Tag Archives: cyber security

How to Effectively Teach Your Kids Online Safety

How to Effectively Teach Your Kids Online Safety 

Having our kiddos grow up in a world that becomes more and more digitalized can be a scary thing. The best thing you can do for your kids is to teach them about cybersecurity and implement safe online habits early on. With summer coming up, there may be more people online when your kids are on their devices. Here are some tips to outline with your kids to ensure safe cybersecurity practices. 

Educate Yourself First 

There is not a one size fits all approach to teaching your kids cybersecurity at a level they understand. Each kid is different and wants different things from their online experience. If you can educate yourself and implement good habits both when you are and are not with your kids, you are on the right track. Having gadgets is great, especially for you to connect and communicate. 

Set Up a Routine

Having an enforced device routine is important to safe cybersecurity. A great way to monitor their device and usage is to have a charging station out in the open. It’s also great to set the times of the day they can have screen time. Having these times already enforced make it that much easier for your kids to follow and can work as a token for good behavior when the kids have earned some extra screen time. 

Set Up Basic Rules

It is very important to set basic rules, such as downloading apps, searching the internet, where they can use their device, and more. It is crucial to have a clean device, so be sure your kids understand the importance of having their apps and device updated. Apps are a great learning tool for kids, but they also can be very dangerous. It is important to teach them the importance of asking before they download and if the download is requesting access to anything. 

Basic rules can be easily monitored with parental controls to set rules within the device. It may be worth passcode protecting everything so only you can let them into a device and app you want them using. Rather than allowing them to use their device on their own, it can be of value to create a space where they can use it out in the open when you are able to monitor their usage. 

Use Child-Friendly Resources and Examples

As you teach your kids more and more about online safety, it is important to use examples they can understand. When instances come up, rather than getting upset, use it as a time to learn and walk through the correct way to handle the situation. Learning safe online habits should be continuous. Explaining to your children about hacking, phishing, identity theft, cyberbullying, etc. is important for them to thoroughly understand technology as they grow up.

Good cybersecurity habits are crucial to keeping ourselves, our information, and our kids safe. Summer tends to be a time where kids are on their devices more and more, sometimes when you are not home or with another adult. Creating a routine and expectation for them will only make it easier to implement your rules and continually educate them.

Peoples Bank & Trust Co.

Member FDIC

Equal Housing Lender

Cyber Security for College Students

cyber

So you think you’re all set for your first day of classes. Backpack, books, IPad and smartphone in hand – you think you have everything you need for success this semester. However, learning proper cybersecurity habits are just as important to your college success as the friends you make or the assignments you accomplish.

You’re well acquainted with technology and internet scams, and think you are far off from being duped or scammed online. However, technology is ever changing which means the tactics hackers use to access your personal information can be even sneakier. In 2014, there were 13,500 burglaries reported in on campus crimes across the US. Here are some basic tips to keep in mind while on campus or use as a refresher.

Keep Your Friends Close and Your Devices Closer

You’re constantly sharing a workspace with your peers. From the dorm room to the library, your devices are always accessible to others. Never leave your devices unattended. Always have a passcode on each screen, and make sure no one is lurking over you when you enter the pin. Look into purchasing a laptop lock to secure the physical safety of your device.

The Value of a Number

If you’re like most college students, you’re eating ramen and shopping at the nearest thrift store. This might be why you haven’t been worried about cyber security in the past. You can barely afford proper nutrition, so you don’t have anything worth stealing. WRONG. Your social security number is incredibly valuable to a hacker who can sell it on the dark web. They can use this to open various credit accounts in your name or hold other precious online information like family photos hostage until you pay their ransom.

Back, Back, Back it Up

We know you have a million other things on your plate right now, but be sure you are backing up your data on a secure cloud system or an external hard drive. Consistently setting a time to backup all of your important documents will help protect you against ransomware and file corruptions.

PDA: Public Displays of Access

Who doesn’t like free stuff? One of the perks of college is that you are probably going to have a lot of freebies thrown at you. This means free WiFi that you can gulp down without having to dry out your data usage while catching up with friends back home. However, even your dorm WiFi can be infiltrated by hackers who access the network’s router, create fake login pages to steal your information or take data from your device. You can protect yourself by not using public WiFi, or purchasing a VPN.

Shhh, Mums the Word

Although it might be easy and sweet to use Fido in your password, make sure to keep your password on each account different and complex. You don’t want to allow a hacker to open Pandora’s box after they figure out your one password. Keep your password private and unique. We recommend incorporating special characters, acronyms or even sentences at random.

We hope that these tips will be helpful in keeping your identity safe in your college adventure!

Peoples Bank & Trust Co.

Member FDIC

Equal Housing Lender

Protecting Yourself While Shopping Online this Holiday Season

As the holidays roll up, customers buying items online increases exponentially. Unfortunately, cyber attacks and identity theft also increase with that number. That’s why the professionals at Peoples Bank & Trust have come up with some helpful tips and tricks to stay safe when shopping online this holiday season!

 

Don’t Use Unknown Wireless Networks

If you are in a coffee shop or airport and a network pops up for you to connect to, your chance of being hacked skyrockets. When the network you are on is not protected, hackers have a chance to get into your phone and locate passwords, account information, and more. Even though you want to check your email or see if there is a good deal somewhere, try to resist in order to protect yourself.

 

Use Different Passwords

Yes, it is hard to use a different password for each site when you are connected to 50 or 100 sites. However, if a hacker gets ahold of one password, they can instantly use that password with your email to log into all other sites that have the same one.

 

Don’t Store Credit Card Info on Sites

When online sites have you enter your credit or debit card information, many of them give you an option to save your card information. They say it’s secure and most of the time it is, but hackers are still able to get into their account and find your information. Even though it’s a little more work to type your information in each time, it’s more work to deal with getting your money back after someone has stolen your information and used it.

 

Avoid Clicking Links

When shopping online, you may have a million links pop up for the item you’re searching for.. These are easy ways for hackers to bring you to a site they created to give you malware. That’s why it’s important to only click the links on trusted sites.

 

Shop Secure Sites

As mentioned above, it is okay to trust links within a secure site. However, if you are searching online for a certain gift to give someone and find a list that links to different sites, do not trust those sites. Search online about which sites are credible before you go to them and give them your credit card information.

 

These tips will aid you in being a security savvy shopper when the holidays begin to hit. If you have any questions or concerns about your account, be sure to contact Peoples Bank & Trust. Our team of professionals is here to help if a problem of stolen information does arise!

Peoples Bank & Trust Co.

Member FDIC

Equal Housing Lender

 

Tips for Cyber-Security When it comes to Your Mobile Device

Odds are you’re probably reading this blog post on your smartphone, which you found through an app and then used it to get directions to Peoples Bank & Trust. Seventy-seven percent of Americans now own a smartphone and use it on a daily basis. With so many people accessing, searching and downloading things on their smartphones, are we really using the same caution and protection we would use when it comes to our computers? Odds are, you’re not. With a few tips, you can start better protecting your smartphone from things like data theft, malware and privacy invasion.

Needed Protection: You may be wondering what exactly needs to be protected when it comes to your smartphone. Luckily, they can be broken down into three categories.

  1. Device Protection – Apple offers Activation Lock, Android has Factory Reset Protection, and Samsung has Reactivation Lock. In case your phone was ever stolen, this kind of protection would wipe all information and data from your phone, which is beneficial if you utilize mobile or online banking.
  2. Data Protection – This protection was designed to keep work information from your place of employment from being spread to your personal apps.
  3. App-Management Security – Having login information, credit card information and other personal information within apps should be protected from falling into the wrong hands. App-management security does just that.

Trusted Apps: Not all apps are created equal. Since it’s becoming increasingly easier for third parties to create apps this means there are more apps out there than there have ever been. One way to help protect yourself is to only download apps from a trusted app store. You should also review existing apps’ privacy policies and settings for permissions.

Public Wi-Fi: One thing you should know is public WiFi is generally not secure. Hackers can get in between you and the Wi-Fi connection point, and when you’re submitting information on your phone you’re actually sending it to the hacker. It’s recommended to protect yourself using a VPN, which encrypts your data, essentially scrambling the information.

Jailbreaking Phones: While it may seem like the cool thing to do to format your phone without the factory standards, you’re actually setting your phone for several security risks. One of those risks is Malware and loss of personal information.

We hope these tips can better protect you and your smartphone. There are several companies that can protect your mobile devices, including Norton Mobile Security and McAfee Mobile Security. If you have any questions or concerns about protecting yourself, we encourage you to contact us. Our team would love to assist you.

4 Steps to Safeguard Your Security

Cyber Security

Who knew four little steps could be the difference between keeping your information secure and falling victim to cyber predators. With today’s current cybercrime tactics, you can never be too careful! At Peoples Bank & Trust we want to help ensure you and your finances stay safe, and offer these four strategic steps to boost your personal cyber security.

  1. Safeguard your passwords. Instead of desktop post-it notes, store your passwords somewhere secure like the LastPass app. Not only will apps like this one help you remember which password to use for what, but because they’re all stored in one place, you can continue to make your passwords more complicated to create an added layer of protection.
  2. Do NOT use public wifi when possible. While hot spot coffee shops may offer high-speed wifi to customers, never sign on until you have confirmation from a store employee that the business is genuinely offering the service. Many cyber criminals will prey on locations such as these to gain access to both your devices and your information. We suggest waiting until you’re on your own dedicated wifi to access secure information such as your bank account or credit card portal.
  3. Never give out your personal information. Cyber criminals are getting cleverer each and every year. With many phishing schemes now incorporating the names of your family or distant relatives, these complicated schemes can make it seem essential to share your banking or credit card information. No matter what the occasion or reason, NEVER give out your personal financial information out over the phone or online. Always contact the representative you know, or call the business’s official number to authenticate the request before acting on it.
  4. When purchasing online, always choose credit over debit. Thankfully credit card providers such as VISA and MasterCard offer zero percent fraud liability for their customers. For this reason, it is far safer to make purchases online via your credit card compared to your debit card. While your debit card can certainly be used online, should it become compromised, you could be out of those stolen funds until the proper insurance or reports are filed.

There are always new ways to be proactive when it comes to your personal security. If you have further questions on how to keep your financial information secure, our team is here to help! Give us a call or stop by your nearest Peoples Bank & Trust location to speak with one of our customer service representatives today.

 

Peoples Bank & Trust Co.

Member FDIC

Equal Housing Lender

Avoid These 4 Common Phishing Scams

Phishing as defined by Merriam-Webster is “A scam by which an e-mail user is duped into revealing personal or confidential information which the scammer can use illicitly.” Scams like these happen each and every day, and many times, the victims don’t even realize they’re participating in them. Peoples Bank & Trust wants to help you avoid these common tactics many cyber criminals use to lure you in. If you hear or recognize any of the following prompts, hang up the phone or delete the email immediately before acting on it any further.

 

  1. Relative who is in need abroad. This scam can be delivered via phone or email, typically with an individual claiming to be a cousin or niece/nephew. This person asks you how you are doing and makes some remarks to indicate a tie to family. In all appearances, they come off as someone you know and care for. The individual contacting you will typically share the news that they have come into some trouble while traveling, and he/she doesn’t have the appropriate funds while vacationing to resolve it. Then, this person will ask if you would be so kind as to wire them some funds to help them through this circumstance, and they will happily pay you back once they return. The best way to confirm this is a scam is call the relative they are claiming to be, or call that person’s parent to see if the story truly checks out. Ninety-nine percent of the time it will not, and then you know that the person contacting you is a fraud. At this point, we recommend reporting them to the police and ceasing all contact.
  2. Foreign lottery winner. This scam is pretty clear cut. Typically via phone, someone will call and claim that you have won a fantastic prize courtesy of the lottery in an overseas country. After the initial surprise has you jumping for joy, the caller informs you that there is a small five percent fee to wire you the funds. If you can quickly transfer them the funds, you will have your money within a given time frame. DO NOT SEND ANY FUNDS OR GIVE OUT ANY INFORMATION. Unless you distinctly remember buying a ticket for a lottery in another country, this call is most certainly a scam. Many victims of this example never received any further funds as their winnings, and further lost the money they were conned into sending.
  3. IT help in disguise. This scam has been the downfall of many companies. Done over both phone and email, cybercriminals have found a frightening loophole in many cyber security policies. Generally, this scenario starts with an administrator receiving a call or email from someone who appears to be from their IT department. Incoming phone calls can be masked to have recognizable numbers, and email address can appear to be from a legitimate person with the exception of one changed letter. The person sending the communication will typically identify themselves as someone within the company who has a high access level, and then ask for the verification of various passcodes or other information. Often times, this scam succeeds because employees want to help one another, and don’t always spotlight the source upon receipt. To help prevent this, we suggest that businesses have a rigid identification policy when sharing confidential information via phone or email.
  4. Urgent change to your information. In many situations, the factor of urgency is what makes victims coherent to a stranger. To further push that sense of emergency, the caller in this situation claims that there has been a breach to your financial or lending institution and you need to update your login information immediately. The caller, of course, is willing to update it for you, if you can simply state your current username and password, along with what you would like it updated to. DO NOT GIVE OUT ANY OF THIS INFORMATION. Anytime your bank or other financial institution would like you to reset your password, or make an update to your account, they will ask you to complete it through your online banking portal or by visiting your nearest branch. By no means should you ever need to give out your information by phone to ensure that a username or password is changed.

 

As you can see, there are numerous situations that could catch anyone. We hope to decrease the likelihood of scams amongst our customers, and offer additional cyber security tips on our website! If you feel you could be more proactive against threats like these, visit our website today and see how you can avoid unfortunate situations such as these.

 

Peoples Bank & Trust Co.

Member FDIC

Equal Housing Lender

10 Steps to Keep Your Identity Secure

Cyber Security

It may seem like protecting your personal information is just one more thing to add to the to-do list, but being proactive now could save you a mountain of work later. At Peoples Bank & Trust, we believe your identity is the most precious thing you have. To help you keep it safe we offer the following steps to help you keep it as secure as possible.

 

  1. Check your credit score. By looking at your personal credit report each and every month, you can catch any potential errors as soon as they occur instead of months or years later.
  2. Never give out personal details. Phishing scams can come by phone or by email. Always be sure to use your designated contact at a company and never give out information to someone you don’t know.
  3. Use software like Lifelock for extra support. Lifelock and other similar companies offer a valuable safety net when it comes to your individual identity. Their services can help to supplement the efforts you complete on a monthly or annual basis.
  4. Keep all sensitive or personal information secure in a safety deposit box. Items such as birth certificates, social security cards, and other valuable documentation can be secured in one of our insured safety deposit boxes. At an affordable annual rate, you can be sure all of your documents are always locked and stored away.
  5. If you’re unsure about a phone call, always check its source. If you receive a call and are unsure of the intentions of the caller, we suggest checking the source of the call through White Page’s reverse number
  6. Be on the lookout for tempting clickbait. As you browse across the internet be wary of clickable links that share controversial titles on the side or bottom of the page. These can lead to spam sites which could harm your computer and/or your personal information.
  7. Remember not to click on attachments from senders you don’t know. When you’re viewing your email, be wary of senders you don’t recognize. If the sender doesn’t appear to be a person or brand you know, avoid clicking on any attached links as they may attempt to hack or spam your device.
  8. Use different passwords for different accounts. There are numerous great services like Last Pass which can help you maintain different passwords and usernames for each of your various accounts. This ensures that should one become compromised, hackers are unable to access any other information through like logins.
  9. Always use upper and lowercase letters, symbols, and numbers when creating passwords. As you’re creating new passwords and accounts, remember to make your logins as secure as possible to avoid becoming an easy target for potential hackers.
  10. Steer clear of public wifi. While public wifi can sometimes be a blessing for the traveling business person, it can also pose a dangerous opportunity for nearby cyber criminals. Unless you gain the wifi password from an employee of the business, never assume signage or non-password protected portals are safe connections.

 

At Peoples Bank & Trust we hope you and your information stay safe. If you ever want to enhance your cyber security or identity theft protection, stop in and speak to one of our personal bankers. We offer services such as safety deposit boxes to help keep your important documents secure, and our team is always available to help if you find yourself facing fraudulent activity online.

How to Tell if a Call is a Scam

Cyber Security

Often times, phishing calls can come off as friendly or even helpful, however, in many instances the caller is malicious and intends to compromise your personal information. Peoples Bank & Trust wants to help you avoid situations like these, and offers the following key prompts to help you identify a fraudulent caller. Keep these five points at the top of your mind the next time you’re wary of an unknown caller:

The matter is deemed extremely urgent by the caller. The biggest and clearest red flag is when the individual calling claims that you HAVE to update or adjust something ASAP. The caller will then indicate that they are from an institution you may know, and they need to know your personal information ASAP. DO NOT give out this information. If you think a company you work with may truly need to update an account, call them at the number you have listed and inquire about the presentation the prior caller shared. Nine times out of ten the company will not be aware of any need to update the information and will take note of the fraudulent call being conducted to its customers.

The offer or promotion seems too good to be true. When someone calls claiming that you have won a foreign lottery, been chosen for an all-inclusive cruise, or received some other once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, chances are it’s a scam. On numerous occasions, fraudsters have used this ruse to illicit payment or personal information to “process your winnings.”  Unless you specifically remember entering into a sweepstakes for the prize you are being called about, this call is a scam.

The person calling is asking for personal information.  Not every time will the caller claim you have won a prize. Sometimes it may be as simple as a person posing as a business contact you work with, asking to verify some information. Whether it’s an insurance company, financial institution, or other entity, always ask if you can call the person back, and call them at the number you have in your records. If this number is different from the one which just called, you may have just avoided a scam.

Reverse lookup the phone number. Sometimes there is just something about a call that gives you a gut feeling that it’s not right. In cases like these, we recommend looking up the number on whitepages.com with their reverse lookup feature. This will not only tell you where the call is coming from, but can also alert you if the number has been flagged as a scam.

With these four tactics, Peoples Bank & Trust hopes you and your personal information can stay safe and secure. If you’re looking for more cyber security tips and tricks, be sure to check our blog. We share a new identity theft related topic each and every month.

Peoples Bank & Trust Co.

Member FDIC

Equal Housing Lender

Why You Shouldn’t Use Your Debit Card Online

Debit Cards

Now that you can pay for a taxi ride through your phone, order household essentials with the click of a button, and easily pay all your bills online, it’s becoming increasingly easy to depend on the internet for your financial transactions. At Peoples Bank & Trust, we want to shed some light on the various myths surrounding the use of debit cards online. With this information you can keep your information safe and secure while utilizing the latest fintech solutions:

Myth #1: It’s best to use your debit card online to pay for things.

Fact: While debit cards certainly have the capability of use for online purchases, other payment options such as credit cards, offer more advanced security safeguards and a decreased liability for the consumer.

We recommend using your debit card for any in-store purchases and utilizing one credit card for any transactions completed through the internet. This method ensures that should an online purchase become compromised, the safety of your savings, checking, and other bank accounts will remain secure while the credit card company eliminates any unwanted purchases within your account.

Myth #2: Wifi networks, like those found in coffee shops and hotel lobbies, are typically safe to use.

Fact: Many times cyber criminals target these hot spots by searching for potential victims to hack into through the use of a false wifi portal.

To avoid this circumstance, we suggest asking an employee of the establishment to verify the wifi network name and the associated password. In addition to this, it is always best to stick to non-personal sites, and avoid credit card and banking logins, while on public wifi.

Myth #3: If my debit card gets compromised, I will automatically get my funds back.

Fact: Because the funds are yours, the bank acts as a third party to help you file reports and maximize your chance of getting those funds back. However, there is no guarantee of recouping that money if you’re past certain timelines.

The sooner you report a card as lost or stolen, the less liable you are for unauthorized transactions. According to the Federal Trade Commission, if you report the card within two days of learning of its theft or loss, you are only liable for up to $50. However, if you wait up to 59 days after your bank statement is sent to you, you could be liable for up to $500. After 60 days, if the card in question has not been reported, you may be liable for the entire missing amount. To prevent this, we recommend reporting any loss or theft of your debit card as quickly as possible to reduce the potential damage to your personal finances.

After clarifying some common myths about debit card safety, we hope you will be inspired to become a safe shopper both online and offline. Whether you’re curious on how to best use your mobile banking or need to report a lost debit card, our dedicated team at Peoples Bank & Trust is always here to help! Drop us a line or stop by today.

Peoples Bank & Trust Co.

Member FDIC

Equal Housing Lender

The Top Cyber Scams of 2017

Cybersecurity

Each year new technology begins to emerge and make an impact on the way we shop, pay, and manage our money. As mobile becomes more relevant, and Americans begin to understand last year’s cybercrime tactics, hackers have already begun using a new bag of tricks and techniques. To help keep both you and your personal information secure, Peoples Bank & Trust wants to share an updated overview of this year’s most common cyber tactics and how to avoid their tempting lures:

 

  1. Smishing

Smishing is similar to the more commonly referred phishing tactics, however, in these instances, the initiatives are completed through SMS or text messaging. By incorporating a more personal element, hackers have become more dangerous, claiming to be not-too-distant relatives traveling abroad or in other circumstances of need. Sometimes the phone numbers they use may show up as unknown, and other times they may look like they belong to the relative they are claiming to be. To safeguard against this, we suggest always calling the contact you have for your family member to confirm the proposed narrative and ensure you aren’t being scammed in an attempted hoax.

 

  1. IRS Tax Scams

It’s that time of the year, and while many Americans may be waiting until April to file their taxes, countless cyber criminals are already filing fraudulent returns on their behalf. In order to best protect your refund from curious criminals, we recommend filing your federal tax return as soon as you receive all of your filing information from employers and other income sources. While there are many relevant software services to help you file, we always suggest working with a tax professional to ensure you can take advantage of every deduction and new tax regulation.

 

  1. Ransomware

In this scenario, cybercriminals enter your computer through a phishing email or other disguised Trojan horse. Through this charade, they are then able to take control of your computer and change passwords or access codes until a ransom is paid. After any ransom is paid, the victims of this crime hope to get their hardware reset to their original passwords, but unfortunately, there are no guarantees. This crime can be extremely difficult due to the fact that once someone has gained access to your device, most often there is no sure-fire way to know they have removed that access unless you purchase a new device or network. To best safeguard against this, we suggest screening all emails and links before opening to be certain they are coming from a credible source.

 

  1. False Merchandise

Year after year, online and mobile shopping continues to eclipse the traditional brick and mortar retail revenues. The 2016 holiday season only continued this trend, pushing mobile shopping to propel its largest growth compared to prior years. Unfortunately, these increasing online revenues typically come tied to additional cyber crimes as well. There are many instances where spam sites are created using a misspelled version of a common retailer, enticing users to purchase goods that may not truly exist. In these circumstances, we always recommend searching for the retailer on Google, as national retailers typically have organic or paid listing at the top of the search results.

Continue to learn new ways to protect your information online with our monthly cyber security blog! We’ll show you all the in’s and out’s of a safe network, and personal security.

 

Peoples Bank & Trust Co.

Member FDIC

Equal Housing Lender