Password Ideas for School

Many schools use a single sign-on account for Google Workspace for Education, Microsoft 365, Canvas or other learning platforms, so one password can unlock your email, assignments, grades and cloud files. Student accounts are targeted by classmates who want to cause trouble and by phishing emails that warn "your mailbox is full" or "your account will be disabled". A stolen account can be used to delete work or send embarrassing messages in your name.

Pick a password of at least 14 characters that you don't use for games or social media, and that has nothing to do with your student number, name or birthday. If you type it many times a day on school computers, a passphrase of four random words is fast to enter and much stronger than a short password. Follow any extra rules your school sets, but never write the password on a sticky note in your locker or notebook.

Shared computers in labs and libraries are the other big risk. Don't let the browser save your password there, always sign out when you leave, and use private browsing on devices that aren't yours. If your school offers two-step verification, turn it on.