What should you do if you suspect your password has been compromised?

Prepare for the Department of Defense Cyber Awareness Test. Engage with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each offering hints and explanations. Ready yourself for success!

If you suspect that your password has been compromised, the best course of action is to change it immediately and inform your IT department. This approach serves two crucial purposes. First, changing your password promptly prevents unauthorized access to your accounts by mitigating the risk of further exploitation. Second, informing your IT department allows them to monitor for unusual activity and take necessary actions to secure the system, potentially protecting other users and data as well.

Taking this proactive approach demonstrates an understanding of the importance of cybersecurity and helps maintain the integrity of the organization's information systems. In contrast, sharing your password with a colleague undermines security principles and could lead to further breaches. Ignoring the situation can allow attackers to exploit your account without their knowledge, potentially causing damage that might be irreversible. Lastly, changing passwords weekly without suspicion may lead to password fatigue, where users create weak or easily guessed passwords, thereby reducing overall security. Hence, the immediate change of a compromised password, coupled with notifying IT, is the most effective strategy for maintaining cybersecurity.

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