Online Safety

Safeguard Your Information

Sunbelt prioritizes the security and confidentiality of our members' personal information. We are strongly committed to keeping your personal information private by enforcing strict internal security systems, encrypting confidential information, limiting information shared with our third-party vendors, and continuously educating our employees on the rapidly changing scamming techniques.

One of the best defenses to falling victim of scams and fraud is to become an educated consumer. We want to provide our members with the necessary cyber security information and tips to insure their personal information is kept safe.

 

 

How to Stay Safe in Cyberspace.

Here are some great tips and information that can help you stay safe online. 

• PASSWORDS & MFA
  A strong password is one that contains a combination of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters (eg: !, #, $). Your password should be one that is not easily guessed or one used for other accounts. You should also change your password frequently. Don't write your password down or share it with others.
  
  You can also use a Password Manager to generate secure passwords and securely store them. Password Managers help you generate unique and strong passwords, store them in one encrypted place (vault), and access them while only needing to remember a single master password. The master password unlocks your vault and grants you access to all of your passwords. 
  
  Multifactor Authentication (MFA) is an additional security layer you should utilize on any online account when possible. MFA adds an additional security layer to the sign in process. You'll still use your username and password to login, but will also be asked to verify your identity by another authentication method - such as a text message, email, security questions, and/or phone call. 
      
• EMAIL ATTENTION
  Email is one of the main sources of communication between individuals, consumers and businesses, and for authenticating other online accounts. Be sure your email password is strong and secure. Never provide information such as bank account numbers, your social security number, credit or debit card numbers to anyone via email. 
  
  Links, Files & Attachments in emails are a common phishing scam tactic. Be cautious when opening emails - they can be spoofed to look like a legitimate person or company you may know. Don't open any links or download any attachments unless you can verify the contents are from a legitimate source. Some phishing emails are easy to spot as they will word the message in a way that creates a sense of urgency. Other phishing emails may be difficult to identify - so pay close attention to the verbiage and spelling, hover over any sender email addresses and links before clicking them. Hovering over an email address will allow you to see what the sender's actual email is and hovering over links will allow you to see the full website you'd be opening. Pay close attention to the spelling in any links or sender email addresses. They may look legitimate at a quick glance, but looking closer, you may notice a missing letter and/or misspelling. Lastly, don't open an email, download attachments, or respond to anything if you aren't expecting it. Scammers often use file attachments to install malicious software onto your computer and mobile device once you save/download the attachment. 
  
  Never log in from a link that is embedded in an email message. Scammers can use fake email addresses and create fake web pages that mimic the page you would expect. Type the URL address directly into your browser and then log in to avoid becoming a victim.
   
• LIMIT INFORMATION SHARING
  One way to keep your personal information safe is by limiting the information you share. Social Media platforms are a great way for us to keep up with family and friends, but can also be a target for scammers. Sharing information such as your home address, current location, phone number, and full birthday can provide scammers with information that may be useful to accessing other online accounts. Limit the information you make available by making your profile(s) private and accepting messages and friend requests only from individuals you actually know. Be aware that scammers often create fake profiles and/or profiles impersonating people you may know. Similar to phishing emails, be sure to evaluate any links or attachments in messages and refrain from accepting messages, clicking any links, or downloading any attachments from someone you do not know. 
   
• CALLS & TEXTS
  Text Messages; like emails, are a main source of communication and a major target for scammers. Do not provide anyone with your personal information – such as bank account numbers, social security numbers, and debit/credit card information. Sunbelt will never call, email, or text you requesting your personal account information. 
  
  Beware of links from unknown senders. Don't open links in text messages that aren't from a person you know.  
   
• MONITOR ACTIVITY
  Regularly review and monitor your account activity – either online through Cloud Banking or by reviewing your monthly statements. Contact us immediately if you notice any unusual login activity or unauthorized transactions. 
  
  If you feel your Cloud Banking account has been compromised, change your password immediately and contact us. 
   
• PUBLIC COMPUTERS & WiFi
  Avoid using public computers to login to your Cloud Banking account. If you do use a public or shared computer, be sure to completely log out of your account. 
  
  Also avoid using public and unsecure wifi networks to access Cloud Banking, unless you're using a VPN. Cyber criminals often target users on unsecured public networks.