Happy (and Safe!) Holidays

With the holidays upon us, and the new year coming up, it’s a good time to remember that cybercriminals use the rush of the season to target unsuspecting users.

In addition to “urgent” messages to reset your password (reminder: even if you miss the reset date, we’re not deleting your account), it’s important to be ready for themed phishing emails such as Post Office/UPS/FedEx shipping notices.  It’s tempting to check “just in case,” but unless the email has your specific tracking number on it, it’s likely a scam.

Be careful if you get an email that looks like it’s from your bank saying that your card has gone over your limit – the bad guys often take the graphics straight from banking portals to trick people into entering their login data. Check your balance from your app, or give the support number on your card a call.

Remember that Wi-Fi hotspots aren’t secure – while you’re checking your bank balance, someone might be trying to intercept your ID and password.  Head out into the malls with the numbers beforehand, or just use your data connection.  At a busy Starbucks, your own service will probably be faster anyway.

Happy holidays everyone, and be safe out there.