Tag Archives: online safety

Online Safety Tips for Retirees

computer

Online safety is a much bigger problem than most people realize. It’s estimated that seniors lose a total of about $30 billion every year because of online scams. We want to prevent that from happening, and we bet you do, too. We’ve put together some of the easiest ways for seniors to be safe online.

Be careful when making online purchases. Hackers and scammers can make their websites look pretty realistic and trustworthy on the outside. Here are some ways to know when not to enter your personal information.

  • Look for reviews if buying a product.
  • Make sure the website is secure.
  • If possible, only shop on websites you or others have used in the past.

Keep tabs on all of your accounts. Be sure not to let your accounts, on social media or elsewhere, go left unvisited for too long. The following points will help you know how to keep your personal accounts protected.

  • Use strong and secure passwords, as well as different passwords for each account.
  • Give a trusted family member or friend access to your accounts in case of emergency.

Think about what you’re posting. Just because your account is private doesn’t mean everything you post in there is safe from the world’s eyes. There are still ways for hackers to access your account or for others to copy and share your posts.

  • Don’t post pictures or information you wouldn’t want the public to know about.
  • If you need to share important but private information, consider doing so in person or over a phone call if possible.

Don’t trust all emails and messages. Although many email providers have an automatic spam filter, some make it to your inbox. When it comes to social media, messages from strangers can be dangerous.

  • Ignore the “You’re a winner!” or “Free prize!” messages.
  • Verify with friends before sending any money in case their account was hacked.
  • Don’t trust direct messages unless you can verify who the person is and why they’d be reaching out to you.

Be careful what you choose to download. Hackers will often create free downloadable documents that are actually viruses. Here are some steps to make sure your device doesn’t get hacked.

  • Know and trust your source before downloading anything.
  • Have a protective security software installed on your device.
  • Verify with a professional that it’s a trusted source.

Technology is a wonderful thing, but it definitely comes with dangers. Be sure to follow these practical online safety tips and continue protecting your personal information!

A Six Step Small Business Cybersecurity Plan

cybersecurity

You have ventured out to achieve your dream of owning your own business. Unfortunately, there are criminals who aim to take what you have worked so hard for. These criminals aren’t what they used to be, they aren’t standing at your door, but likely anonymous and entering your business from a remote location. It can happen to anyone and this is why it’s important you have a cybersecurity plan for your business. If you are new to the cybersecurity realm, start with this simplified plan in order to protect your business.

1. Analyze Your Risks

It’s hard to know where you’re going if you don’t know where you are. You have a business to run and a hundred decisions that need to be made everyday. Either partner with a cybersecurity expert to analyze risks you currently have or educate yourself on the potential security pitfalls many business owners fall victim to.

2. Establish Security Protocols

Once you know where you are vulnerable, you have a better idea of what needs to change. Just as you have a list of protocols for the daily running of your business, so should you have a list of the best security practices your business will implement.

3. Limit Physical Access

The more hardware you have exposed, the more at risk you are for theft, employee misuse and hacking. This will help you to protect private business information and client data. Keep the hardware you have to the minimum and put physical locks on any vulnerable devices.

4. Train Employees

Your cybersecurity is only as strong as your employees. Unfortunately, they are often unintentionally the cause of security breaches. It could be from clicking on suspicious links or opening an email from an unknown source. It can happen quickly and to anyone, especially if they are not educated on cyber protection.

5. Backup Data

Some criminals may hold your data hostage unless you pay them. This is called ransomware and is one of the many reasons why it’s important to backup your data. The average cost of a cybersecurity breach for a small business is $34,000. Preemptively avoid this in order to avoid being included in this number.

6. Build a Wall of Protection

Cyber criminals will do anything they can do breach your business. Some options would be to invest in anti-virus, firewall, anti-malware and encryption software. Keeping these protection systems up to date will do wonders in keeping your business protected.

Utilize this cybersecurity plan to keep your small business safe. Did you know we offer tons of secure banking products for your business? Visit our site for more info!

Online Safety Tips for Kids

online-safety

Technology is everywhere and used on a daily basis nowadays, so how do we protect our children when online? Now more than ever is the most important time to sit down with your kiddos and really explain the importance of being safe while online. That’s why Timberwood Bank wanted to offer some main points to touch on with your kids when discussing online safety.

Family Rules:

  1. I won’t tell my address, name, phone number or other special information to anyone online or post it online.
  2. I will tell mom or dad right away if something does not seem right when I’m on the computer or my phone.
  3. I’ll never meet anyone I speak to online, unless my parents say it’s okay and come with me.
  4. I’ll talk to my parents about posting certain things online if I’m unsure, such as pictures.
  5. I won’t give anyone my passwords, even my best friends.
  6. I won’t download any games until checking with mom or dad.
  7. I will not say mean things to anyone online and tell my parents if I do see something like that, or if it happens to me.
  8. I will have mom or dad help install privacy settings on any online platforms I’m using.

Tips for Mom and Dad:

  • Have your child on their phone or computer in open areas, like a living room or kitchen. Don’t allow them to be alone and on technology if they are young.
  • If you’re comfortable with it, you can limit what your child does or keep an eye on their actions with certain tools and settings. One tool to use is YouTube Parental Controls. Click here to learn more about this.
  • Educate yourself on social media, so you know what your child is getting exposed to.
  • Continuously talk to your young children about being safe and make sure they understand and keep the promises above.
  • For your older children, give them more space and freedom with their technology. However, continue to have open conversations about what is new in the online world and if they are experiencing any issues such as cyberbullying or came across something that made them uncomfortable.
  • If your child has an older sibling and feels more comfortable talking to them, encourage them to have discussions about what they’ve seen online so they can talk about ways to stay safe, as well as what’s right and wrong.

We hope these tips allow you to keep your children safe while online. Technology is an important part of society now, but it’s always vital to keep discussions open and honest about the online world, so there is a good flow of trust and communication within your family.

Online Safety Tips for Older Adults: Myths & Facts You Must Know

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Anyone can fall prey to a scam or a cyberattack online. Many older adults have adapted well to the digital world, but they can still fall victim to cybercrime. Today, we will take on common conceptions and misconceptions about online safety. Jump on board as we confront the biggest issues threatening safety online.

Sharing personal information online is never safe.

MYTH

While we should always be suspicious of potential scams, there are times when it is appropriate to share personal information online. For example, a person may need to enter personal information on their banking site in order to login to mobile banking. Typically, once a mobile account is established, they will only need their login information moving forward.

Getting spam in your email is dangerous.

MYTH

It’s not receiving the junk mail or spam that is dangerous, it’s interacting or clicking on the hazardous emails. Junk emails can come from legitimate sources like from a company you have bought a product from online. They may have put you on a mailing list, but there is usually a link at the bottom of their email to “unsubscribe.” Unfortunately, if it is a true spam email, this won’t be an option and you will want to make sure to not interact with the post. You should be sure your email account has the spam filter to ward off potential attacks. It may sound like it’s coming from a legitimate person, but it is best to make a rule to not respond to unsolicited emails.

Don’t send money.

TRUE

Never send money online to someone you don’t know and that isn’t first solicited by you. Suspicion should always be held when anyone is asking for money from you, regardless of their explanatory need for it. This can often happen in the form of a scam from online dating, threatening you in some way or begging for money for a family emergency. If you don’t know what to do, ask a trusted source if you find yourself tempted to send money. However, it is best to never give into requests for money.

Passwords are a first line of defense for cybersecurity.

TRUE

Passwords are a powerful form of protection. A strong password will be a mix of characters and numbers. Too often, many older adults do not password protect their physical devices. This puts them at great risk of not only having their device stolen, but also puts the personal information on their device in the hands of a criminal. Simply be sure to have a password on everything possible that you can and change the password twice a year.

We hope these tips can help you and your loved ones stay safe online. Stay safe and secure with our Online & Mobile Banking services!

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.

Teaching Your Children the Basics of Online Security

online security

If you’re like many parents in the United States, your preteens and teenagers may be running circles around you when it comes to utilizing the latest technology. Whether that’s Facebook’s latest updates, new iPhone technology, or the latest app hitting the scene, the amount of new knowledge and innovation seems endless. For your growing adults, this may look more like an endless playground than a minefield, but at times it can be both. To help your children use technology while still remaining safe we recommend these simple suggestions:

Passwords are important. Instead of defaulting to the same password for every account, explain to your son or daughter why they should have a complex password for each separate account. Leary cyber criminals are able to gain access to all your accounts instead of only one when they discover the passwords are all the same. The strongest passwords contain lowercase and uppercase letters, symbols, and numbers. Great apps like LastPass can help to store all current passwords in addition to creating stronger password options.

Privacy matters. On Facebook and most other social media outlets, there are always options to make your profile private or public. For children, and adults, we strongly recommend keeping your personal online profile private. While you and your children can connect with friends and other known acquaintances, it can become dangerous to push your information out to anyone who wants to read it. For instance, if you post about leaving for a family vacation, and the profile is set to public, potential thieves could now view your home as an easy target while you’re away.

Don’t talk to strangers. Just as you had the “Stranger danger,” discussion with your son or daughter when they were younger, this message follows a similar point, but within the chat rooms and friend requests online. While in an ideal world, we wouldn’t face issues like catfishing or cyberbullying, the truth is that these actions can cause real world issues and aren’t always left online. To keep and promote in-person communication, remind them of the importance of speaking with friends and family outside of the web, and if they ever do need someone to talk to you and your family are always there to listen.

Only use secure wifi. After school, your teen may head to a part-time job or extracurricular. If they’ll be going away from your home or school, be sure to encourage them to steer clear of unsecure wifi. While many afterschool hotspots offer free wifi for customers, often there may be potential cybercriminals broadcasting a false signal. These unsecure signals can give them access to your child’s computer if the wifi is accepted. The criminal could then access personal information, passwords, or hold the computer access for ransom. To avoid situations like this, instruct your teen or preteen to only use wifi at home and at school unless you have approved of an additional location such as the library.

Teach your children how to use the internet responsibly, and perhaps they can show you how to capitalize on the creative and efficiency tools it offers. At Timberwood Bank, we think that family is one of the most valuable parts of life and we want to help your family grow. If you’d like to start a checking or saving account for your teen or preteen, stop in today, we’d love to help you get started.