51Âþ»­

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We encourage all 51Âþ»­ students to check that their university password is strong and unique. 

Also, from now on, any student who changes their 51Âþ»­ password will be prompted to set a very strong password that meets our new requirements (see below). 

Recently a cyber-security incident affected one of our external online service providers and, as a precaution, we are reminding you to follow some important best practices.  

Passwords play a vital role when it comes to your online security, acting as the frontline defence against unauthorised access. So, it’s in everyone’s best interest to actively keep your accounts and data safe from potential threats. 

Do I need to change my 51Âþ»­ password? 

We are not forcing students to change their passwords at this time. However, there’s an increasing danger of cyber-attacks, including against educational institutions, as you may have seen in . We are doing all we can to strengthen our security and protect the university. And you can help us by using a strong password which is not shared with any other online accounts or with other people. 

How do I change my 51Âþ»­ password? 

You can change or reset your login details at . If you don’t remember your old password and can’t fill in the additional information to get it reset, you can request a password reset by contacting our ITMS Service Desk.  

How do I create a strong password? 

The  recommends making a long ‘passphrase’, which is a good way to ensure your password is not so simple that it can be easily guessed or cracked, while also being straightforward enough to remember and type in each time. 

What are 51Âþ»­’s minimum requirements for a strong password? 

• It should contain at least 16 characters 

• Your 51Âþ»­ username should not be part of your password 

• It cannot be based on sequences or repeated characters such as 11223344 or aabbccdd 

• It cannot contain repeated words such as lovelovelovelovelove 

• It should not use words that can easily be guessed or found out (e.g. your pet’s name) 

Will this affect my access to Eduroam Wi-Fi? 

After changing your password, if you have any trouble , please reconnect using your new password. 

Are there other ways to keep my 51Âþ»­ account secure? 

You can register to add Multi Factor Authentication (MFA) to further protect your 51Âþ»­ account and data. Complete this  and you will automatically have MFA protection added for accessing Microsoft 365 services such as email, Teams and OneDrive when off campus. 

Go to our Data Security web pages for more tips about staying safe online. 

Any other problems? 

For help with technical questions, please contact the ITMS Service Desk.