Resetting Your BroncoPassword When You've Forgotten It

Quick Start

Do you know your current BroncoPassword and just want to change it? Use your My Account page.

Is your BroncoPassword not working or forgotten? Use the Reset my password page.

Notes:

• This requires that you have previously set up the security reset questions and/or SMS text messaging options, which is explained below.
• If you do not know your BroncoName or BroncoPassword or if you are unable to use the password self-reset page, contact the IT Service Desk.

Introduction

The BroncoPassword Self-Reset site allows you to reset your BroncoPassword if you have forgotten it. The BroncoPassword is used for BroncoDirect, the Exchange Server and Blackboard accounts.

You can reset your BroncoPassword in two ways:

1. BroncoPassword Self-Reset - Allows you to answer secret challenge questions you've previously set in order to reset your BroncoPassword.
2. SMS BroncoPassword Reset - Allows you to receive an SMS (Short Message Service) text message with a link that includes a unique token you can use to set a new BroncoPassword.

To use any of these features, you must configure your account with secret challenge questions and SMS texting. Why?

Configuring Your Account

Configuring Your Account: Setting Secret Challenge Questions

1. Go to Identity Management Services
   
   1. Log in with your BroncoName and BroncoPassword.
2. Click the "Account" tab.
3. Click the "Set Password Secrets" button (third item on the page).
   
   Note: For tips on setting your challenge questions, read the guidelines for the secret questions, below.
   
   
4. In the first box specify the number of questions you would like to answer.
   
   Note: The minimum is three, but you can have up to five, depending on the level of security you want.
   
   
5. Then choose your questions and your answers.
   
   1. To use one of the example questions, simply pick a question out of the drop-down menu and type your answer in the appropriate box.
   2. Or, if you would like to write your own question, choose “Other (Enter Below)” in the drop-down menu and type your question in the space below. Then type your answer in the Answer box.
      
      Remember: don’t make the questions too obvious. You should be the only one that knows all of the answers.
      
      
6. After you have finished entering all the questions and their respective answers, click “Set Secret Questions”.
   
   
   
   
7. You have now successfully configured your account. You will be able to reset your password if you forget it.
8. To disable the SMS Password Reset option, log in to Identity Management Services and click the "Clear your password secrets" button (located on the Account tab).
9. When you are finished, be sure to log out of Identity Management Services.

Configuring Your Account: Setting SMS (Short Message Service) Text Message Option - Optional

Note: Depending on your cell phone carrier, there may be a charge for the SMS text message.

1. Go to Identity Management Services
   
   1. Log in with your BroncoName and BroncoPassword.
2. Click the "Account" tab.
3. Click the "Set SMS Password Reset" button (second item on the page).
   
   Read the guidelines for the SMS Password Reset Text Message option, below.
   
   
4. Select one of the two SMS # options.
   
   Note: By default, the Set SMS Password Reset option is disabled.
   
   
   1. Use Number in BroncoDirect - A mobile (cell) phone number must be provided in BroncoDirect in order to use this option.
      
      NOTE: If the mobile (cell) phone number that is displayed is not your current mobile number, you need to update it in BroncoDirect under your Personal Information.
      
      
      
      
   2. Or, use Other Phone Number - Enter your mobile phone number (smartphone, cell phone with text message capabilities, etc.), including areas code.
      
      Note: The cell phone number must be a telephone number in the format of xxx-xxx-xxxx (e.g.; 555-987-6543).
      
      International cell phone numbers cannot be used for this option.
      
      
      
      
   3. Click the Change SMS Option button.
5. You have finished setting your SMS Password Reset option.
   
   1. You are now able to use the SMS Password Reset to change your BroncoPassword.
   2. You will receive a confirmation text message that says, "BroncoPassword SMS reset enabled for <insert your BroncoName here>. Contact the IT Service Desk at 909.869.6776 if questions."
6. To disable the SMS Password Reset option, log in to Identity Management Services and select the "Disabled" radio button (located on the Account tab).
   
   1. Save your change by clicking the "Change SMS Option" button.
7. When you are finished, be sure to log out of Identity Management Services.

If you lose your mobile device (smartphone, cell phone, etc.), disable the SMS Password Reset option for that phone number immediately to keep your account secure.

Resetting Your Own BroncoPassword

Resetting your own BroncoPassword by answering your secret challenge questions

Note: In order to use this feature to reset your BroncoPassword, you had to have previously set your challenge questions in My Control Panel/Identity Management Services.

1. Go to BroncoPassword Reset.
   
   1. Enter your BroncoName.
   2. Click “Continue”.
      
      
      
      
2. You will be prompted for the answers to the challenge questions you set up previously.
   
   1. Enter the answers to your challenge security questions in the spaces provided.
   2. Then enter the new password you would like.
   3. Enter new password again for verification in the second box.
      
      Note: Make sure to follow the BroncoPassword Guidelines.
      
      
   4. When you are done, click “Change BroncoPassword”.
      
      
      
      
3. You have now successfully reset your password.

Resetting your own BroncoPassword using SMS text messaging

Note: Depending on your cell phone carrier, there may be a charge for the SMS text message.
In order to use this feature to reset your BroncoPassword, you had to have previously enabled the SMS BroncoPassword Reset option in My Control Panel/Identity Management Services.

1. Go to SMS Password Reset.
   
   1. Enter your BroncoID: BroncoName or BroncoNumber.
   2. Enter the mobile phone number that you specified in My Control Panel/Identity Management Services.
   3. Click the Continue button.
      
      
      
      
2. You will receive a text message with a link that contains a unique SMS password reset token/code.
3. To continue, choose which phone you designated to receive your SMS text message: smartphone or non-smart phone.

If your designated phone number is a smartphone

1. Click the link in the text message you received.
   
   1. The SMS Password Reset web page will launch.
   2. The token/code will be pre-populated into the SMS Password Reset page.
      
      
      
      
2. Enter your BroncoNumber or BroncoName in the Bronco ID box.
3. Enter the phone number that you specified when you enabled the SMS Password Reset option.
   
   Note: This MUST be the same phone number in which you received the SMS Password Reset link and token/code.
   
   
4. Enter your new BroncoPassword.
   
   Note: It must meet the Password Complexity standards.
   
   
5. Retype your new BroncoPassword to confirm it.
6. Click the Continue button.
7. Your BroncoPassword is now reset.

If your designated phone number is a non-smart phone

1. Type one of the following URLs into a web browser on a device that has Internet capabilities:
   
   1. If you have token/code, then go to https://apps.cpp.edu/idm/smspwreset.aspx
   2. Or, if you do not have a token/code, then go to https://apps.cpp.edu/idm/SmsPWReset.aspx.
   3. Hit the Enter key.
      
      1. The SMS Password Reset web page will launch.
2. Enter your BroncoNumber or BroncoName in the Bronco ID box.
3. Enter the phone number that you specified when you enabled the SMS Password Reset option.
   
   Note: This MUST be the same phone number in which you received the SMS Password Reset link and token/code.
   
   
4. Enter the reset token/code sent in the text message to you.
5. Enter your new BroncoPassword.
   
   Note: It must meet the Password Complexity standards.
   
   
6. Retype your new BroncoPassword to confirm it.
7. Click the Continue button.
   
   
   
   
8. Your BroncoPassword is now reset.

If you have any problems contact the IT Service Desk at 909.869.6776. To reset your password manually, bring a copy of your Cal Poly ID or a photo ID and some form of official Cal Poly paperwork to the IT Service Desk (Building 1, Room 100).

Secret Challenge Questions

Why use challenge questions?

Advantages

Configuring your account with challenge questions gives you another layer of security. Additionally, if you forget your password, you can always reset it, any time of the day or night, on weekends and holidays.

Be sure to create secure answers to your challenge questions because...

1. Anyone who knows your BroncoName can try to answer your secret questions.
2. Anyone with a login can look up your BroncoName.
3. If your questions are easy to answer (either because the answers are widely-known or because you used a weak answer such as "qwerty" or "42" on every question), someone can change your password and steal your account. Think of it as having a deadbolt and alarm system on your front door, but leaving your back door unlocked.
4. If you forget the answers to your questions, you'll still have to contact the IT Service Desk.

Guidelines for Secret Challenge Questions

1. Avoid questions that people can answer by looking at your Facebook or LinkedIn profile, or by talking to you for fifteen minutes.
2. Avoid questions that have a limited number of possible answers, such as eye color or hair color.
3. You can always supply a false answer: if your were born in Pomona, but wish you had been born in London, you can use that as your answer, as long as you remember it.
4. Yoo kan mispell yr annsir (r eevn yor kwesschun).
5. You can supply a question or answer in a language other than English, and in any writing system (although not all computers will have either the fonts or the input methods for other writing systems). But if you choose a language that you and all your friends use all the time, it's not much more secure than English.
6. Just as with your password, never share your questions and answers with anyone you wouldn't trust with your money, identity or safety.

Resources

• Password FAQs - Frequently-asked questions about your password(s).
• SMS Text Messaging Password Reset FAQs - Frequently-asked questions about the SMS Password Reset option.