Tag Archives: cybersecurity

Top Ten Cybersecurity Tips

cybersecurity

With our reliance on technology increasing in nearly every facet of our lives, it is more important than ever that you are educated on how to protect yourself and your assets from cyber threats. Hackers are interested in anyone and everyone’s information. It does not matter if you don’t think you have anything worth stealing. Your identity itself is incredibly valuable on the black market. Take the proper precautions and follow these simple cybersecurity tips!

1. Put a lock on all of your systems.

We mean this not only for your devices but on your smart systems, too. If you don’t have a lock on your router, you want to get one immediately. A cybercriminal will be able to log onto your Wi-Fi and gain access to any device using your internet. This is another reason why you should never log on to any wireless internet that does not require a passcode. Every time you walk away from a device, whether it be your phone or a laptop, make sure that you have locked it with a passcode.

2. Pay inside.

We know the weather isn’t exactly warm anymore and you want to get the chore of filling your gas tank over with quickly. However, pay at the pump services pose a risk. Like an ATM, gas pumps can have card skimmers. Take your card to the friendly face behind the counter inside.

3. Always backup your data.

Ransomware is when a hacker takes your data and refuses to release it until a price is paid. We can say with a fair amount of certainty, they will never give you your data, no matter how much you pay. To avoid being in this situation, consistently remove data you don’t need and save what you do on a cloud-based system.

4. Keep your friends close.

We are going against the notorious saying. Keep your friends close and your enemies as far away as possible. When you get a friend request from someone that you do not know, be suspicious. Play it safe and decline these persons unless you have at least 20 mutual friends.

5. BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)

We are sorry to say it, but you can’t always trust that your friend will stay as up-to-date on security measures as you. However, you can certainly alert them to this blog! Until then, don’t use anyone’s devices but your own, as you can be hacked from unknown sources.

6. Question before connection.

This ties into #4, but just because you are on LinkedIn, doesn’t mean it is a platform where cybercrime does not happen. Be wary of who is trying to connect with you, as they may be trying to steal basic information about you to use to hack your accounts.

7. Smarten up your phone.

Your phone may have come with some automatic security measures, but you can take it further. Be sure to turn your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth off when they are not in use. If you have sensitive information on your phone, you can install an encryption system as a safeguard.

8. Get your apps together.

You likely have apps on your phone that you haven’t used in months. You probably haven’t done the necessary updates to the app and it may not be safe to keep storing it on your phone. More apps can equal more risk, so clean them up.

9. Free Wi-Fi isn’t always free.

If you’re like most people, you connect with public Wi-Fi whenever it is available. We suggest not doing this, as it may not be secure. There may be criminals who try to access your device through the wireless internet to steal your information.

10. Don’t say, “It can’t happen to me.”

Most importantly, you need to realize that no one is immune from a cyber attack. Cybercriminals will take whatever they can get. Don’t let yourself become the next victim.

Ignorance of this threat is not an option now that you know some great ways to avoid being hacked. Be sure you’re staying safe when online. Our Online and Mobile Banking services offer the security you need to bank efficiently.

Protect Yourself From Social Networking Site Hacks

social networking

In the world of social media, everything nowadays is online and public for all to view. With the numerous updates we face every day, it’s important to keep yourself up-to-date on what social networking sites share to others and how you can limit those settings. Protect yourself online with these simple tips to start!

Be Cautious When Adding Friends

Being constantly bombarded with friend requests and follows slowly weakens your cautiousness. You begin to accept more people without really digging in. This makes you a target for hackers. When someone has a friend in common on Facebook, this doesn’t mean you should just add them. Make sure you truly know the person before accepting a follow/friend request. Comb through your friends list now and delete those you don’t know.

Update Your Privacy Settings

It’s important to update your privacy settings so only friends and followers can see your posts. Hackers and other unwanted viewers are able to see your posts and photos if you keep things on public. Facebook answers some common privacy settings questions here.

Don’t Enable Auto Login

Yes, it’s easier to have your phone and computer “remember” your password and username. However, if someone were to gain access to your phone, they would automatically have access to all material and credit card info that is auto saved on sites.

Change Passwords Frequently

This may be an old tip, but it is the MOST important. Changing your password every 30-60 days and making sure it’s different from your other accounts will increase your security online exponentially.

Stop Geotagging

This is one of the most dangerous features now enabled on social networks and devices. Most people don’t realize Twitter and Instagram both use geotagging (which stores the latitude and longitude of your Tweet or image) for everything you send out. Pictures you take on an iPhone usually store geotagging information as well. This gives unwanted people way too much information about your location. See how you can turn this feature off on an iPhone and iPad here.

Enable Two-Factor Authentication

This feature has become an important addition to many social networking sites. It can be frustrating when trying to log in on a new device, but enabling Two-Factor Authentication means you will be alerted right away if someone is trying to log in.

These security tips are easy ways to start down the path of becoming more secure while online. It’s better to be aware of the features these sites hold and know exactly how they can help or hurt you. At Timberwood Bank, we take pride in how secure our clients’ information is and aim to help others protect themselves.

Stay Secure While Staying Connected: Top Myths of Security

secure

It’s nearly unavoidable to have some semblance of a social life if you are not using technology to connect with the outside world. From social media and texting to phone applications, we are always connected. Many are uninformed of how to maintain this social connection while at the same time protecting themselves from the most basic security threats. We are combating this by busting the most common notions or myths about cybersecurity.

MYTH: Hackers aren’t interested in what I have.

If you have a social security number, hackers are interested in you. Even if you feel like your personal wealth is not very high, your social security number is incredibly valuable. With your number, they can conduct financial theft by applying for loans and credit cards in your name. They could also use your number to incur their healthcare costs or even legal obligations. In an even darker scenario, your identity can be sold to other hackers to use over and over again. Thereby creating a tumultuous problem. Realize that you have something worth protecting!

MYTH: My email application blocks all of the spam for me.

It only takes one accidental or wrong click to open yourself up to malware. And as great as some email applications are, they aren’t able to block every suspicious email from entering your inbox. Did you know that 1.5 percent of spam emails are malicious? Considering how many you likely get in a day, you are at risk every time you click. There are many ways to add additional filters to your email, but the best line of defense is actually you. If you have even the slightest suspicion about an email, report it. Only communicate with those you know without a doubt are secure sources.

MYTH: I’d be safer to go off the grid.

While it may sound alluring to some nomads, unplugging from digital connection can put you in a position of higher risk. This is because there is less day to day monitoring of your accounts. This makes your accounts a terrific target for hackers to attack and go by unnoticed.

MYTH: I have cybersecurity software, so I am not at risk.

If you’ve invested in anti-virus software, good for you for taking steps to protect yourself! However, hackers are becoming more advanced and finding ways to bypass hundreds of protective measures every day. Also, they can still attack you from other sources such as social media. A great way to combat this is to never click on unfamiliar links and to limit the information you put on social media, including your birthdate.

Stay safe while staying connected with these great tips. Remember, we offer safe and secure banking products to keep your information protected.

How To Protect Yourself From Identity Theft

identity

The first step in protecting yourself from identity theft is understanding what identity theft actually is. It’s defined as “the illegal use of someone else’s personal information usually in order to obtain money or credit.”

Do you have a credit card?  If so, in a study by Experian, 81% of people said they rely on their banks and credit card companies to protect them from fraud. We don’t want you to fall in that 81%, so we offer these 5 ways you can protect yourself.

  1. Freeze your credit – This will restrict access to all of your records so that any new credit files cannot be opened, unless you unfreeze it.
  2. Create stronger passwords – Many people love to use the same password for a variety of different sites. In the end you may think this is a good idea, however it’s not. Mixing up your passwords in addition to making them more difficult will decrease your risk of your identity being stolen. If it helps, write your passwords down for your specific sites but be sure to keep that information in a safe place. Random combinations of letters, numbers and special characters work best.
  3. Limit your personal information – Are your full name, birthdate and family members listed on your social media sites? If that information is out there, it’s likely that anyone can see it. Limit the amount of personal information you put on the internet and check your privacy settings. Fraudsters may also pose as a bank/credit card company over the phone asking for your information. But, no real company will call asking for your personal information. Therefore, don’t give anything away!
  4. Check your credit/financial reports – You are allowed a free credit report from each of the credit bureaus every 12 months on AnnualCreditReport.com. Credit reports will include any leery activity on your accounts, so check your credit reports frequently for any incorrect information.
  5. Use a shredder – Don’t have a shredder? We recommend you buy one, especially if you’re throwing away any credit card or bank statements. Documents like those should not be placed in the garbage unless they are shredded to pieces. If they’re placed in the garbage, anyone has the ability to find it and steal your information. You can also participate in our Shred Event which is held every spring to properly dispose of important documents.

There’s no doubt that identity thieves are out there, so it’s up to you to take extra caution. With these helpful tips, we hope you can become extra successful at protecting yourself from identity theft. Our CardValet allows you to monitor your card activity and help prevent fraud. Check it out!