Help with a very simple program? Thanks!

Hi all,

I'm having a bit of a problem with a simple program I cooked up for practice. The code is below:

Java Code:

import java.util.Scanner;


public class CAPPLogin {

        public static void main(String[] args) {
                /* This program is designed to take two string inputs from the user simultaneously
                 * and check them against two preset string values. If the inputs match, the user
                 * will receive an "Access Granted" message. If one or both of the inputs do not
                 * match, the user will receive one of three self-written error messages (not an exception) 
                 * that will each be output depending on the scenario.
                 */
                
        
                Scanner scan = new Scanner(System.in);
                System.out.println("Thank you for activating CAPP Employee LogIn Launcher.");
                System.out.print("Username: ");
                String username = scan.nextLine();
                System.out.print("Password: ");
                String password = scan.nextLine();
                
                if (username == "Employee1" && password == "bli33ard")// If both the username and password match the preset strings
                {
                                System.out.println("Processing...");
                                System.out.println("Account recognized. Welcome Michael.");
                }
                else if(username != "Employee1")// If the username does not match the preset string
                {
                                System.out.println("Processing...");
                                System.out.println("Error: Username not recognized.");
                }
                else if(password != "bli33ard")// If the password does not match the preset string
                {
                                System.out.println("Processing...");
                                System.out.println("Error: Password not recognized.");
                
                }
                else if (username != "Employee1" && password != "bli33ard")// If both the username and password do not match the preset strings
                {
                                System.out.println("Processing...");
                                System.out.println("The specified account does not exist.");
                }
                

        }

}

(Just so you know, I use Eclipse for my programs.)



Like I said, this program is just for practice and isn't intended for anything other than learning Java.



I am having no trouble at all running the program itself, there are no critical errors. It's just whenever I do run it, and input the correct "log-in info," it gives me the error message "Error: Username not recognized." This is odd, as I have checked the program itself and my input.



If it's a simple oversight, like it probably is, forgive me as I am quite new to Java.



Also, if anyone has feedback on how I could improve the program itself, that would be very much appreciated