Topics Map > Do-IT Yourself > Account Management > Password
NetID - Password Criteria and Best Practices
This document lists requirements for creating a new password.
Effective May 17, 2021, new Rice Google account holders will use their NetID password to login to Google. Individuals with Rice Google accounts that were established prior to May 17, 2021 will continue to have a separate Google password that differs from their NetID password until they change one of the passwords and then the passwords will automatically be synchronized. If individuals would prefer to have one less password to remember, they may synchronize them by resetting their password at https://mynetid.rice.edu.
Password Criteria
- Passwords should be eight (8) characters or longer in length (pass phrases are highly recommended)
- Be secure and memorized. (Writing down passwords is not recommended)
- Contain at least one (1) character from each of the three (3) following character sets:
- Upper case letter (A-Z)
- Lower case letter (a-z)
- Digit (0-9)
- Special character (! ?. )
- Be secured and private.
- Passwords should not contain a common proper name, NetID, email address, initials, first, middle, or last name in forward or reverse format.
- Passwords should not be or contain a dictionary word if less than 12 characters.
- Have been used previously in the last year.
Best Practices
- Each password chosen is new and unique for each account.
- Don't share it with anyone.
- Don't write it down.
- Do change the password if it is shared or if you think someone else may know it.
- Do change the password regularly. (Suggestion: change your password when you change your clocks for Daylight Savings Time)