Whether conducting online transactions at your credit union or using the Inter-net, common sense precautions can help protect your personal information against identity theft and account fraud.

The security of your home computer is like the security of your home. The Internet is a public network, just like the streets in your neighborhood. Your ability to control who comes in depends on your security measures. Your online transac-tions must have security at both ends – for example, within your credit union and within your own system.

Technology Helps Ensure Security
When you use the Internet to visit your credit union, whether it’s to learn about rates, review your account, pay bills, or transact other business, you are entering a secure area:

• Password Protection – Before using online services, you develop a secret pass-word that only you know. This assures that you, and only you, have access to your accounts.
• Encryption – Once online with your credit union, your transactions and per-sonal information are most likely secured by encryption software that converts the information into code readable only by you and your credit union.
• Privacy Policies – Every credit union must implement a stringent privacy and security policy to protect your personal and financial information. Each member’s confidential information is treated with the utmost care, meeting or exceeding federal and state mandates.

Understanding Your Role
No security system is 100% safe, not on your home, not on your computer. At home, you may have sturdy doors and windows, locks, and perhaps an alarm or intrusion detection system. Here are some areas of security to know about for your home computer:

• Passwords – Your password is the key that opens your home computer. You wouldn’t use a passkey on your front door. Similarly, don’t use a password that is easy for other to guess, such as birth dates, Social Security numbers, child or pet names. Instead, use a password that contains a variety of letters, numbers and symbols and change it regularly.
• Anti-Virus Software – Anti-virus soft-ware should be installed on all Internet-connected computers. Many computers come with this software, but you have to make sure it’s turned on. Your anti-virus software is like your annual flu shot. Your first installation protects you for awhile, but because new viruses are emerging daily, it is essential to update your anti-vi-rus software regularly.
• Firewalls – A firewall is a protective shell between your computer and the outside world. It reduces threats to your home computer from the Internet by fil-tering out potentially dangerous data and preventing unauthorized access to your computer. Updates to firewalls are called patches. Your software company may no-tify you by e-mail when it releases a new patch, but you should check your software company’s website regularly to make sure that you don’t miss one.
• Encryption – Encryption is the scram-bling of your private information to prevent unauthorized data capturing. If you communicate through a secure Web page like your credit union’s, the informa-tion that you transmit is almost certainly encrypted. However, e-mail is frequently unencrypted, even if you access it from a secured Web page; so be wary of sending sensitive information, such as account numbers, through e-mail.
• Operating Systems – You should regularly check on whether new security updates are available for your computer operating system (i.e., Windows, MacOS).
• Disconnect – Turn off your computer or disconnect from the Internet when you are not using it. An intruder cannot attack your computer if it is turned off or other-wise completely disconnected from the Internet.
• Back Up Your Data – Even with all these security measures in place, the information on your computer is still vulnerable. Protect yourself from loss of critical data by backing up your files.

Watch For These ThreatsUnknown E-mails, Attachments, and Programs – Before opening any e-mail or attachments, make sure you know where they came from. If you must open an e-mail or attachment before you can verify the source, following these steps will reduce the chance that any malicious code contained in the attachment might spread to your computer:

1. Make sure your virus definitions are up to date.
2. Save the file to your hard disk.
3. Scan the file using your anti-virus software.
4. Open the file

For additional protection, disconnect your computer’s network connection before opening the file.

Fraudulent Websites (Phishing) – Copycat websites deliberately use a name and Web address that is deceptively close to the Web address of a genuine business. The trick is to lure you into clicking onto their website and giving them personal information, such as your account number and password. With this information, the operator of this website may put charges on your credit card, steal from your accounts, and even steal your identity. Always make sure that you have typed the correct website address, and that you are familiar with the home page before conducting any business or disclosing any personal information.*

You can visit Marshland’s website at any time, day or night, at www.Marshlandfcu.coop – that’s convenience! Marshland is doing its part to make the journey safe. And with some simple common-sense precautions, you can do your part, too!

*Reprinted with permission from the National Association of Federal Credit Unions.