Fraudsters have continued to develop and deploy more sophisticated, effective, and malicious methods to gain unauthorized access to customers’ online accounts.

Malware can monitor a customer’s activities and facilitate the theft and misuse of their login credentials and challenge questions. NSSB wants you to understand the importance of safeguarding your accounts and information.

Here are some steps that you can take:

• Install current versions of virus detection software, firewalls, and spyware scanning tools to reduce computer infections. Make sure to keep these tools up to date and that scans are run daily. Security programs should run an update automatically and you should set your system up to scan for viruses automatically.
  
• Keep all Windows operating systems updated. Many people forget the importance of updating other software installed on their computer as well, like java, adobe and flash, just to name a few. These programs need updates installed as well to protect you, your computer, and your accounts from computer infections. Note – you can have all updates installed, have the best anti-virus possible and can still get viruses and malware. Some of the biggest risks are P2P sites, downloading music, and simply being on the internet. Social network sites are not immune to spreading viruses and malware.
  
• If possible obtain a web filtering software. Read reviews for virus protection, web filtering protection, spam filtering protection. There are some free products that do work, but many more that do not and actually install viruses and malware. Check with your local computer store or computer repair person.
  
• Do not share your login IDs or passwords for any of your online accounts with anyone. NSSB employees may have access to your login ID but do not have access to your passwords. NSSB employees will not make unsolicited contact asking for your passwords.
  
• Passwords should be strong and should not be stored on the device used to access Online Banking.
  
• If it appears that you are being directed to a website other than the website you are attempting to reach, stop immediately even if the website appears to be legitimate. Do not enter your login information. Contact the company whose website you are trying to reach to report the issue.
  
• If the website you are accessing has a watermark picture that you had to choose and if you see any other picture other than the picture you selected, do not enter your password. Try the username again. If it still displays the wrong picture contact the company of the website immediately to report the issue. Our Online Banking website will always show a picture even if it isn’t yours, if you enter an incorrect username.
  
• Be careful downloading anything free or really cute. These downloads can be free and cute for a reason, to install viruses and malware on your computer.