How to Safeguard our personal and financial data

From account information to personal data, the Internet has become an optimal place for criminals to get information. There are several ways to protect safeguard the personal and financial data when using the computer doing some transaction.

The Internet is not the only place that you need to be aware. In your daily transactions at the ATM, on the phone, shopping or in a restaurant, you need to know how to protect your information. Treat your personal and account information with great care, and avoid giving information easily to other people.

How can I protect myself from identity theft?

There are several step to prevent identity theft is awareness of how and when you use your personal information. By keeping close tabs on your personal information, you can reduce your chances of becoming an identity theft victim. Let’s start with credit cards and ATM:

• Create a strong password. When logging onto a secure site, choose a password that others can’t guess but is easy to remember. Use a combination of numbers and letters. For example, select a word you can remember but replace some of the letters with numbers, e.g., secret=s1cr1t. Avoid using family or pet names, birth dates, anniversaries or social security numbers.
• Memorize your Social Security number and passwords. Don’t record your password, personal identification number on papers you carry with you.
• Change your Password frequently for greater protection, we recommend at least every 72 days
• Never give personal or financial information over the phone or Internet unless you initiated the contact.
• Check your monthly credit card and bank statements for unusual activity. Request and check your credit report at least once a year for mistakes or fraudulent use. If you come across any suspicious activity on your accounts, contact your financial institution immediately.
• Do not download files sent to you by strangers or click on hyperlinks from people you don’t know.
• When you use your credit card online, make sure you are using a secure Web site. Look for a small key or lock symbol at the bottom right of your.
• Report lost or stolen checks, ATM cards, or Check Cards as soon as you discover they are missing.
• ATM, Check Card, and credit card receipts may bear your account numbers and should be securely destroyed or stored for your protection.

Online and Email Safety

• Do not share your login access codes for Online Services with any third party.
• Do not access your bank, brokerage or other financial services information at Internet cafes, or other public spaces.
• Never leave your computer unattended while using any online banking or investing services.
• Do not respond to emails appearing to be from your bank, government office or other entity that request personal information such as User IDs, Passwords, PINs, Social Security Number, etc.
• Do not open unexpected attachments from known or unknown sources.
• Avoid using an automatic login feature that saves your Password.
• Only submit personal information if you are on a secure Web site. Once logged in to a site, make sure the Web address starts with a "https" ("s" means it's a secure area). For added safety, check for a site certificate before submitting information on a secure page. Confirm the owner of the certificate by clicking on the padlock icon at the bottom of most browsers. You should see the owner listed as well as a URL. This URL should match the URL at the top of the page; if they do not match, you may be at a fraudulent Web site and should not enter sensitive data.