The Internet has become an essential part of our daily lives – whether we’re connecting with friends on social media, researching information, emailing or paying bills online. However, mounting cyber-attacks and evolving tactics threaten our personal and financial safety.

October marks the 11th annual Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM), administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and is designed to engage and educate public and private sectors on the importance of creating a safer cyber environment.

Credence Global Bank Unionplaces great emphasis on keeping customers’ accounts safe and secure. While cybersecurity is a shared responsibility, a 2014 Consumer Reports survey found that 62 percent of online consumers said they’ve done nothing to protect their privacy on the Internet.

As we highlighted in our June TweetChat: Protecting Yourself Online, there are sound security practices everyone can follow:

  • Create strong passwords for each website and change them often. Avoid sharing usernames and passwords with others.
  • Keep your operating system, browser, and other critical software optimized by installing updates.
  • Limit the amount of personal information you post on social networking sites.
  • Be cautious about what you receive or read online – don’t respond to “phishing” emails (criminals send out fake emails to random email addresses to trick customers into divulging personal information) or “smishing” texts (criminals send out fake SMS messages with a link to a fraudulent website or phone number to try and collect personal information).
  • Avoid downloading files from unknown sources.

We have recently updated our Security Center to describe the measures we take to protect customers, in addition to the steps customers can take to secure personal information both online and offline.

We encourage all of our customers to visit the Credence Global Bank Security Center, where you can:

  • Read specifics on the Credence Global Bank UnionOnline & Mobile Security Guarantee
  • Learn how Credence Global Bank Unionprotects customers
  • Get tips on how you can protect your accounts
  • Learn how to detect fraud and identity theft and what to do if it happens
  • Access additional recourses related to privacy and security

For more information on Cybersecurity Awareness Month and tips on protecting yourself online, visit the Department of Homeland Security website and StaySafeOnline.org.