MMA Faculty and Staff Told About Password Pitfalls

By George F. Davison, Jr., ’68, MMA Journalism Instructor 

Strong passwords are the best way to protect your personal data on computers.  A MMA Technology Training Team of Cadets Daniel Bravo, John Farley, and John Trippe, told members of the faculty and staff that strong passwords make it difficult for hackers to get personal data.   

The team advised that a long password is strong.  They gave an example of another Cybersecurity Cadet whose password has almost 60 characters.  It was suggested that a sentence or phrase be created to be used as a password.  Underscores are special characters, and they can be useful when creating a unique password.  The team noted that the word password and its derivatives are the most commonly used passwords.  The team urged: 

• Don’t use the word password as a password 
• Don’t use your name or your birthday in a password 
• Don’t use personal information in a password 
• Don’t use the same password for everything  
• Don’t share your password 

The faculty and staff were cautioned that passwords need to be constructed so that they can be remembered.    The team suggested if a password is written on paper or put into a notebook, the information should be kept in a locked safe or compartment.   

The team demonstrated why it is important to use websites with https:// as opposed to http://  The letter s indicates that the website is secure.  A lock symbol with the https:// is further assurance of a safe website.  A website that only has http:// is vulnerable and can be used by nefarious individuals who want to acquire IP addresses.  Using a secure website helps to protect personal data. 

Team members discussed phishing and social engineering scams.  Computer-based scams rotate depending on the time of the year or the season.  Recent scams involve unpaid toll tickets or misplaced packages sent to UPS.  A scammer will urge a mark to purchase reloadable money cards issued by Green Dot Bank.  These cards are difficult to trace, making them a favorite way to get money from an unsuspecting person.   

The faculty and staff were urged to keep computers and applications updated.  Applications that are not in use should be deleted.  The team reiterated the importance of https:// and the assurance it provides that a website is secure.   The Cadets urged their adult students to use common sense and strong passwords. 

A second Cadet Technology Team presented information about Android devices.  Cadets Archer Gober and John Shadonix are in their first year at MMA and are in their first semester of Cyber Security instruction.  The team is led by Cadet G6 Eric Shellabarger, who is in his third year at MMA and a participant in a special Generative Artificial Intelligence Engineering training program.   

The team members demonstrated the characteristics and features of phones and tablets which use the Android operating system.  They emphasized a point made by their Cybersecurity colleagues:  “Do not send private information over a public Wi-Fi network.”   The team noted that a home computer network should be password-protected so that intruders are blocked. 

The presentations by the two Cadet Technology Training Teams on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, were in partnership with Connected Nation, Teens Teach Tech, and AT&T.  The Teens Teach Tech program provides opportunities for teens to provide technical information to adults.  The MMA  Cybersecurity program will receive a donation from AT&T for each adult who attends a presentation by a Cadet Technology Training Team.  MMA Cybersecurity Instructor and CIO CW4 Jason Landrum says the teams will go into the community to train others and to help adults better understand the potential risks of computer technology.