Financial Tips

First National Bank is happy to provide financial tips and educational articles that you may find helpful.

• Cyber Tip Newsletter

  WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SPECTRE & MELTDOWN
  Security researchers revealed two major software vulnerabilities that, in one way or another, affect just about anything with a processor. The flaws, called "Spectre" and "Meltdown," can potentially allow hackers to steal encrypted passwords as you type them in.  Continue Reading the Article Here

  NEW DEVICES?  CHECK YOUR CYBER SECURITY!
  Whether it’s a smartphone, laptop, desktop, tablet, or another device, check out the these tips to help you protect your new technology and secure your personal data. Continue Reading the Article Here

  TWO-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION
  Phones, computers, and appliances all store vital information. Passwords are one of the first steps to protecting that information – digital keys to our online kingdoms. But you can make login information more secure by pairing the password - something you know (knowledge) - with another factor, such as something you have (possession) or something you are (inherence). Something you have might be a smartphone, and you can prove you have the phone by reporting back the PIN code that was sent to it in a text message. Something you are could include your fingerprint or other biometric data. When two of these factors are combined to secure an account it is called two-factor authentication.  Continue Reading the Article Here

  PHISHING EMAILS AND YOU
  When it comes to email, we’ve all come across a phishing email that appeared to be a legitimate email. Phishers take advantage of the fact that it is difficult to know with absolute certainty with whom you are communicating via email. They use this uncertainty to pose as legitimate businesses, organizations, or individuals, and gain our trust, which they can leverage to convince us to willingly give up information or click on malicious links or attachments. Continue Reading the Article Here

  WHY STRONG, UNIQUE PASSWORDS MATTER
  Cybersecurity experts continually identify the use of strong, unique passwords as one of their top recommendations. However, this is also one of the least commonly followed recommendations because unless you know the tricks, it’s difficult to remember strong, unique passwords for every login and website.   Continue Reading the Article Here

  AVOIDING ONLINE TAX SCAMS
  It’s tax season, which means it’s also time for tax scams. Some tax scams occur when fraudulent tax returns are filed in the victim’s name while other variants occur when the malicious actors call the victim and pretend to be Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agents. In addition, there are malicious actors who use the tax season to spread malware and phishing emails. Continue Reading the Article Here

  
  
• Financial Education

  Crafty online criminals roam the Internet with the hope of gaining access to your checking account and personal information. To help thwart their efforts, it’s important to know how to protect yourself and your money. Here are some tips to get you started.

  Regularly update your passwords
  Although financial institutions such as First National Bank have advanced security systems in place to protect customer data, you need to do your part, too. For starters, create strong passwords that consist of a mixture of upper- and lowercase letters, symbols, and numbers. Change your passwords on a monthly basis, and don’t share them with anyone.

  Monitor your balances
  Keep a close eye on your checking and other accounts. If you spot an odd transaction that you think may be fraudulent, inform the financial institution, card issuer or service provider right away. The sooner you do that, the better your chances are of fixing the situation.

  Surf wisely
  Whether you’re at home or work, always sign out of online financial accounts after you’ve finished looking at them. Furthermore, protect your home computer by installing antivirus and malware software, and run monthly scans of your system.

  Use your best judgment when shopping online. If a website doesn’t look legitimate, think twice before you supply your credit card information. Be particularly careful when using Wi-Fi connections in public places. Many public Internet access points are not secured and don’t encrypt the traffic they carry.

  Protect yourself against card skimming
  Try to avoid using ATMs in sketchy locations such as gas stations, since these are popular among card-skimming criminals who copy your card information to make purchases of their own.

  The bottom line
  Preventing fraud and identity theft requires a combination of careful maintenance, planning and common sense, which you should rely on whenever surfing the Internet or withdrawing money. A proactive approach goes a long way in ensuring that your financial information doesn’t fall into the hands of cybercriminals.

  Tony Armstrong, NerdWallet

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