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What Can You Do to Protect Your Security Online?
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- Protect your password
- Act with caution while online
- Beware of fraudulent E-mail
- Use virus protection software
- Use a current browser
- Keep your operating system up to date
- Consider the use of personal firewall software
Passwords or PINs should be used when accessing an online account to protect your personal
information. Sharing your password or PIN with another is the same as giving that individual
authority to use your name or account in a transaction.
- Make your password unique to you and do not share with others.
- Do not use simple words or birth dates that are easy for others to guess.
- Use upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters when creating your passwords.
- Do not write your password down where it can be found by someone else.
- Change your password regularly.
Act with caution while online
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- Remember to sign off the Web site once you have completed your online session.
- Only provide your ID and password when your browser indicates an encrypted connection. An encrypted
connection is normally indicated by an "https://" in your browser's address bar in front of the
address of the page you are visiting and/or a small padlock symbol in the lower right corner of
your screen.
- Sending personal information such as your Social Security number, credit card information or other
personal data over the Internet is unsafe if you cannot validate the business reputation of
the company and perform transactions in a secure Web site. Before sending private information
on the Internet make sure you are using a secured connection.
- Please note that E-mail sent over the Internet is generally not secure. You should contact us by
phone or visit a location in regards to confidential account information.
Beware of Fraudulent E-mail
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- Fraudulent E-mail (ex: spoofing, phishing) is one that is created by an unauthorized person to look
like it is a legitimate E-mail. The intent is to try to get you to provide personal, confidential
information so it can be used for identity theft and financial fraud.
- Fraudulent E-mails are hard to detect. The E-mail address seems authentic.
- We will not request that you send us an E-mail containing personal, confidential information.
- We will not send personal, confidential information in e-mail to you.
Use virus protection software
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- Anti-virus protection. If your computer becomes infected with a virus, you could possibly lose
information and incur repair expense. Make sure your computer has an anti-virus protection program
installed to reduce the risk of your computer becoming infected.
- Automatic upgrades. We recommend that you purchase a program that automatically upgrades your
virus protection on a recurring basis. If you currently do not have this automatic upgrade feature,
make sure you update your virus detection program regularly and when you hear of a new virus.
- Attachments. We advise not to open attachments or diskettes unless you are certain that you
can trust the source. Learn how to manually screen diskettes and attachments if your anti-virus
software does not automatically screen for viruses.
An Internet browser provides access and the ability to navigate on the Internet. Most computers come with
a browser already installed. Commonly used browsers are Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape
Navigator. To see a list of compatible browsers, please
click here.
- Always check which browsers are recommended for the Web sites you are visiting.
- Check your browser for built-in security features.
- Check your browser on the vendor’s web site frequently to obtain the latest security patches.
Keep Your Operating System Up-to-Date
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Operating system vendors regularly release updates to computer operating systems. These updates can include
fixes for security vulnerabilities in the operating system. Not updating your operating system can
make your computer vulnerable to a virus or other problems. Check your operating system vendor’s
web site regularly for updates and security patches for your operating system.
Consider the Use of Personal Firewall Software
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A firewall is a system that blocks unauthorized access by individuals and networks. Placing a personal
firewall on your computer can prevent unauthorized access to your computer and information stored
on it.
Your use of a firewall depends on the sensitivity of information you keep on your hard drive and how you
connect to the Internet. You can connect to the Internet one of the following ways:
- Dial-up modem. If you are using a dial-up modem, your risk to automated snooping programs
(programs designed to steal information) is limited to the duration of your Internet connection.
- Digital subscriber line (DSL) or cable modem. If you use a DSL or cable modem, your Internet
connection is on when your computer is on. If you leave your computer on for long periods of time,
the window of opportunity for malicious activity against your computer increases.
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Equal Housing Lender.
