A secure password
Use a unique and strong password for all your devices and apps. Unique means you use this password only for one account or app and not for any other account. Strong means that the password is not easy to guess.
Your password must meet the following security requirements:
- Minimum of 12 characters (preferably 16 characters or more).
- You may not reuse your last 10 passwords.
- At least 1 number, 1 upper case letter, 1 lower case letter, 1 special symbol.
- The password may not look like your name or e-mail address.
- You must change your password every year. You will receive reminders in time every year.
Extra tips
Want to make sure you have a secure password? Then follow these extra tips:
- Come up with a -for you logical, but for others random- passphrase, or a combination of several unrelated words. How about: Love*Breakfast*With*2*Croissants or Okapi/Risotto/SanDiego/42
- Use a different password for each account. This will prevent that if criminals find out one password, they can get access to all your other accounts.
- Never share your password(s) with others.
Note that the passwords mentioned are examples. Do not take them literally. Use these tips to create your own strong password.
Why these requirements?
With a strong and unique password, you reduce the risk that criminals can capture your password. Stealing passwords is a common method of launching a hacking attack. criminals use computers with a lot of computing power and can try thousands, if not millions of passwords on an account in no time. Or they may use a few weak passwords (think: Spring2022! or Amsterdam22!) to log into a large number of accounts. Once inside, the criminals can impersonate you, disrupt processes, encrypt systems, or move information away, just to name a few. The more complex and longer your password, the less likely it is that criminals will be able to obtain it.
When should you change it?
Even your password may end up in the hands of unauthorized persons. Therefore, as a precautionary measure, you should change your password every year. It may also be necessary to change your password in between. For example, if there are clear indications that your password has been captured by criminals.
Having trouble remembering your passwords?
A password manager can help you keep all your passwords safe, without having to remember them yourself. A password manager is a digital safe in which you store all your passwords and for which you only need to remember one strong master password. Password managers are available as programs, apps for your tablet or smartphone, and web applications. A few good examples are 1password, bitwarden, dashlane and keepass.