality is vital to keep your IT account secure.

When selecting a password:

  • Ensure your password is 12 characters or longer
  • Use upper case, lower case, numbers and at least two special characters (such as - ! ‘ + ^_ / ?)
  • Do not use personal information or information that other people may find easy to guess, such as your favourite sports team or your date of birth
  • Ensure your password is unique from all other passwords that you use

A good way to create a strong and memorable password is to use three or four random words alongside numbers and symbols, such as:

!Justiceblanketmarketartist5-

These four random words, a number and two special characters, amounts to a password that is 29 characters long which is very secure, but also memorable. Please do not use this example as your password.

Your password is checked against a list of passwords that have previously been used in data breaches by other organisations. As these passwords are publicly available, you will be asked to choose a different password if it matches a password that is on this list.

Keep your password secure

Once you have created a strong password you must protect it:

  • Do not share it with anyone
  • Do not write your passwords down, instead use a password manager
  • Do not store passwords in your browser as this is not secure
  • Use different passwords for your university and personal accounts. If someone figures out one of your passwords, they won’t be able to access all your accounts for the sites that you access
  • Cover your fingers and keyboard when typing your password in public
  • Do not reply to or click on links in emails that ask for your password

Use a password manager

A password manager will allow you to safely store all your different passwords. You just need to remember one master password for the password manager. 

Recommended password managers are KeePass, KeePassXC, Keeper, 1Password, LastPass or Dashlane. 

 

Reset or change your university password

When you change your university password, your password will automatically change for all university IT systems. Please allow 15 to 30 minutes for your password to update on all the systems.

The passwords for a small number of specialist IT systems, such as Unix, cannot be changed using these steps.

Do you know your existing university password? 

I know my existing password
  1. Go to IT Accounts
  2. Click ‘Login’ and enter your university username and current password
  3. Click ‘Change my password’, then enter your password
  4. Follow the instructions to set a new password (you cannot use an old password again)
  5. Click ‘Change password’
  6. Click ‘Sign out’ in the top right-hand corner of the window
 

I have forgotten my password
  1. Go to IT Accounts
  2. Click ‘Login’
  3. Select 'Click here if you've forgotten your username or password’
  4. Click ‘Forgotten Password’ and enter your university username
  5. Click ‘Search’
  6. If you have previously set your password questions and answers, you will be asked to enter three answers
  7. Click ‘Check answers’ and follow the instructions to change your password
  8. To close IT Accounts, click ‘Sign out’ in the top right-hand corner of the window
 
 

Set up or change your security questions and answers

You are required to set up four security questions and answers. If you wish to change your university password, you will be asked to answer three of these questions. This helps to keep your IT account safe.

When choosing questions and answers, you do not need to enter real information. Just enter information that you can remember. You may wish to add this information into your password manager.

I want to set up my security questions and answers
  1. Go to IT Accounts and click ‘Login’
  2. Enter your university username and password, then click ‘Next’
    If you do not know these details, request IT support 
  3. Enter your security questions and answers
  4. Click ‘Save Answers’, then ‘Continue’
  5. Your questions and answers have been set. Click ‘Sign out’ in the top right-hand corner of the window
 
I want to change my security questions and answers
  1. Go to IT Accounts and click ‘Login’
  2. Enter your university username and password, then click ‘Next'
  3. Click ‘Set password reset prompts’, then enter your password
  4. Your questions will appear on screen. Click ‘Clear Answers’
  5. Enter four new security questions and answers
  6. Click ‘Save answers’, then ‘Continue’
  7. Your new questions and answers have been set. Click ‘Sign out’ in the top right-hand corner of the window