Internet Security and Safety Tips

Whether conducting online transactions at towerfcu.org or using the Internet, common sense precautions can help protect your personal information against identity theft and account fraud. The security of your home computer is like the security of your home. The Internet is a public network, just like the streets in your neighborhood. Your ability to control who comes in depends on your security measures. Your online transactions must have security at both ends—within towerfcu.org and within your own system.

Tower's technology helps ensure security

When you use the Internet to visit towerfcu.org, whether it’s to learn about our low rates, review your account transactions, pay bills, apply for loans, open accounts or transact other business, you are entering a secure area.

• Password Protection—Tower uses password protection to keep your financial and personal information safe. Create a password that only you know. This assures that you, and only you, will have access to your accounts.
• Encryption—Encryption is the scrambling of your private information to prevent unauthorized data capturing. Once online at towerfcu.org, your transactions and personal information are secured using guaranteed 128-bit encryption, with up to 256-bit encryption—one of the strongest methods available. You will see a green status bar in most browsers, indicating a secure site.
• E-Mail Manager—Protect your sensitive account information. Send secure messages to Tower using E-Mail Manager in Home Banking.
• Privacy Policies—Every credit union must implement a stringent privacy and security policy to protect your personal and financial information. At Tower, your confidential information is treated with the utmost care, meeting or exceeding federal and state mandates.

Securing your home computer

Here are some home computer security features that can help increase your online safety.

• Passwords—Don’t use a password that is easy for others to guess such as birth dates, Social Security numbers and child or pet names. Instead, use a password that contains a variety of letters, numbers and symbols and change it regularly.
• Anti-Virus Software—Install anti-virus software on all connected computers and turn it on prior to each use.Your anti-virus software is like a flu shot.Your first installation protects you for a while, but because new viruses are emerging daily, it is essential to update your anti-virus software regularly.
• Firewalls—A Firewall is the protective shell between your computer and the outside world. It reduces threats from hackers by filtering out potentially dangerous data and preventing unauthorized access. Make sure you use a firewall at all times and keep it current.
• Operating Systems—Check regularly to see whether new security updates are available for your computer operating system such as Windows or MacOS.
• Disconnect—Turn off your computer or disconnect from the Internet when you are not using it. A computer hacker cannot attack your computer if it's turned off or otherwise completely disconnected from the Internet.
• Back Up Your Data—Even with all these security measures in place, the information on your computer is still vulnerable. Protect yourself from loss of critical data by backing up your data files and keeping your back-up data in a separate storage space.