Keeping Yourself Safe in Cyberspace

An important part of online safety is knowledge. The more you know, the safer you’ll be. Here are some great tips on how to stay safe in cyberspace:

Set good passwords.
A good password is one that won’t be easily guessed and consists of a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special characters. Be sure to change them often and refrain from writing them down, sharing them, or using the same one for multiple websites.

Refrain from sending personal information via email or text.
Everything from caller ID, email addresses, and websites can be mimicked. Play it safe and never send account numbers, social security numbers, passwords, etc. via email or text.

Be wary of email attachments.
Opening files attached to emails can allow harmful malware or viruses to be downloaded onto your computer. It is easy for hackers to send copycat email messages to trick you into opening an invoice, receipt, survey, or document disguised as a virus. Only open attachments you are expecting and be sure to have an up-to-date antivirus program on your computer.

Links aren't always what they seem.
Similar to dangerous attachments, criminals can use fake email addresses and websites to steal your information. By clicking on links within emails, you might be typing your login credentials directly into a hacker’s data base. To avoid falling into their traps, type URL addresses directly into the address bar.

Logoff from sites when you are done.
When you are ready to leave a site that you’ve logged into, be sure to log off before you close the page.

Monitor your accounts.
Monitor your account activity regularly either online or by reviewing your monthly statements and report any unauthorized transactions right away.

Assess your risk.
We recommend periodically assessing your online banking risk and putting increased security controls into place where weaknesses are found; particularly for members with business accounts. Some items to consider when assessing your online banking risk are:

• Who has access to your online business accounts?
• How and where are user names and passwords stored?
• How strong are your passwords and how often are they changed? Are they changed before or immediately after terminating an employee who had access to them?
• Do you have dual controls or other checks and balances with respect to access to online banking transactions?
   

Be proactive and learn more about cyber security.
Get ahead of scammers and hackers with online safety tips from the Department of Homeland Security.