Online Security Tips

• Shred financial documents and paperwork with personal information before discarding them.

• Better yet, replace paper bills, statements and checks with paperless options. Online banking, online bill pay and online statements all help reduce the amount of account correspondence you receive in your mailbox.

• Sign up for direct deposit.

• Don’t use obvious passwords such as your birthday or anniversary, your mother’s maiden name or the last four digits of your Social Security number.

• Don’t share your user names or passwords with other people.

• Never click on links sent in unsolicited emails. Instead, type the address into your internet browser or copy and paste the URL.

• Never open or download attachments from unverified sources.

• Install and maintain anti-virus and firewall software on all computers. If possible, consider designating one computer solely for your online banking activity and no other browsing.

• Keep your computer updated with the latest releases of operating systems and web browsers.

• Protect your Social Security number. Don’t carry your Social Security card in your wallet or write your number on a check. Give it out only if absolutely necessary.

• Don’t give out personal information on the phone, through the mail or over the Internet unless you know you are speaking to a trusted source.

• Keep your personal information in a secure place at home.

Fraudulent emails and scams often look legitimate. Know what to look for to spot a scam, including:

• Double-check the email address (not just the display name). Make sure the email is coming from a valid or known domain.

• Check for mistakes and typos. While many emails are well-written, you should still look for any obvious typos or grammatical issues.

• Look before clicking. If there are links in the email, hover over the link to determine if they go to the expected site. Look for minor misspellings that are intended to fool you.