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Cybersecurity Resources

In today’s digital world, it’s important to understand cybersecurity and how to keep your personal and financial information safe from cyber threats. Below please find some helpful information as provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities.

 

What is cybersecurity?

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities, cybersecurity is the body of technologies, processes and practices designed to protect networks, computers, programs and data from attack, damage or unauthorized access. 

A few helpful tips to keep in mind so that you can keep yourself safe:

  • Never respond to emails, phone calls or texts that request your personal information
  • Be cautious about what you share about yourself on social media
  • Never share your passwords with anyone
  • Make sure your online passwords are complex (a combination of at least 8 upper and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters), and avoid using birthdates, family member names, or anything else that can be easily guessed
    • Instead of thinking of it as just a password, consider using passphrases whenever possible. For example, select the first letter of each word in a sentence or phrase, then replace some of the letters with numbers or special characters to create something that is easy for you to remember, but impossible for others to guess.

For more information and helpful tips on cybersecurity, protecting your smartphone, online shopping and more, click here for a helpful video from the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities or here to visit their website. 

Whether online conducting professional business or in a personal capacity, vigilance is the key to protecting yourself, your business, and your finances. 

Prevent Phishing Scams

The Federal Trade Commission’s report on fraud estimates that American consumers lost a staggering $3.3 billion to these phishing schemes and other fraud in 2020.

Some of the most common methods are scammers pretending to be from your bank, by texting, emailing, or calling asking for confidential information. Help prevent these scams, by being aware of potential red flags and being more confident in knowing banks would never ask that. 

American Bankers Association recommends the following tips to protect your accounts before scammers strike: 

  • Set up multi-factor authentication on your bank and email login.
  • Use random or complex passwords.
  • Call your bank directly, or log in to your account, to verify messages or emails received.
  • Keep your browser up-to-date with the latest defenses, like virus protection and malware alerts.

To learn more about how to prevent this crime, please visit the Federal Trade Commission Consumer Information. 

VPN Use During International Travel

Logging into your online banking applications, email, and social media while traveling abroad, even from your own devices, can be dangerous for your sensitive information. One way to protect yourself from cybercrime while traveling abroad is to utilize a Virtual Private Network service or VPN.

A VPN Connection establishes a secure connection between you and the internet creating a virtual encrypted tunnel your data is routed through.

Although Peoples Security Bank & Trust cannot endorse any one particular VPN solution, websites like www.security.org have recent articles reviewing many different types of VPNs for domestic and international travel that could help you to choose the best fit for your circumstances.

Here are some additional resources we have identified that may help to keep your private and sensitive information safe while traveling abroad:

Resources

The links below are provided for you to learn more about cybersecurity. We encourage you to take some time to look critically at your business and personal habits, evaluate any potential cybersecurity risks, and use these resources and others to implement best practices as we all move forward into this next phase of our digital future.

 

The information regarding cybersecurity on this page, including the links above, was provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities.