Mobile Device Password

Passwords on Smart Phones and Tablets Using ActiveSync

Cell phones and tablets which synchronize e-mail and calendar events with the college’s O365 Exchange server use a feature called ActiveSync in order to perform this function.  ActiveSync provides the user with access to server-based e-mail, the calendar and the address book (to find contact information for Trinity e-mail users).

In order to safeguard access to this potentially sensitive information, all staff and faculty phones and tablets configured to use ActiveSync will have certain security options enabled.  These are having a PIN and Auto-Lock.  It is particularly important that users of such devices be familiar with the following details.

(We recommend all phone users set a password, even if they’re not using ActiveSync.)

PIN

A PIN is a numerical password set on the phone that prevents unauthorized access.  Functioning similarly to a password on a computer, it needs to be entered on the device before it can be used.   (Making an emergency call on a smartphone is always possible, even without entering the PIN.)

The PIN must be a minimum of four numbers long.  Users need to select PINs that will be remembered without the need to write it down, yet be complex enough to avoid successful guessing.  Avoid repeating a single digit as in 7777, or common sequences such as 1234, or 2468.

To set a PIN on a smartphone, follow these directions:

Apple iOS:  Click on Settings and select General.  Scroll down and select Passcode Lock.  Select Turn Passcode On, and enter a four-digit passcode.  Re-type the passcode to confirm.

Android:  [Android menus options vary slightly, so the entries may not be exactly what is identified here.]  From the home screen, click the menu button and select Settings.  Select Security (sometimes named Location & Security or Security & Privacy), followed by Screen Lock, and PIN.  Enter a PIN, press continue and re-enter it to confirm.  Select OK.

Auto-Lock

Smart Phones and Tablets will automatically lock after 15 minutes of non-use.  After this period, the device will require the users to re-enter the PIN to use it again.