Setting or changing your passphrase

A passphrase serves the same purpose as a password, except that it's generally much longer, and can include punctuation, including space characters spaces. Your passphrase is used to cryptographically protect your account file. If other people can “crack” (guess) your passphrase, they can use your Groove identities, thereby illicitly impersonating you (this is called “identity theft”). Therefore, it's best for your passphrase to be “long and strong”. For the best possible security, it should consist of 8–10 random words (not merely random characters ).

The challenge in creating a good passphrase is in devising a combination of words and characters that you yourself can easily memorize and type, but which are too arcane for anyone else to figure out.

As a rule of thumb, the longer and more elaborate you make your passphrase, the more difficult it will be for someone else to guess.

  1. Open Account Preferences and display the Account page.

  2. Click Change passphrase and follow the instructions in the dialog box.

Optionally, check "Remember my new passphrase on this computer" if you want to avoid typing your Groove passphrase whenever you start Groove.

It's advisable to write your passphrase on paper and storing it in a safe and private place. If you forget your passphrase, it cannot be recovered. The only remedy is to delete your Groove account (and all the identities in it), then re-create a new account.

Note: Passphrase settings only affect your Groove installation on the immediate computer. If you have a Groove account on another computer, you must set or change the passphrase separately on that system.

See also

Managing your account information

What do I do if I forget my passphrase?