Monthly Archives: August 2015

Title Insurance Issues

How to create a strong password

ALTA Best practices encourages the use of strong passwords for your computer systems. Passwords provide the first line of defense against unauthorized access to your computer. The stronger your password, the more protected your computer will be from hackers and malicious software. You should make sure you have strong passwords for all accounts on your computer. If you’re using a corporate network, your network administrator might require you to use a strong password.

Check the strength of your password here

What makes a password strong (or weak)?

A strong password:

  • Is at least eight characters long.

  • Does not contain your user name, real name, or company name.

  • Does not contain a complete word.

  • Is significantly different from previous passwords.

  • Contains Uppercase letters, Lowercase letters, numbers and symbols

A password might meet all the criteria above and still be a weak password. For example, No1password! meets all the criteria for a strong password listed above, but is still weak because it contains a complete word. N01 p@ssw0rd! is a stronger alternative because it replaces some of the letters in the complete word with numbers and also includes spaces.

Help yourself remember your strong password by following these tips:

  • Create an acronym from an easy-to-remember piece of information. For example, pick a phrase that is meaningful to you, such as My daughter’s birthday is 28 October, 1974. Using that phrase as your guide, you might use Mdbi28/Oct,74 for your password.

  • Substitute numbers, symbols, and misspellings for letters or words in an easy-to-remember phrase. For example, My daughter’s birthday is 28 October, 1974 could become MiDauBrthd8iz 281074 (it’s OK to use spaces in your password).

  • Relate your password to a favorite hobby or sport. For example, I love to play basketball could become ILuv2PlayB@sk3tb@ll.

If you feel you must write down your password in order to remember it, make sure you don’t label it as your password, and keep it in a safe place.

Check the strength of your password here

Continuing Education

Financial Fraud in the Title Industry course approved in New Jersey

Learntitle has another course approved for 1 credit.

Click Here to Enroll
This course will cover:

  • ALTA Best Practice #2
  • Various types of Fraud
    • How to detect it
    • How to prevent it
    • Internal Fraud
    • External Fraud
  • Why ALTA Best Practice compliance is important
  • Phishing

Click Here to Enroll

Presenter is Tracy Milanese

Vice President, Relationship Manager at Access National Bank

Tracy joined Access National Bank in 2012 as a Vice President, Relationship Manager. She has 10 years of
experience in the banking industry. With Access National Bank, Tracy is responsible for business development and
relationship management of title companies as well as other types of small businesses, including medical
practitioners and veterinarians.

Tracy is involved with various associations such as VLTA, the Practice Managers
Association, the Bull Run Rotary Club, the Prince William Chamber of Commerce, and the Prince William affiliate
of Habitat for Humanity.