I've forgotten my password!
NickOP, the Nickname Operator, allows users to register their nicknames and identify themselves to ensure authenticity. This is done by sending an identify message to NickOP, which includes your password.

If you have forgotten your password, NickOP will reject your request and most likely change your nickname by force. This is to ensure that only the registered owner of the nickname can use it.

If you need to recover your nickname password, please /join #ASD the AustNet Services Department channel. In this channel there are volunteers who manage our network who can assist you in recovering your password. Simply request assistance in the channel and an administrator will be able to e-mail the password to you directly. Once the password has been sent, check your Inbox for new mail. The e-mail AustNet sends you will contain your password, and information on how to identify. Identify with NickOP using this password and you should be back in action.

If you are unable to find someone online in #ASD to help you, try emailing [email protected] and someone will assist you via email as soon as possible.

I used a fake email address.
When you registered your nickname, you were required to specify your real e-mail address. If you did not specify an address that we can email, as in you specified an invalid e-mail address, it is unlikely that we can assist you in recovering your password.

What restrictions are there on passwords?
Passwords are required to be between 3-10 characters long and can be comprised of a combination of letters (upper/lower case are seen as different), numbers and/or valid characters. Passwords must contain at least one number or non-alphanumeric character (see below).

How do I pick a password?
As a guide, AustNet recommends that you comply with the following password policy:

Your password should contain characters from at least 3 of the following 4 classes:
1. English Upper Case Letters: A, B, C, ... Z
2. English Lower Case Letters: a, b, c, ... z
3. Westernized Arabic Numerals: 0, 1, 2, ... 9
4. Non-alphanumeric ("special characters"): { } [ ] , . < > ; : '" ? / | \ ` ~ ! @ # % ^ & * ( ) _ - + =
Note: The special character "$" cannot be used.

At a minimum your password should be at least 6 characters long. For stronger security, choose longer passwords with characters from all four classes (above).

How do I stop people stealing my password?
Always change your nick or disconnect before letting someone else use your computer.
Do not tell anyone else your password (this includes your friends and your spouse - let them register their own nicknames). Never email your password in an email to AustNet.
Choose complex passwords that cannot be guessed. Don't use passwords you use for other purposes.
Change your password regularly.
Don't run scripts if you are not 100% sure they are secure.
Never run auto-identify scripts for two reasons.
* If they are not setup correctly, they may be sent to a user or channel.
* They are stored on your hard disk as clear text in a file which can be opened by anyone else who has access to your computer.

For more password help, see the helpers in #asd online, or email [email protected]. Note: you should never email your password to this address. No ASD helper will ever ask you for your current password.

Users often as for help choosing a nickop password. Follow these guidelines:
Your password should not contain your IRC nick, real name, domain, login or anything else that may be obvious such as your birthday, telephone number, home address or favourite channel.

Your password should not be used for any other service, e.g. ISP login password, DALnet NickServ password or Windows password.

No one else at ALL should know your password, e.g. friend, spouse, etc. - they should register their own nick.

Your new passwords should never be the same as any of your last eight passwords

You must choose a password you can remember and yet is complex. For example, Msi5YOld (My Son is 5 years old) OR IhliCf5#yN (I have lived in California for 5 years now).