Whether you’re a student logging into the campus portal, a professor accessing research files, or a staff member managing university data, your password is your first line of defense. And unfortunately, many of the passwords we use every day are far too easy to guess, not just by people, but by automated hacking tools. 
 

What Makes a Bad Password?

Here are a few common mistakes that put your accounts at risk:

• Using simple number patterns like 123456 or 111111
• Typing easy keyboard sequences like qwerty or asdfgh
• Relying on personal info like your birthday, pet’s name, or favorite team
• Reusing the same password across multiple sites

Even if a password feels “unique” to you, if it's short, predictable, or has been used before, it's not offering much protection.

Why It Matters 

You might think, “I’m just a student” or “I don’t keep anything important online,” but think again. University accounts often have access to:

• Financial information
• Academic records and grades
• Campus systems and internal tools
• Research files and communications

If one of your accounts is compromised, it can impact not just you, but the entire university community.

Simple Ways to Strengthen Your Passwords

You don’t need to memorize a complicated string of symbols to stay safe. Here’s how to build better protection in just a few minutes:

• Use a passphrase
  Think of a sentence and turn it into a password. For example: 
  “I drink coffee at 7am every day!” becomes: IDrinkCoffee@7amEveryDay!  It’s long, memorable, and hard to guess.
• Mix it up
  Use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Avoid predictable substitutions like “Pa$$w0rd.”
• Make every password unique
  Don’t use the same password for multiple sites. If one gets breached, the others are at risk.
• Turn on Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
  Whenever possible, enable multi-factor authentication. This adds a second layer of protection — even if someone has your password, they’ll need a code sent to your phone or email to log in
• Use a password manager
  These tools can generate and store strong passwords so you don’t have to remember each one. Many are free and easy to use.  

Your Next Step: A Quick Password Checkup

Take a moment today to:

1. Change any password that’s short, reused, or easy to guess
2. Enable multi-factor authentication on your personal accounts
3. Try out a password manager if you haven’t already

Small changes can make a big difference — for your personal security and for our university’s digital safety. Want to go ahead and change your KSU password? View these steps to change it.

Need Help?

The KSU IT Service Desk is here to support you. Whether you need help setting up multi-factor authentication or want to explore password manager options, reach out any time. 
Let’s keep our campus community secure — one password at a time.