Category: Cyber Security

computer

Protect Yourself from Identity Theft

The Federal Trade Commission defines identity theft as theft that happens “when someone uses your Social Security number or other personal information to open new accounts, make purchases, or get a tax refund.” This kind of theft not only steals your money, but your precious time as you work to figure out what accounts are compromised and finding safe ways to re-open them. Keep reading to prevent identity theft. 

Start by Educating Yourself 

The first step to protecting yourself from identity theft is to learn what type of information a thief might be after. Different types of identity theft where criminals gather information about you include financial fraud, medical identity theft, social security theft, child identity theft, tax theft and others. For example: 

  • Financial Fraud – spending money with your debit and/or credit card numbers.  
  • Medical Identity Theft – personal information such as SSN, date of birth, etc. used to receive medical services under your name. 
  • Social Security Theft – using your SSN to open fraudulent accounts in your name. 
  • Child Identity Theft – family members who use a child’s SSN, birthday and address to open fraudulent accounts in the child’s name. 
  • Tax Identity Theft – using your personal information to file a tax return under your name and receive a refund. 

Next Step: Protecting Yourself 

Use can these tips to start protecting yourself from identity theft right away. It’s much more easy to prevent fraud than it is to recover from it, so you can save yourself a lot of trouble by taking the initiative to follow our guidelines as soon as you can. 

  • Check your bank account activity at least once a week to make sure there aren’t any suspicious transactions. With an online banking account, you can quickly see all transaction history and alert your bank if you suspect fraud.  
  • Shred important documents instead of throwing them in the garbage. It’s odd, we know, but people even sift through trash to find things like bank statements with account information or medical bills with your personal information. Shredding it will make it impossible for someone to use paper documents against you.  
  • Guard your pin number when typing it into a card reader or ATM. You never know when someone is looking over your shoulder! Better yet, use the “tap” method on your card if you have it. Then you won’t be asked to punch in a pin at all. 
  • Don’t click on suspicious links in your email. Watch your emails for links that contain spam. If you ever receive an email asking for personal or banking information, verify it’s legitimate before replying. 
  • Make sure the sites are secure before making an online purchase. When banking and shopping online, check to make sure the sites security is enabled. A site with “https://” is secure, while one with “http://” is not secure. 

If you’re ever in the situation where you think your identity has been stolen, report it immediately! You can get in touch with your bank and the FTC and they will both be able to help you recover information or close fraudulent accounts. If you have more questions or you’re wondering if your identity has been stolen, contact us and we’ll set up a time to chat. 

Peoples Bank & Trust Co.

Member FDIC

Equal Housing Lender

computer

Online Safety Tips for Seniors

It’s an unfortunate reality, that many criminals target senior citizens as they can be susceptible to online deception. If you’re keeping up with the times by staying online, it’s also important to keep up with online security measures!  

1. Look Out for Suspicious Emails 

You would be surprised how often people are fooled by phishing emails. ‘Phishing’ emails are sent from cybercriminals who pretend to be a person or business they are not. Oftentimes, the cybercriminal has enough information about you to make the email seem very legitimate. It’s very common for individuals to receive phishing emails that pretend to be from the individual’s bank. When they pose as a familiar business or person, they add corrupt links and attachments that could compromise your computer and/or personal information. If you receive an email you weren’t expecting, be sure to make sure the email address doesn’t look phony and that all the information is actually correct. 

Ex – From: Apple <apple-suPport5@icloud.net> 

Ex – A receipt for a subscription you don’t pay for. 

2. Use Strong and Unique Passwords 

Strong passwords are important because they’re harder for cybercriminals to guess. A strong password can be a phrase from a song you remember with capitalization and symbols. Unique passwords are important because if one password is compromised, then you won’t have to worry about other account passwords being compromised. LastPass is a great (and free) way to keep track of all your different passwords. So, all you have to do is memorize the one password you need to log into LastPass!  

3. Take the Romance Offline 

It’s becoming more and more common for seniors to try out online dating. And why not? It can be a great way to find companionship! However, it’s vital you verify the person you are talking to is a real person and genuinely wants to connect. Sometimes, cybercriminals pretend to be someone completely different online in order to trick people into giving out their personal and financial information. You can avoid this by taking an old friend to meet your new online friend and gauge their intentions. And remember: never give your personal or financial information to someone you recently met online! 

4. Be Aware of Suspicious Calls and Voicemails 

Ever gotten a voicemail from a robotic-sounding voice telling you that your credit card has been compromised? That was a scam. Individuals of all ages and backgrounds get scammed over the phone every day. Be on the lookout for robotic voices that request personal information as this is a way criminals disguise their voice or send voicemails to the masses. If you don’t recognize the number and/or you weren’t expecting to receive a call from a certain business requesting information (like credit card numbers and insurance IDs), it’s best not to give them what they ask for! If you’re unsure, hang up and call the business number you are familiar with. They will be able to tell you whether or not they are trying to get in contact with you. 

Peoples Bank & Trust is here to protect your financial information and your wealth! If you have any questions as to how we protect you, feel free to contact us. Or if you aren’t sure about suspicious individuals requesting your financial information, give us a call and we can tell you how to proceed. 

Peoples Bank & Trust Co.

Member FDIC

Equal Housing Lender

computer

Cyber Safety Tips for Kids

While so much is online today, even school, it’s important to have conversations about the dangers of being online with your kiddos. Cyber safety is extremely important to protect your family, so it’s crucial to continue these conversations over time and educate your children more than once (because we all know kids forget what mom or dad told them). Today, we will give our favorite cyber safety tips for kids! 

Protect Your Identity 

It’s important to teach your children that their identity is important. People could use their name, birthday, phone number, address and so on to do some bad things. Tell them it’s important not to post this information or share it with anyone when they are on social media or playing games online. 

Stay Away from Strangers 

Many kids will get friend requests or messages from strangers on social media, online platforms or video games. Tell them that stranger danger is just as important online as it is in person. If someone is being nice online, it doesn’t mean they should trust them or engage in conversation. 

Monitor Use 

Make sure you keep track of the social media platforms your children are on, what video games they are playing as well as who they are talking to on those games, and any other online activity. You don’t need to go overboard with looking deep into each piece but just do a quick look and have a conversation about being safe. 

Secure Social Media 

Know what platforms your children are using and show them how to set their security settings high on each platform. Make sure they aren’t sharing personal information and what they are posting is appropriate. You should also remind them to never meet in person with someone they met online and tell an adult if a stranger is messaging them. 

Be Aware of Downloads 

Teach your children not to download anything without your permission. Explain that anything that is downloaded or clicked on could hurt their computer or phone. Be sure to download and run security software on the computer as well as make continuous updates to the phone and apps. 

We hope these tips help you keep your children a little safer when online. The danger is out there, so monthly reminders are important to instill good practices in your children. Check out our blog for more cybersecurity tips. 

Peoples Bank & Trust Co.

Member FDIC

Equal Housing Lender

computer

5 Cybersecurity Basics You Need to Know

With so many people being online now, it’s even more important to be safe with what you do and add an extra layer of security to your actions. Any time you are on your phone, tablet or computer, there is a chance you could be targeted. Protect yourself and your information by keeping up to date with these five cybersecurity basics you need to know. 

1. Update Your Software 

Not all software updates automatically. Be sure to check your app store to update any apps who have a pending update. Restart your computer to allow for updates and be on top of when updates come out, so you don’t keep clicking ‘Later’ and forget to install the new update. Updating your software improves any bugs in the apps or overall system to improve security. 

2. Require Passwords 

Any and everything needs a password. Your phone, computer and so forth should all require one – even though it’s a little extra work for you. In case your device would ever end up in the wrong hands, this adds one extra layer of security. 

3. Use Multi-Factor Authentication 

Many apps are now asking or requiring that you use multi-factor authentication. This requires you to add a second email or phone number to your account for an extra layer of security when logging in. Another type of multi-factor authentication is using an app to get a code that you have to enter when logging into a program or device. 

4. Secure Your Router 

Be sure to change your router’s preset password to something difficult – don’t do your household’s last name with a 1! behind it and think that’s good either. Be tricky so someone can’t jump onto your Wi-Fi and get your information.  

5. Have Difficult and Different Passwords 

We’ve said it once and we’ll say it again – do NOT have the same password for all your accounts. We understand you could have logins for 50+ sites, but it’s important to try to switch it up so that a hacker can’t get into everything. If they have your email and password that gets them into your email, chances are they’ll try that combination on all the other popular platforms you’ll probably have. 

We hope these five cybersecurity basics refreshed you on the importance of being extra cautious with your devices. We want you and your information to be as safe as can be! 

Peoples Bank & Trust Co.

Member FDIC

Equal Housing Lender

computer

Identity Theft: How to Protect Yourself

According to IdentityForce.com, about 1 in 15 people were victims of identity fraud in 2019. As technology continues to grow, the risk will only get higher. That’s why protecting yourself from this kind of crime is more important now than ever! 

Rundown of Identity Theft 

The first step in prevention is recognizing what identity theft is and why it’s dangerous. A simple description of identity theft is a crime in which an individual’s personal and/or financial information is illegally obtained, most commonly for financial gain. With your information, that criminal could then: 

  • Withdraw money from your bank account 
  • Steal your tax refund 
  • Sell your information to others 
  • Apply for loans, credit cards, etc. in your name 

Recognizing Identity Theft 

Now it’s time to understand what the signs of identity theft are so you’re prepared if you were ever put in this situation. If you start noticing any of these things, identity theft may be the problem at hand: 

  • You notice unusual or unrecognizable withdrawals from your bank account 
  • Your tax return received a rejection notice 
  • You are turned down for a loan for bad credit when you have good credit 
  • You notice an absence in your household bills coming through the mail 

Preventing Identity Theft 

The good news is there are lots of things you can do to protect yourself from crimes like this. To make it not so easy for criminals to steal your information, follow these important steps: 

  • Never give out personal information such as your Social Security number or bank information 
  • Destroy private records with a paper shredder before throwing it in the trash 
  • Check your bank account and credit reports regularly for suspicious activity 
  • Create strong passwords and use different passwords for each account you own 
  • Don’t click on unknown links and don’t enter any login credentials on an unfamiliar login screen 
  • Never carry your Social Security card on you, but instead keep it in a safe and secure place in your house unless you need to access it 

When it comes to protecting yourself from identity theft, the more precautions you take, the better! Make 2021 the year you decide to up your security game and take proper action. To learn more about cybersecurity or to discuss the financial services we offer, visit our website. 

Peoples Bank & Trust Co.

Member FDIC

Equal Housing Lender

phone

5 Reasons You Should Utilize Online & Mobile Banking

Besides the obvious positive of having constant access to your bank account on your very own device, online and mobile banking brings various benefits to the table. If you haven’t downloaded our mobile app yet, keep reading to find out why you should. 

1. Deposit Checks Anywhere 

Save yourself a trip by making it possible to deposit checks from the comfort of your home. It’s an easy process, too! All you do is endorse the check with “PBTC Mobile Deposit”, take a picture of each side and enter basic information. Your check will be processed in seconds – it’s as simple as that!  

2. 24/7 Access 

Say goodbye to working around the bank’s hours to do simple tasks like checking your balance, viewing your transaction history, transferring money, depositing checks or printing bank statements. With online and mobile banking, you have access to these services and information 24/7, even outside of bank hours. 

3. Quick and Easy Transfer 

There may be instances when you quickly need to transfer money from your savings account to your checking account or vice versa. This process is simple, too, and in just a few steps your transfer will be processed. Mobile banking is also helpful in situations where account balances get too low and you have automatic payments. You can set up notifications to make sure you transfer money before dropping below a certain amount and overdrawing. 

4. Never Miss a Bill with Autopay  

Autopay is easy to set up and allows you to pay your bills without having to lift a finger. By filling out a few quick forms online, money will automatically be sent out or transferred each month to pay your bills in a timely manner. Not only is this convenient for you, but it allows you to completely avoid the risk of paying a late fee. 

5. Print or Download Statements 

Save yourself another trip to the bank with access to E-Statements anytime. If you’re wanting to print or download statements for tax purposes or personal records, you simply login to your online account and print off what you want. This makes organizing your personal records easy, too, whether you want to do so on paper or safely and securely on your computer. 

Now that you know why online and mobile banking is so great, it’s time to get started! Click here to learn more about our services, ask us questions and to find out what your next online banking steps are. 

Peoples Bank & Trust Co.

Member FDIC

Equal Housing Lender

phone

How to Protect Your Social Media Accounts

Social media is growing and expanding each day, with nearly 3 billion people on Facebook and over 2 billion on YouTube. Platforms like these along with Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat and more require usernames and passwords, but there’s always the unfortunate chance that your account is compromised. We’re here to provide you with a few simple things you can do to protect your social media accounts. 

Two-Factor Authentication 

Adding an extra step to your login process is always a good way to protect your account from being hacked. Examples of two-factor authentication include having to enter a code sent to your phone, scanning your fingerprint or using face ID in order to confirm your identity. Most social media platforms offer this as an option in settings. 

Try Out a Password Manager 

Not only is it important to have a strong password, but you should also vary your passwords across your social media accounts. If you use the same password for every account and one gets hacked, then they’re all compromised. Be sure to include numbers, upper and lowercase letters and special characters to make each password unique. It’s also smart to update your passwords periodically. Keeping track of all of them may seem tricky, but an online password manager will take care of that for you. 

Double-Check Your Friends 

Now’s a good time to go through your Facebook friends and make sure you know them all. If you get a friend request but you don’t know the person who sent it, just decline it and stick to the people you’re familiar with. One common way hackers access your information easier is by making fake accounts and sending you a request so they can see more of your personal information. 

Don’t Overshare 

Even if all of your friends or followers are people you know, you still want to be careful what you’re sharing online. Don’t share personal information like your address, social security number, financial information or other things you wouldn’t want people knowing. Think of everything you share online as permanent for anyone to access, whether it’s shared in a private group or not.  

See What’s Provided in Your Profile 

To go along with the previous point, there are some things your friends can see without harm. For example, having your hometown in your private profile usually does no harm since the people you know most likely already know this information about you. The important part is to make sure those things are private and only accessible to your friends rather than on your public profile. 

With new and exciting technology comes the necessity to keep your information secure, private and protected. Following the above tips and guarding your social media accounts will help you avoid hackers who can compromise your personal information. Contact us for more cybersecurity information or to learn about the financial services we offer! 

Peoples Bank & Trust Co.

Member FDIC

Equal Housing Lender

man-online

Stay Safe Online While Holiday Shopping

‘Tis the season for spending time with family, making hot chocolate, building snowmen and, of course, buying presents! With the wonderful power of technology, we can surround the Christmas tree with gifts in just a few clicks. Keep reading to learn all about cyber safety while you shop this holiday season. 

Watch out for enticing ads. 

It’s common to come across pop-up ads or tempting deals while you’re browsing. While they’re sometimes legitimate, it’s smarter to go to the website itself rather than clicking on the advertisement to avoid scams or viruses. 

Beware of public Wi-Fi. 

There’s nothing wrong with checking out your favorite store’s catalog while out in public, but making purchases is where it gets risky. Never enter your personal information to make a purchase while connected to a public Wi-Fi network – instead, use a VPN or your personal hotspot. 

Keep your device updated. 

If you haven’t already enabled auto-update on your device, now’s a great time to do so. Keeping your device and applications up to date will help you avoid malware infections or other cyber issues. 

Look for the “https.” 

Check for the lock symbol or the “https” in the address bar to make sure the website is secure. Secure websites make it safe for you to enter your information without the fear of the site storing it without your approval. 

Check in on your account post-purchase. 

Keep tabs on your account activity to make sure the transaction went through and there weren’t any mistakes. You can also set up alerts that automatically email or text you once your credit card was used. 

Always do your research. 

It’s a risky game to make a purchase from a site you’ve never heard of. Research the company you’re thinking of buying from and make sure they have a form of contact for you to use if a payment problem occurs. The smartest choice is to always avoid making online purchases from an unfamiliar website. 

Online shopping is a great way to get what you need without facing the cold, but there are always risks that come with making purchases on the Internet. Be smart, do your research and have a happy holiday season full of love! 

Peoples Bank & Trust Co.

Member FDIC

Equal Housing Lender

computer

Cybersecurity 101 for Seniors

Seniors are a big target for cybercriminals since they often leave their devices and networks unprotected. No matter what age you are, there’s a good chance you find yourself using some sort of technology on a daily basis. If you or your loved one is of older age, keep reading to make sure all of your cybersecurity bases are covered. 

Common Ways Seniors Use the Internet 

You may think the older generations are much more disconnected from the online world, but they use the Internet in a variety of ways all of the time: 

  • Managing finances online instead of at the bank 
  • Reading or watching the news 
  • Messaging or video chatting loved ones 
  • Shopping online 
  • Distracting themselves during free time or boredom 

Why Are Seniors a High-Risk Group? 

There are many reasons why seniors are an attractive target for cybercriminals. Here are a few: 

  • High likelihood to shop online 
  • Often not as tech-savvy 
  • Easily trust others online 
  • Less alert or less likely to notice a scam 

How Can Seniors Stay Safe? 

Implementing cybersecurity safety tips into everyday life can be quite simple and makes a world of a difference. Make sure you’re following all of the below: 

  • Secure websites only: Before visiting a website and especially before making any purchases or entering information, check for the “https” at the beginning of the link. The “s” tells you that the site is secure, and if it’s not, your information is not always being kept private. 
  • Read messages/emails carefully: If you receive an email that looks suspicious, is too good to be true, asking for personal information or contains misspellings, there’s a good chance it’s a scam. 
  • Create strong and secure passwords: The most obvious way to keep your accounts and information private is by locking them. Using a different password for each account helps you avoid being hacked on multiple ends. Password managers are great for keeping everything organized. 
  • Keep your software updated: Enable auto-update in the settings section of the applications you use to ensure your apps are up-to-date and protected. 
  • Watch what you share: Social media is a great way to stay connected to family and friends and give important life updates. Make sure your profile is private, you’re friends with people you know and you don’t overshare personal information like your address. 

Seniors are no longer disconnected from the world of Internet, so cybersecurity has never been more important than it is today. Reminding yourself frequently of just how dangerous the online world can be is always a good idea. Keep yourself, your friends and your family protected by following these effective tips to improve your safety online. 

Peoples Bank & Trust Co.

Member FDIC

Equal Housing Lender

computer

Cybersecurity Tips for Small Businesses

Concerns about cyberattacks on small businesses continue to grow, and knowing how to protect your business is crucial. Because smaller businesses don’t have the same amount of security as a big businesses, they’re prime victims for cybercriminals. Keep reading to learn the best ways to keep your small business out of online danger. 

Always use strong and secure passwords 

This is the most obvious and well-known cybersecurity tip, but it’s one of the most important. If you want any sort of protection from hackers, your passwords must be strong, secure and updated regularly. You can take extra precautions by having a strong password created for you online rather than creating your own. 

Never use the same password for multiple accounts 

Going along with the first tip, password security is a must. Not only should your passwords be strong and updated, but they should differ on each account. Using the same password for multiple accounts is risky because if one account is compromised, they all are. There are online password managers you can utilize to help with keeping track of the multiple passwords you have on varying accounts. 

Keep your software updated 

Outdated and old versions of apps can be more vulnerable to hacker access. A great way to keep your software secure is to install all updates for software and applications as soon as they’re made available.  

Use VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) 

VPNs are made to encrypt all traffic that leaves and enters your device. Using a VPN is a smart step towards securing your business’s information. If a cybercriminal somehow hacks you and intercepts your information, it will all be encrypted data which is useless for them. 

Train your employees properly 

Being consistent with your employee is extremely important for your small business’s online safety. Make sure all employees know what precautions to take, how to use and handle business information and what the penalties are for failing to follow those rules. 

Try hacking your own system  

Hiring an IT specialist to analyze and audit your system to search for weaknesses is a great way to see what needs to be improved. Doing this will help you understand how to better protect your small business. 

Most small businesses are very under-protected when it comes to cyber safety and protecting their information. We hope you’ll follow these tips and take all the necessary precautions in order to keep your small business out of harm’s way. Contact us for all of your finance needs!

Peoples Bank & Trust Co.

Member FDIC

Equal Housing Lender