Password Tips

How to Choose and Remember Strong Passwords

Your Adams State username and password is the key to your account. Like any key, it must be safeguarded. Anyone with your password could get into your account, see your information, access your files, and even pose as you.


Best: Use a Password Manager

A password manager is a software application on your computer that generates very strong passwords and stores them in a secure, encrypted database. Because the database is encrypted, no one can access the passwords unless they have the master key.

ASU Computing Services Recommends

With a secure password manager you never have to worry about picking a good password or remembering it, you can copy and paste directly from the password manager. If you need assistance setting up a password manager, please contact the Computing Services Helpdesk at 719-587-7741 or computingservices@adams.edu.


Good: Create a passphrase to generate a strong password

Never use words that can be found in the dictionary in your password as they are easy for attackers to crack. Using a dictionary word with and tacking on a number and symbol also results in a weak password. Happy1! is a very weak password and could be quickly cracked by an attacker.

Rather than using a dictionary word, think of a random passphrase. Pick a phrase that is easy for you to remember, but hard for someone else to guess. Then, use an abbreviation of the passphrase, while substituting symbols and numbers throughout.

By using the first letter or few letters of each word and substituting numbers and special characters throughout, you end up with a very strong password that is easy to remember!


What NOT to do when choosing a Password


Why are strong passwords important?

Its very common for attackers to try to break-in to systems by trying to guess passwords or perform an automated attack looking for weak passwords. These break-ins can result in system downtime, lost work, or loss of privacy. Automated attacks can look for dictionary words or simple variations of them, as well as commonly used passwords.


Protect your password from Misuse


How to change your password


Additional Resources