Security for Everyone

Unique Passwords for all User Accounts

If you need assistance implementing this step, please contact the ITU Support Center at (703) 993-8870.

• How?
  
  For Windows:
  To verify the status of the User Accounts:
  
  1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel. (or Start > Settings > Control Panel)
  2. In the Control Panel window, double-click on User Accounts.
  3. Verify that the Guest Account is “off.”
  4. Microsoft's help page offers additional instructions to verify that the guest account is off.
  5. Delete any accounts that are no longer being used.
  6. If more than one account must be used (multi-user environment), restrict the privileges of the secondary accounts.
  7. Check each user account and ensure that a password has been set for it.
  
  For Mac:
  To verify the status of the User Accounts:
  
  1. Open System Preferences from the Dock.
  2. Click the Accounts icon under "System".
  3. Click on each user account and ensure that a password has been set for it.
  4. If necessary, change password by clicking "Change Password" under the Password tab.
  
  
• Why? When users share an ID and password, it is impossible to trace which user did what to cause the computer to fail. If your office setup requires that two or more people share the same computer, each should be assigned a unique user ID and instructed to create a hard to guess password. Only one person should have the administrator password. This is the password that allows changes to be made in the operating system. If someone with ill intent gets hold of this password, they control your computer and all the files on it.