1. Technology Services
2. askIT
3. eID
4. eID Password
5. eID Password Rules

eID Password Rules

The requirements for the VCU eID password are as follows. The eID password:

• Must be at least 12 characters long

• Must contain at least three of the following characters:

  • uppercase letter (A-Z)
  • lowercase letter (a-z)
  • number (0-9)
  • special character (e.g. @,#,$,%)

• Cannot contain your eID, first name, middle name or last name

• Cannot have commonly used words like VCU, Password or Rams

• Cannot be a password you have used in the past

Strong passwords cannot be guessed easily. Hackers often use automated tools to help them guess or crack passwords, and the easier a password is, the faster a hacker can break into a system. Here are some basic rules to follow to help protect your account from unauthorized access.

• Do not use all or part of your eID in your eID password
• Do not use all or part of your name in your eID password
• Avoid capitalizing the first character only. Adding several upper case letters throughout the password is best.
• Consider using a passphrase or sentence that is made up of multiple words and characters (e.g., IluvmyVCURamz!) 
• Do not use numbers in place of similar letters to form a word
  • Hackers know people do this. As a result, Passw0rd and C0mm0nw3alth are not secure passwords
• Do not use consecutive letters or numbers (e.g., Abcdef5g or o1234567Tn)
• Do not use adjacent keys on your keyboard (e.g., qWert6y)
• Do not write down your password
• Do not allow your browser to remember your passwords
• Do not share your password with anyone

This article was updated: 04/8/2020