PROTECTING YOUR PENNKEY

It is essential that you keep your password secure to avoid possible compromise of critical systems on campus, and to prevent others from accessing your personal information. With that in mind, you should take the following precautions:

• Never share your PennKey password. Sharing your password gives others access to everything your PennKey gives you access. Once you share your password, you have lost control over how your account is used, though you are still responsible for anything done in your name. Sharing your password is also a violation of University policy.

• Don't leave your password written on a post-it note or other piece of paper that is prominently displayed in your work area.

• Don't allow programs to save your password for you. Any one else who uses your computer could then access your information.

• Don't use the same password for public Web sites (e.g., online bookstores, airlines, etc.) that you use with your PennKey. Rather, choose two passwords: your public password for use at public web sites and your private password for sensitive Penn systems.

• Beware of anyone claiming to need your password; no Penn system administrator will ever ask you for your password.

• Change your PennKey password immediately if you feel its security may have been compromised and report the incident to PennKey administration . To learn more about how to change your password, see the Set/Reset Your Password page.