In 2009 the Cornell Information Technologies HelpDesk received 3,081 password reset requests. If you have forgotten your NetID password you will have to go in person to the HelpDesk in the Computing and Communications Center (CCC) and present your Cornell ID, or request instructions be sent to you via U.S. mail by sending or faxing in a copy of a government-issued ID card.

Or just reset your password online by answering your security questions. Unfortunately, far too many Cornell users haven't bothered to set up the security questions that can be used to prove their identity online. Go to http://netid.cornell.edu and select three of the questions they offer -- preferably ones that other people can't easily look up.

One catch: If your password has been stolen, the person who stole it can change the answers to your security questions, and then can use them to reset your password again. If you change your password because it may have been compromised, be sure to change your security questions, too.

Stolen passwords can be used to send spam from university mail servers and may give intruders access to sensitive information about you and others. Choose a strong password, and keep it safe. CIT will never ask for your password in an e-mail.