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From: NUS IT Care
To: NUS Students
Subject: Update to NUSNET Password Policy
Dear Students,
As computational power and technology take their leap, it is more important than ever for us to safeguard our computer accounts against the misuse of such technology and computational power to crack our NUSNET passwords by brute force.
To aid each and every one of us in securing our NUSNET Password, enhancement to the system will be made to deter such brute force attacks. You are hence, required to change your password when it is due on or after 17th February 2009 to conform with the following requirements:
· Passwords must be at least 8 characters in length.
· Passwords must contain at least a number, an alphabet and a symbol (eg. Pa55Word!)
· You will be required to change your password every 180 days.
· You can change your password at most once/day.
· You cannot re-use any of your 6 previous passwords.
Many of us may have no immediate need to change our password. However, if you wish to find out your password’s expiry day, the information is located on the top left hand corner of the Message of the Day (MOTD) when you next login to NUSNET as follows:
For more information or enquiries, please contact NUS IT Care at x2080 or email ITCare@nus.edu.sg
Regards,
Chua Lin Tee
Service Delivery Manager
NUS IT Care
Computer Centre
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Some of the language used was quite forceful and blunt, especially in the section detailing the new standards required of passwords. However, less explicit statements may have led to students not taking these requirements seriously, and thus I feel that the purpose of the email justified the somewhat-harsh tone. The harshness was also ameliorated by the helpful tone reflected throughout the other parts of the email.
I feel that the use of language in this email was not entirely correct, although my English is not good enough to accurately pinpoint all the errors. The first sentence twice repeats the phrase "computational power and technology". "Take their leap" appears to be a metaphor lacking any form of context. "Crack(ing)" our passwords by "brute force" seems to be a repetition, only distinguishable by those with hacking experience. I also could not understand the instruction given in the 2nd paragraph to "change your password when it is due on or after 17th February 2009". My understanding is that the new requirements will come into effect on 17th February, and that any new password we choose after that date must conform to the new requirements, but this is in no way made clear by that sentence.
Hi Ben,
ReplyDeleteA well-written critique that is able to highlight the main faults of the email. Yes, it could be seen that the email was trying hard to be courteous, but it could still be better. Probably, as you have said, the language used was quite forceful and blunt.
I would say that you are right to point out that there were quite a handful of language errors. It did not feel very professional when the language of the email is not strong.
I would also agree with you on the vague instruction given to change password. When I first received this email in my own account, I could not understand what the email was trying to say regarding the change of password. And like any typical student would do: I did not even bother trying.
Maybe one ES module group should do a project on, “Should NUS circulated emails have a higher standard of English?”!
Cheers,
Glenn
Hey Ben,
ReplyDeleteI felt that you manage to capture what is wrong with the letter.
However, I have to disagree with you about the contextual information given. I felt that some of it is rather long-winded. The letter was not concise, but rather, it went on a long story on how technology is advancing and what we should do to safe guard our stuff. It lacks conciseness.
I agree with you about the letter being confusing. It does make the reader wonder what is going on. Hence, it lacks the clarity that should be in this type of letters.
A good think about the letter is that it gives information on the requirements of the task. I believe that when you need someone to perform a task, informing him or her what the requirements are is indeed a thoughtful if not, a necessary gesture.
Overall, you did capture the errors of this letter very well, especially the grammatical errors and redundant words. Many people read without really reading. In this case, I believe that the person that type this letter, type without reading the errors he made.
Cheers, Ryan