- Security Reminder FAQ
- Providing a secure Internet experience for all of our customers is an ongoing priority for SBC Internet Services (SBCIS). We want to remind you that any computer that is connected to the Internet is susceptible to hacking attempts and infection by a computer virus unless precautions are taken by the computer operator.
As part of this continuing commitment, we are requesting that you change your password often. You can quickly and easily change your password using our Password Change Form. Once your new password takes effect, your old one will be inactive. The industry recommends that you change passwords at least every 90 days.
SELECTING A NEW PASSWORD
DO NOT USE YOUR NAME AS A PASSWORD! In fact, we recommend that you avoid using actual words at all. It is best to pick a password that is hard to guess and easy to remember. If you choose a poor password, the system will not accept it, and may ask you to try again. Here are the basic system requirements for a new password, remember, the system will reject passwords that may be poor. The best passwords consist of the following:
- Between 6 and 16 characters
- At least one upper-case character, and one lower-case character
- At least one non-alpha character, such as a number and/or character: dash or underscore
- Your password can’t contain spaces
- Never tell or email your password to anyone. SBC Internet Technical/Customer Support sometimes may ask for it, but as always, the technician will verify your keyword before asking for your password. Then, they will ask you to change your password after your call is done.
- Do not use a password that can easily be associated with you, i.e., your birthday, social security number, your children's names, nicknames, or favorite hobbies.
- Never use your SBC Internet password as a password for Web sites or online stores. You should use a unique password for each site, and store them safely in a password manager.
- Remember to change your password in your dial-up networking software if you saved it there.
- Remember to change your password within your email software if you saved it there.
- Change the password that is pre-configured in any other software you use, such as chat packages, Internet phone packages, etc.
- Never open an E-mail attachment from an unknown or unreliable source. These files may contain a virus.
- Install a reputable Anti-Virus program.
- Contact your Anti-Virus Software Provider to learn how to keep your Anti-Virus software current.
- Change your account passwords regularly.
- Install a reputable firewall program
- Contact the firewall software provider for additional security recommendations.
- In accordance with the Terms & Conditions
and Acceptable Use Policy, customers are expected to protect their systems
from hacking attempts and from being used as a platform for hacking. Customers
can further shield their systems from viruses and hacking attempts by keeping
current anti-virus and firewall programs on all computers that are connected
to the Internet through SBC Internet Services. Customers whose computers
are used as a platform to hack into other systems will be suspended.
Should you have questions concerning security or viruses, contact the support department of your firewall or anti-virus software vender, or take a look at these and other Computer Security sites on the Internet:
http://www.cnet.com/software/0-3746.html?tag=st.sw.3745.dir.3746
http://www.zdnet.com/zdhelp/filters/splash/0,9700,6008986,00.htmlhttp://home.cnet.com/software/0-3752-7-2342081.html
http://www.zdnet.com/enterprise/filters/resources/0,,6007271,00.html
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