You can download the full PDF of “Tips for Performing Financial Transactions Safely Online” with all the tips we have posted over the past couple of weeks at the CNB website.

Click here to download the PDF of “Tips for Performing Financial Transactions Safely Online”

8. Think Before You Act

• If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is
• If you are unsure about an email from your bank or another financial institution, call them and ask
• CNB will not request your personal information or account information by email or through its website at any time

7. Enter the Website Address Yourself

• Avoid clicking on links in emails and text messages, especially if you are not 100% sure the sender is legitimate
• Instead, enter the web address yourself, use a bookmark or use a search engine to locate the website

6. Protect Your Mobile Device

• Treat your mobile device with the same care to security as you would your computer at home
• Keep your operating system up-to-date
• Keep your mobile device in your sight
• Turn off Bluetooth when not in use
• Use available malware and anti-virus apps
• Download apps from reputable app stores
• It is a good idea to password protect your mobile device

5. Monitor Your Account Activity

• Utilize Online Banking and Mobile Banking to monitor your account activity
• Set-up account alerts by email and text message
• Request a credit report to detect potential fraud
• Each year, you’re entitled to one free credit report from each of the major U.S. Credit Bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion
• Visit www.annualcreditreport.com to get this free report

4. Don’t Perform Financial Transactions on Public Devices

• Never bank online, pay bills or perform any other financial transactions on a public computer or wireless network

3. Look For Signs a Website is Legitimate

• Before entering any personal information, check to see if the web address is secure by looking for https and a padlock; the padlock may be in the address bar or in the lower right hand corner of the screen.
• Make sure you’re at the correct site by looking for a green address bar; below are examples of this from CNB’s website:
• Internet Explorer
• Mozilla Firefox
• Google Chrome
• Apple Safari

Tip #2. Create Strong Passwords

• Mix combinations of words, digits, and special characters
• Use different passwords
• You should not use the same password for multiple accounts. If one of your online accounts is hacked, that single password could be used by hackers to access other accounts you have, like a bank account.
• Be creative
• Don’t use obvious passwords like birth dates, phone numbers, family member’s names, or anything else directly related to your life. Be creative and choose passwords that are not easy to guess.
• Don’t write your password down

Over the next few days we will be posting tips on performing financial transactions safely online.

Tip #1. Protect Your Computer

• Keep all your software, including internet browsers, up-to-date by using automatic updating
• Install and use legitimate anti-virus and anti-spyware software
• Keep your firewall turned on
• Password protect your wireless router