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Continuing Education

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

Title Insurance Issues

Closing Protection Letters Are NOT Insurance Against Mortgage Fraud | Mortgage News | Daily National and State Headlines

Interesting Article from the Mortgage Professional website:

You are about to wire closing funds to the table, into the hands of a lawyer, title agent or escrow company employee you have never met before, but no worries because you have a Closing Protection Letter CPL right? Wrong.Take a good look at the language in this warranty letter. The majority of CPLs insure against two events: 1 Outright theft of the mortgage proceeds, and 2 Any other event that impairs the invalidity or unenforceability of the lien of the mortgage.

via Closing Protection Letters Are NOT Insurance Against Mortgage Fraud | Mortgage News | Daily National and State Headlines.

Title Insurance Issues

Danealle Marshall joins Cloudstar

Cloudstar, the leading provider of security, compliance, and cloud technology systems for the land title industry, is pleased to announce that Danealle Marshall has joined the organization as a Strategic Account Manager.  She brings with her 15 years of consulting, sales and training experience in the land title industry, delivering responsive service, industry expertise, and strong client advocacy.  Prior to joining Cloudstar, Danealle held positions with Digital Risk, Entrust Solutions, Land America, and other well-known industry players.

Cloudstar is very excited to have Danealle on board.  She is very passionate about our industry and serving the needs of title agents, said Gregory McDonald, CEO of Cloudstar.

As a second generation member of the title insurance industry, Danealle thrives on being a knowledge source to clients and colleagues and brings with her the ability to analyze, anticipate needs, and provide expert guidance on compliance and technology solutions for title agents and real estate professionals.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the Cloudstar team as a catalyst for Change.  It is currently sink or swim for many title industry professionals, who need to quickly adopt technological solutions and industry best practices in order to stay afloat and compete in a heavily regulated marketplace,” Marshall states.

Danealle is actively engaged with multi-generational clients and colleagues and is a contributing member of real estate, mortgage and title industry associations.