Password Policy and Tips

Dear LINCS Community Members,

Since the new LINCS Community password policy went into effect, we have heard feedback from a few of you. We understand the inconvenience and challenge of having to create and remember a longer, more complex password and are here to help you with this new policy. The new password policy has been put into place to protect the users of LINCS, their professional reputations, and the information that they have chosen share with others in their field.

These password requirements are in the process of being implemented on public and private websites throughout all federal government agencies and offices, including the Department of Education, to ensure additional protection for our online presence. Typically, requirements ask users to change their passwords every 90 days, so we are pleased that LINCS Community members will need to change their password just once per year.

Please continue to send us your questions and comments on this policy. We are here to listen and help you through these new requirements to the best of our ability! In addition, if you have tips for other members on creating or storing online passwords, please add them to the list below by posting a comment. Together we will ensure that our beneficial discussions take place on a secure platform that is safe from those who wish to launch cyber security attacks.

Password tips:

1.       Most major web browsers offer users an autocomplete feature whereby the browser can store and save your credentials, after a successful login. The browser will ask you if you want it to remember your credentials; simply click "Yes" to have the browser store them for your return visits.

2.       If you write down your password, make sure you keep it in a safe place, without any identifying associations to the website.

3.       Choose an easily remembered word or phrase for the “core” of your password (avoid personal words or phrases such as the name of the street you live on) and strengthen it by adding the required numbers, symbols, etc.

4.       Remember that you can use the LINCS Community’s reset password feature whenever you are unable to remember your new password.

If you have any questions or issues when changing your password, please contact us for support.

Sincerely,

Jo Maralit