Educause Security Discussion mailing list archives
Re: Password Expatriation notification
From: Eric Case <eric () ERICCASE COM>
Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 07:54:28 -0700
True, as things change you will need to change your systems. If you have a bunch of one-off systems, each with their own auth subsystem you will want to look at an IAM system so you do not have so many things to updates the next time things change. The status quo is seldom a friend of security. -Eric Eric Case, CISSP eric (at) ericcase (dot) com http://www.linkedin.com/in/ericcase (520) 344-CISO (2476)
-----Original Message----- From: The EDUCAUSE Security Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU] On Behalf Of SCHALIP, MICHAEL Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2010 7:22 AM To: SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU Subject: Re: [SECURITY] Password Expatriation notification Besides the implications for "service" that long passwords can cause -
there
are also a myriad of systems out there that simply will not accept (or at
least
not without a lot of code changes) long passwords!! Think about your default password generation - if it's currently based on a default that
the
student would know - that whole process has to be revamped. If you do SSO and pass credentials - all of those systems will have to comply, too..... And when the students (or employees!!) can get in to one system - they won't be able to get in to any of them..... Sorry - I'm just not a fan of long passwords at this point..... M -----Original Message----- From: The EDUCAUSE Security Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU] On Behalf Of James Farr '05 Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2010 8:15 AM To: SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU Subject: Re: [SECURITY] Password Expatriation notification I am seriously looking at passphrases, but I would still have them expire
if for
no other reason that some users like to share their passwords with other people. Right I am trying to work with the sys admins to give users the
ability
to choose either strong complex 8 character password or a long passphrase that is less crazy. I would be interested if others have found
passphrases
more acceptable than complex passwords. I think they would be more accepted. James Farr -----Original Message----- From: The EDUCAUSE Security Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU] On Behalf Of Mark Monroe Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2010 10:06 AM To: SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU Subject: Re: [SECURITY] Password Expatriation notification Wouldn't it be easier to just require 15 or 20 character passphrases and
never
have them expire? (Two factor would be nice but not financially sound for the whole campus right now.) It would seem that it might not be too hard
of
a sell with the -- Never have to change it again.. angle. And passphrases
are
easier to type than the random crazy passwords.. Mark On 8/19/2010 8:56 AM, Ullman, Catherine wrote:James, I would whole-heartedly agree to your statement about providing emailsfromIT WITHOUT links, but rather reference a known web site by name. I thinkitmakes education and reinforcement of not clicking on links much easierwhenIT never sends out links either. :-) I expressed this sentiment just before a recent round of emails were sent regarding password changes only to be informed that it would be "too difficult" for the users to do and thus they wouldn't bother to changetheirpasswords. While I understand that the password change is critical, Ithinksending links is today a greater risk because it encourages bad behavioronthe part of the user. I will be interested to see what others out there have to say. Best, Cathy Catherine J. Ullman Information Security Analyst Information Security Office University at Buffalo cende () buffalo edu -----Original Message----- From: The EDUCAUSE Security Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU] On Behalf Of James Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2010 9:23 AM To: SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU Subject: Re: [SECURITY] Password Expatriation notification We also send our users messages like this. However I'm concerned that it would take very little effort to copy the content, spoof the from address and href the links so they look genuine but take them to a random webserverwhich is setup with a copy of our real password management system. For this reason I think we shouldn't provide links in emails that ask auserto login to anything, but should advise they visit our main web page
(i.e.
type it in themselves) and we give them a link off that. We can then also tag on to "we never ask for your password" that "we never link to pagesthatask for your password". Has anyone else tackled this particularly? Cheers James-----Original Message----- From: The EDUCAUSE Security Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU] On Behalf Of Bob Bayn Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 2010 10:11 PM To: SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU Subject: Re: [SECURITY] Password Expatriation notification And we also send out an email notice 14 days before expiration, and again more frequently as the expiration approaches. We have a single enterprise credential for authentication to many systems, including email. We try to make our notification not-phish-like but still get
a
few inquiries as to the validity of the message. I usually congratulate those paranoid souls. At least it's better than believingeverything.;-) Our message says: Firstname Lastname [UniversityID#], Our system indicates that you have not changed your password since [Month day, year]. Please take a few minutes to change your password and review your challenge questions by going to http://password.usu.edu before [date 6 months later]. If you do not change your password by [the latter date], you may experience interruption of service on Utah State University systems. You will still be able to log in at http://id.usu.edu and make your password change after that date. You may also be temporarily receiving this message: 1) If you no longer attend Utah State University: You may not be interested in maintaining your password with us. Just ignore these messages. Once your password has expired these reminder messages will terminate. If you ever need access again you can update your password at http://id.usu.edu or contact the Service Desk. 2) If you have never attended Utah State University: We may have assigned you an account in conjunction with a high school concurrent enrollment course, or even as a result of receiving your SAT/ACT scores from high school. Once your password has expired these remindermessages will terminate. The Information Technology Service Desk can assist you with any questions you might have. Contact us at: Phone: 797-HELP (4357) Toll Free: 877-878-8325 Email: servicedesk () usu edu<mailto:servicedesk () usu edu> Footprints.usu.edu<http://Footprints.usu.edu> (Issue Tracking System) [end of message] ____________________________ Bob Bayn (435)797-2396 Security Team coordinator http://tinyurl.com/I-Need-a-Kidney Office of Information Technology at Utah State University-- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.
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Current thread:
- Re: (***POSSIBLE SPAM***) Re: [SECURITY] Password Expatriation notification, (continued)
- Re: (***POSSIBLE SPAM***) Re: [SECURITY] Password Expatriation notification Eric Case (Aug 19)
- Re: (***POSSIBLE SPAM***) Re: [SECURITY] Password Expatriation notification Deke Kassabian (Aug 19)
- Re: Password Expatriation notification Alex Keller (Aug 19)
- Re: Password Expatriation notification SCHALIP, MICHAEL (Aug 19)
- Re: Password Expatriation notification Charles Buchholtz (Aug 19)
- Re: Password Expatriation notification Eric Case (Aug 19)
- Re: Password Expatriation notification charlie derr (Aug 19)
- Re: Password Expatriation notification Eric Case (Aug 19)
- Re: Password Expatriation notification James Farr '05 (Aug 19)
- Re: Password Expatriation notification SCHALIP, MICHAEL (Aug 19)
- Re: Password Expatriation notification Eric Case (Aug 19)
- Re: Password Expatriation notification Eric Case (Aug 19)
- Re: Password Expatriation notification Morrow Long (Aug 19)
- Re: Password Expatriation notification Allison Dolan (Aug 19)
- Re: Password Expatriation notification Ullman, Catherine (Aug 19)
- Re: Password Expatriation notification James Farr '05 (Aug 19)
- Re: Password Expatriation notification Russell Fulton (Aug 20)
- Re: Password Expatriation notification Dergenski, Todd A. (Aug 23)
- Re: Password Expatriation notification Ozzie Paez (Aug 23)
- Back on topic.... Re: [SECURITY] University credentials used by third parties Flynn, Gary - flynngn (Aug 24)
- Re: Back on topic.... Re: [SECURITY] University credentials used by third parties Joel Rosenblatt (Aug 24)