ONLINE SECURITY

America First recommends enabling two-step verification to better protect your account. This makes it more difficult for unauthorized individuals to gain access.

It’s easy to enable this feature: log in to online banking, click Settings, choose Security & Alerts, select 2-Step Verification, then turn it on. Once enabled, you'll simply take another step when logging in. And you can turn authentication back off at any time.

In addition to services such as two-factor authentication, we also monitor accounts for abnormal transaction behaviors to mitigate fraud and keep you safe.

What additional measures can I take to ensure security?

Maintain a clean machine.

• Having the latest in security, Web browser, and operating systems software is the best defense against viruses, malware, and other online threats.
• Many programs will automatically connect and update to fight known risks. Turn on automatic updates if that's an option.
• Protect all your devices that connect to the Internet, including computers, smartphones, gaming systems, and other Web-enabled items.
• USBs and other external devices can be infected by viruses and malware. Use your security software to scan them.

Protect your personal information.

• Ask for protection beyond passwords. Many account providers now offer additional ways for you verify who you are before you conduct business on that site.
• Make passwords long and strong -- combine capital and lowercase letters with numbers and symbols.
• Create separate passwords for every account.
• Write passwords down and keep them safe on a list that's stored in a secure place away from your computer.
• Own your online presence: When available, set the privacy and security settings on sites to your comfort level for information sharing.

Connect with care.

• When in doubt, throw it out: Links in emails, tweets, posts, and online advertising are often the way cyber criminals compromise your computer. If it looks suspicious, even if you know the source, it's best to delete it or mark it as junk email.
• Get savvy about Wi-Fi hotspots: Watch the type of business you conduct and adjust the security settings to limit who can access your machine.
• When shopping, see if the sites are security-enabled. Look for web addresses with https:// or shttp://, which means it takes extra measures to help protect your information. Http:// does not.

Be Web wise.

• Stay current. Keep pace with new ways to stay safe online and click here often: www.americafirst.com/about/security.
• Be wary of communications that implore you to act immediately, offer something that sounds too good to be true, or ask for personal information.
• Back up your valuable work, music, photos, and other digital information by making electronic copies and storing them safely.

Be a good online citizen.

• What you do online has the potential to affect everyone - at home, at work, and around the world. Practicing good habits benefits the global digital community.
• Post about others as you would have them post about you.
• Report stolen finances or identities and other cyber crime to www.ic3.gov and your local law enforcement agency or state attorney general as appropriate.