Changing Your UNIX & Network Access Password

This page provides information on how to change your UNIX and network access password.

We assume that you have a valid "BCC domain" or "ug domain" account. If you are an undergaduate student (including prep school), your account is in the "ug domain". If you are an academic or admin staff or a graduate student; then your account should be in the "BCC domain".

Please note that the departments at the East Campus and some main campus departments, like the Science Faculty, have their own domains. The steps described here for changing passwords may not apply to domains other than "ug" and "BCC". If you need to change your password, say in CS domain, you should contact your domain's system administrators for their assistance.

To change your password, :

1. Login to your favorite host using a telnet software on a PC which is connected to the university network; using your existing password
2. when you see the ready prompt ( usually a dollar sign ($) or a percent sign (%) type the command "nispasswd" and hit the Enter key. Please note that you should enter UNIX commands in lowercase letters only;
3. Enter your currently valid (old) password to prove that it is you who is trying to change the password;
4. Next, you will be prompted to enter your new password;
5. You will be asked to enter the new password again for verification against any typo;
6. You will see a message indicating that password change was successfull.

   Important

   The new password you choose is very critical as far as your personal data and mail communication privacy is concerned. Poor user passwords jeopardize our general university network security as well. Please take care that the password you choose complies the following guidelines:

   • the password should be at least 6 characters long,
   • the password should contain both lowercase and uppercase letters,
   • some punctuation characters are very useful in hindering crackers,
   • the password should not mean anything; passwords that can be found in dictionaries are very easy to crack,
   • names, surnames, birthdates, car plate numbers should be AVOIDED,
   • If you suspect that someone has seen your password or somehow your password has bel revealed, you should change it at the earliest convenience.

   Some poor passwords

   jSmith Jack1998 ahmetsayar

   Some good passwords

   j;sMith Jack.nne 2be|not2b

An example session will look like:

Start the NETTERM telnet client with this icon.

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