Written by: Nick Allen, FileInvite Op-Ed Writer
As a mortgage processor or underwriter, keeping a borrower's data secure is paramount. In the current environment of leaks, phishing and hacked passwords, keeping access to your systems secure is paramount. Take the following as a preliminary check for high performing password policies.
1. Activate two factor authentication
If your door has a lock and also a deadbolt, you’d use both right? The same is true with two factor authentication. Requiring a password AND authentication via text message to your phone, means that even if your password is compromised, you have a backup in your pocket. Just remember to keep it charged...
2. Avoid the usual suspects PLEASE!
In a report from Keepersecurity.com, the top passwords in 2017 (which were pretty similar to 2016 and 2015) were:
- 123456
- 123456789
- qwerty
- 12345678
- 111111
- 1234567890
- 1234567
- password
- 123123
- 987654321
It goes without saying that in password land it’s not a popularity contest!
3. Never use the same password twice
In a poll of Telesign.com almost ¾ of passwords were used to log into more than one service and over half of those polled used less than 5 passwords across their entire life. Just imagine the services you enrolled for in high school and how insecure they may be.
4. Regularly change your passwords
Like bed linen, passwords are best when fresh and regularly updated. Consider calendarizing a regular update to passwords and logins.
5. Consider outsource the creation of your passwords
Services like LastPass.com offer the ability to create passwords that include: alphanumeric and symbol characters, conveniently storing them for access across various computers and devices. The outsourcing of password creation avoids you choosing a demographic or commonly available piece of information like: your mother's maiden name, birth dates of children, zip code or childhood street number.
6. (BONUS tip) Use your password as motivation
Oh, and if you’re like me and need a reminder to create good habits, consider switching your login to a motivational reminder like:
- D0100situp$
- Qu!tsmoking
- F0Cu5
- D0n@teTOD4Y
While it might take a bit to consider outsourcing your password creation, adjusting your password creation, variety and update frequency will have immediate impact on security. So get cracking!
About the Author
As an NAMP® Opinion Editorial Contributor, Nick Allen is the Head of Marketing at FileInvite - a global SaaS company. He has over two decades of experience in marketing across Travel, Education, Professional and Financial Services industries. FileInvite's cloud software solution helps mortgage professionals gather sensitive documents on autopilot. The platform chases, collects and files them for you safely in the cloud. http://fileinvite.com
