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STUDENT IT SERVICES > PASSWORD RESET

How to reset your password

1. WWW

Your Paju username/password is used to access Webmail, Optima, and WebOodi. Your password is only valid for 180 days.

Valid passwords can be changed over the web https://www.oulu.fi/passwd/ or in person at IT Services Helpdesk in Student Center. New passwords will not be created or given out through email or phone.

2. Unix

You can change the Koivu password on education or research computers by typing passwd at the unix command prompt and then following the onscreen instructions. When you have changed your password, type exit to close the connection.

sun3:(~)(10)% passwd
Enter old passwd:
Enter new passwd:
Re-enter new passwd:
UNIX password changed for iippo
SAMBA password changed for iippo
sun3:(~)(11)% exit
logout
Connection to sun3 closed

Make sure you see the “UNIX password and SAMBA password changed” message! On Paju, the new password will work immediately. Passwords on education computers and workstations managed by IT services will work within the hour.

3. Lost or Locked password

You can change your password over the web throught the TUPAS service or in person at IT Services Helpdesk in Student Center. You must have a netbank account with Aktia/Sp/PoP, Handelsbanken, Nordea, Osuuspankki, Sampo or Tapiola to use the Tupas service.

TUPAS tutorial: http://www.oulu.fi/it/students/accounts/lost_password_reset.html

TUPAS https://www.oulu.fi/perl/tupas/passwd

Tips on selecting and remembering your password:

One of the most important parts of an account is the password; your accounts (including the local accounts on your machine) must be secure. Remember, your system, no matter how inconspicuous, is part of a vast public network.

The password must comprise both letters and numbers and at least one capital letter. Do not use special characters or characters in the Swedish/Finnish alphabet (åäö).

Avoid passwords based on repetition, dictionary words, letter or number sequences, usernames, or biographical information like names or dates. DO NOT use only one number (such as placing the number one on the end of a word); this is common and easily guessed. DO NOT leave a written copy of your password anywhere near your computer. Your password should be easy to remember but hard to guess.

A weak password will be locked to prevent unauthorized use.

Examples of weak passwords:

  • Default passwords: password, default, admin
  • Dictionary words: chameleon, Red Sox, sandbags
  • Wordlist with numbers: password1, deer2000, john1234
  • Wordlist with simple obfuscation: pssw0rd, l33th4x0r, g0ldf1sh
  • Wordlist doubled: crabcrab, stopstop, treetree
  • Sequences: qwerty, 12345678, euidhtns

Examples of strong passwords:

The passwords below are examples that follow guidelines for a strong password. Since these passwords have been publicly published, they should never be used verbatim.

  • 4pRteai3 — mixes uppercase, lowercase, and numbers
  • Tp4tci2s4U2g — built from a phrase that a user can memorize: "The password for (4) this computer is too (2) strong for you to (4U2) guess" — mixes types of character as well
  • BBslwys90 — loosely based on a phrase that a user can memorize: "Big Brother is always right (right angle = 90°)!" — mixes types of character as well.
  • tDI60Hs7Q — characters selected from two stanzas by different methods from a page randomly selected using a 10-sided die.