Safeguarding Your Password
in Computer Labs and on ResNet

Because computers in CIT labs are shared, you need to take additional steps to protect your password when you use them.

• After using a lab computer, be sure to clear your Kerberos ticket and then restore the computer to a "generic" setup. On a Mac, shutdown or restart your computer. On a Windows machine, use "logout" or "Refresh Hard Drive" in the Start menu. Special "cleaning" programs will then automatically clear the computer of any unauthorized software, including keystroke monitoring or Trojan horse programs that intercept passwords.


• Clear your Kerberos ticket whenever you leave your lab computer unattended. Doing so ensures that no one can access your private information. This step is especially important if you use Net-Print, a laser printing service that lets you bill printing costs to your bursar account. Clearing your Kerberos ticket prevents other people from billing their jobs to your account.


• Use Kerberos-protected network services whenever possible. Anytime you enter your password, it can be illegally intercepted by a program called a "sniffer" that is running on a hacked machine on the network. If your password is encrypted by Kerberos, it will be unusable even if intercepted.