Beginning April 1st, 2024, Pfeiffer University will be implementing a new password policy.  This policy increases the length and complexity of all Pfeiffer account passwords, but also allows for them to never expire once they meet requirements. The following instructional video provides training and insight on why this policy is necessary for the security of the university.


2024 - Modern Password Creation and Handling Training



Main Takeaways from the Video:



2024 Modern Password Security Practices (New Policy Requirements):

  • 12 character passwords with a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols take 200 years to crack in 2024.
  • If you need to reset your password, make sure the new password is completely different from the previous. Do no reuse passwords.
  • Modern passwords should not contain words found in a dictionary. Passwords with common words are what hackers and Artificial Intelligence (AI) check first.
  • Passwords will be set to never expire, as frequently requiring users to change passwords makes them more likely to reuse passwords and dictionary words.




2024 Password Handling Practices (Where to safely store your passwords):

  • Passwords that are longer and more complex are harder to remember, so it is important to store them in a safe place.
  • There are many safe and free password managers out there. We recommend the following:
    • Bitwarden
    • KeePass
    • NordPass
    • Secure folder feature on Android
    • Secure notes feature on iOS