Communications and Information Technology's Information newsletter

March/April 2004

Content
. . . Time to Change Your Network Logon Password
. . . Spring Cleaning Your Computer - see update October 2007
. . . Replacing your computer?

 

Time to Change Your Network Logon Password

In the last issue of CIT Information we made the announcement about the new Password Policy for IANR personnel:

The new password policy and practices will begin on May 1, 2004. The first order of business will be to make sure sensitive information is protected by strong passwords and encryption technology. Faculty, staff, and students who connect to the IANRDOM local area network will be required to have a more robust password consisting of at least 10 characters including upper and lower case letters and at least one numeric character.

This means that you will need to change your password that you use to log onto the network. You enter this password in the “Log on to Windows” dialog box you see when you start/restart your computer. Even if your computer is not connected to IANRDOM, we strongly encourage you change your network logon password.

Windows 2000/XP instructions for changing your password:

  1. Exit all programs, then press Ctrl+Alt+Delete.
  2. In the “Windows Security” dialog box, click on the Change Password button.
  3. In the “Change Password” dialog box, enter your Old [current] Password and your New Password (twice for verification). Your new password needs to be between 10 and 14 characters following the guideline stated above.
  4. Click OK.
  5. You will receive the message: “Your password has been changed.” Click OK.
  6. In the “Windows Security” dialog box, click on the Shut Down button and then select Restart from the drop-down menu to restart your computer.
  7. Use your new password to reconnect to the Windows network (IANRDOM).

The complete Password Policy document available at citcomputing.unl.edu also provides more detailed Guidelines for creating strong passwords.

If you have questions, please contact your unit computer support person or our office.

 

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Replacing your computer?

Before discarding, recycling, or giving away old departmental computers, you MUST remove all data and programs to comply with software agreements and to prevent data theft. Information Services has a page on “Computer Disposal: Hard Drive Formatting” that describes how to format a PC or Mac hard drive before discarding, recycling, or turning a computer over to Inventory.

If you need help with the hard drive formatting process, please contact your unit computer support person or the IS Help Desk: 472-3970 or 866-472-3970 toll free, helpdesk@unl.edu or room 105 of the 501 building (on the west edge of city campus).

 

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Posted April 23, 2004


CIT Information is published by Communications and Information Technology, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Newsletter articles may be copied and distributed for nonprofit, educational purposes only and the source must be acknowledged. Direct all correspondence to the editor, Pamela K. Peters (E-mail: pkpeters@unlnotes.unl.edu; Phone: 402/472-5630; FAX: 402/472-5639).

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