Online Security

Seasons Federal Credit Union Helps Protect You

You can’t read the news without hearing about another big “hack” or case of identity theft. You can protect yourself – but it does require always paying attention to the information you share online, on the phone and in person.

At Seasons Federal Credit Union, we want you to be able to enjoy the benefits of our increasingly connected online world. That means knowing how to protect your identity and your account information, whether you are at home or on the go.

 

DISCLAIMER:
Financial institutions, including Seasons Federal Credit Union, will not send you emails or call you on the phone to request personal information. If you receive one of these calls or emails, or if you are ever unsure, please contact us right away.

 

How to protect yourself

     

 

Protecting Your Information

Here at Seasons FCU, we do all that we can to protect your personal information and provide you with a dependable online experience. However, we rely on you to take further precautions to assure the safety of your accounts. By following our tips, online banking and our mobile app can be a secure and efficient method for all your banking needs.

General Guidelines

• Make sure your operating system and antivirus software are up to date.
• Always use secure wireless (WiFi) networks that require a login ID and password.
• Never leave your computer unattended while using online banking.
• Monitor your recent account history for unauthorized transactions.
• Always log off of online banking when you're finished and close the browser.

Login ID and Password

• Create strong passwords by using a mixture of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
• Do not create passwords containing your initials or birthday.
• Change your passwords periodically.
• Memorize your passwords instead of writing them down.
• Only register personal devices and avoid using features that save your login IDs and passwords.

Fraud Prevention

• Do not open email attachments or click on links from unsolicited sources.
• Avoid giving out personal information on the phone or through email.
• Shred unwanted sensitive documents including receipts, checks, deposit slips, pre-approved credit card offers, and expired cards.
• Act quickly. If you suspect your financial information is compromised, call us immediately at (860) 346-6614.

 

Username Tips

The Importance of Creating a Strong Online Username

Seasons FCU is committed to keeping your financial information safe and secure, therefore, it is recommended that you add complexity to your online banking User ID. Your User ID is the key to your Seasons FCU online identity, so it's just as important to create usernames that are as strong as a password. To ensure you are following good security practices, please take a moment to review the tips below.

Tips on Creating a Strong Username

• Use uppercase and lowercase letters, numerals, and special characters in non-obvious arrangements — ultimately, they should not be complex, but also should not be a simple name, phone number, account number or social security number 
• Create a username that is easy for you to remember, but difficult for someone else to guess
• Using different usernames for individual online accounts makes it harder accessing information for hackers
• Never use a Social Security Number as a username. Social Security Numbers may be hard to guess and easy to remember, but they could give malicious hackers a coveted piece of personal information that can be exploited
• Never disclose any of your usernames to others or store your usernames on paper or in an unencrypted computer file
• Never provide your online banking User ID if requested through email. Seasons FCU will never ask you to supply your personal information.

 

Password Tips

Choosing a secure password is the key to keeping your online Seasons FCU accounts safe. If you have a relatively simple password, other individuals may be able to access your account through a series of guesses. In order to prevent this from happening, you should select a password that includes a combination of numbers, letters, and words. Avoid using single words or any information about yourself that other individuals could easily obtain, including your name, your spouse's name, your pet's name, birthdays, hobbies, or any part of your User ID or email address.

• Use passwords that are unique for different sites. Hackers who steal passwords will try to use them on other sites.
• A strong password will be at least 10 characters long
• If the site you're creating the password for allows it, use a space in the password. Spaces make passwords harder to crack.
• Instead of a password, use a passphrase with a space, and keep it visual. For example, pigs 2 Bark! would be a great passphrase that meets all of those suggestions.

 

Seasons FCU Secure Information

In our fast-paced world, effective communication is a must; that’s why email has become so important. However, traditional email may not always be the most secure way to send or receive sensitive information. With this in mind Seasons Federal Credit Union offers another way for you to securely communicate with us.

Secure Messages within Online Banking

Just log into online banking or your mobile app to send us a secure question or message. A Seasons FCU representative will send you a reply.

 

What is a fraudulent email and how do I recognize one?

A fraudulent (a.k.a. spoofing, imposter, or phishing) email is one that has been forged so it looks like a legitimate email from a particular organization. Its goal? Usually, to trick you into providing sensitive personal information that can be used for identity theft.

It's often hard to detect a fraudulent email. That's because the email address of the sender often seems genuine as do the design and graphics. But there are signs to be aware of. For example, fraudulent emails often try to extract personal information from you in one of two ways:

• By luring you into providing personal information on the spot (e.g., by replying to the email).
• By including links to a site that tries to get you to disclose personal data.

If you are ever unsure about an email you have received from Seasons FCU, don't hesitate to call us at (860) 346-6614 or reach out through one of our secure methods to verify the email is legitimate.

 

How can I be sure I’m interacting with Seasons FCU and not an imposter?

You can tell that you're dealing with Seasons FCU because:

• Seasons FCU representatives will never send you an email asking for your passwords, credit card numbers, or other sensitive information.
• If we request information from you, we'll always direct you back to a Seasons FCU site using links.
• If you use a link in an email you receive from Seasons FCU, you can make sure that you are on a Seasons FCU page by comparing the address of the site in the Address/Location area of your web browser — it would have seasonsfcu.org in the address of the site.
• If you are talking to us on the phone, we'll verify your identity.

To tell if an email is really from Seasons FCU, you need to view the site that the URL is taking you to. Here's how to do so with HTML and text-based emails:

• HTML-based email.In HTML emails (with graphics), to view the destination URL, position your cursor over the link or button; the URL should appear in your email program's status bar at the bottom of the window. However, spoof URLs are intentionally long, so only the first part is usually visible in the status bar. It might look genuine, but it's not a guarantee of where you'll end up. Therefore, you need to view the entire URL and go there to make sure it's really a Seasons FCU site.
• Text-based emails. Text-based emails also tend to contain very long URLs that you click on to get to a site. However, the URL may not represent the true destination.

 

How do I view an entire URL to make sure it is a legitimate site from an HTML or text email?

How do I view an entire URL to make sure it is a legitimate site from an HTML email?
Position your mouse over the link and right click. Select Copy. Paste the URL into Notepad (or any text editor). When you arrive at the site, double click on the padlock icon and make sure that it's "Issued to" a URL that ends in seasonsfcu.org.

How do I view an entire URL to make sure it is a legitimate site from a text-based email?
Paste the URL into your browser. When you arrive at the site, double click on the padlock icon and make sure that it's "Issued to" a URL that ends in seasonsfcu.org.

 

What can I do to protect my accounts and personal information while I’m banking online?

Seasons FCU takes numerous steps to keep your accounts and personal information secure, but you also play a role in maintaining the security of your banking information. Here's what you can do:

• Change your password regularly —It's important to change your password regularly, which you can easily do by clicking on "More" and then "Profile" after logging into online banking or clicking on “More” and then “App Settings” after logging into the mobile app.
• Memorize your password —Your online password authenticates you when you begin an online banking session. You should memorize this password and never write it down anywhere or reveal it to anyone.
• Remember to log off —You may not always be at your own computer when you bank online. Therefore, it's important to log off when you're finished banking.
• Use your browser's built-in security features —We recommend that you use the built-in security features that browsers provide. Choosing certain security settings and options will help protect the privacy of your accounts and personal information.

 

How do I send you questions securely when I’m online?

It is best to send us questions and comments with Messages from within online banking or the mobile app. The security on your online banking account is very robust. This would be the best way to send messages that are secure in nature.