When you activate your account, or if you ever forget your password, you can set a new one by following the instructions on the web page at: https://webauth.ox.ac.uk/reset_password. After supplying your personal details, you will asked for the answer to your security question. If you answer correctly, you will then be able to set a new password for your account which will need to be a minimum of 16 characters. If you give three wrong answers, the system will lock you out and you will need get a Rescue Code from your Local IT Support.
Once you have answered your security question successfully, on the next screen, type in the new password for the account. Repeat the password in the second box. This is to confirm your typing because your password is not shown on the screen. If you do not set a suitable password, the system will reject it and ask you to try again.
After the system has accepted the new password you will see a confirmation screen. You can now use your new password to access your account.
If you have never set a security question, or have forgotten what the answer is, you will need to contact your local IT Support or the IT Services Central Service Desk for a Rescue Code. The Rescue Code, which has a lifetime of seven days, allows you to reset your security question and answer. Once done, you will then be able to reset your password using the newly-set security question and answer.