Keeping Your Finances Afloat

Are you concerned about the security of your personal bank accounts? If you have online access to your checking or savings account, it's very important that you pay attention to security. Someone who gains access to your checking or savings account could empty it or completely steal your identity.

Never Log In Away From Home Or The Office

Don't use unfamiliar WiFi connections to log into your bank accounts, nor computers in public spaces such as library computers or Internet cafes. You won't know whether or not these computers or WiFi connections have been compromised; someone could be connected to either the computer or the wireless Internet connection and scanning for login information. If you need to do banking away from home, call in or use a smartphone app instead.

Change Your Password Regularly And Keep It Unique

Changing your password regularly ensures that your password will remain secure even if there is a data breach. For the same reason, you should make sure that your password is always unique. If your password for your bank account is the same as your email address, and your email provider is hacked, your bank account may also be vulnerable. 

Never Write Down Your Password

Do not save your password in a computer file or write it on a piece of paper--even if you believe that the location is secure. If you need to remember your password, you should instead try to create a memory trick with which to remember it; you can always call the bank to have it reset if necessary.

Log Out Of Your Accounts After Use

Once you have completed whatever you need to do, you should always log out of the website. Otherwise, someone could log into your computer directly after you, open the bank page, and potentially access your account. 

Regularly Scan Your Computer For Malware And Viruses

Even if you know that you taken good care of your computer, you should still regularly scan it. If you're a parent, your children could accidentally install viruses on your computer; if you use a work computer, your coworkers might unintentionally send you malware in an email. Malware and viruses don't just have the capacity to break your computer--they can also send confidential information (like a bank account password) to a third party.

If you feel as though your account has been compromised, you should always take immediate action to notify your bank. Most banks, such as Juniata Valley Bank, will be able to change your passwords and flag your accounts for any suspicious behavior.