Protect Your Personal Information

In recent years, criminals have largely refocused their tactics towards the end user in effect, you. They have developed multiple schemes designed to electronically compromise your hardware and in the process gain access to your personal information (or in a worst case scenario, your money). First Federal Savings of Middletown has compiled the following list of saftey precautions to address these issues:

• Select a good anti-virus program and keep it current
• Run scans at least once a week
• Scan all downloaded files
• Keep your operating system and programs patched: It's best to apply all security-related patches for your software as soon as they become available
• Never select the option on web browsers for storing or retaining username and password: This can put your personal information at risk in the event of a data compromise
• Only download and install software from websites you know and trust: Downloading free games, file-sharing programs, and customized toolbars may sound appealing, but free software can come with malicious software

• Only give personal information over encrypted websites – those using the https:// at the beginning of their address
• Avoid using computers or devices that cannot be fully trusted (for instance the local library computer or the Internet café)
• Be leery of WI-FI hotspots, most do not encrypt the information that you send over the internet and are therefore not secure
• Instead of clicking on a link in an email, type the URL of the site you want directly into your browser: Criminals often send phony “phishing” emails that appear to be from companies you know and trust. The links may look legitimate, but by clicking on them could download malicious software or be sent to a spoof site which is designed to steal your personal information