Online banking certainly provides great convenience -- and can save you a lot of time. Online banking lets you check your balances, transfer money between accounts, and pay bills. However, you need to be vigilant and protect your online bank account. Here are some tips on how you can protect your bank account and keep it safe from theft:

1. PAY ATTENTION. Log in to your account on a regular basis, even if you don't have any transactions to do. Simply take a look. It only takes a moment to review your information so that you know what's going on -- and to make sure nothing is wrong. If you do discover a problem or a discrepancy, contact Timberland FCU immediately.

2. KEEP IT PRIVATE. Don't be tempted to do your online banking in the library or the local Internet cafe. You have no way of knowing who has access to that information -- or how they'll treat it. Plus, there may be keystroke loggers on the computer, which make it very easy for a thief to steal your private information. (A keystroke logger is a hardware device or software program that monitors each keystroke a user types on the keyboard. This information can then easily be transmitted to the scammer, who then can have access to user names, passwords, and other confidential information.)
Never use public computers for transactions that involve private information.

3. INITIATE CONTACT YOURSELF. Don't ever try to access your account through an emailed link -- no matter how much that email looks like it came from your financial institution. These kinds of emails that request you to log into your bank account are most likely 'phishing' scams. Plus, don't give out any personal information if someone who claims to be from Timberland FCU contacts you, by email or by phone. The best way to be reasonably sure that you really are dealing with your financial institution is to always initiate the contact yourself.

4. CHECK FOR SECURE CONNECTIONS. When you log into Home Financial Services (HFS), make sure that the page where you type your info always starts with https: The 's' means that the URL is on a secure server. Never type confidential information or passwords into a non-secure page.

5. CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD REGULARLY. And don't tell anyone what it is, or allow anyone else to use it. Even people you trust should not have access to your online banking password.
Change your password at least once a quarter. If you suspect there may be a problem, immediately change your password and call your financial institution.

6. INSTALL BARRIERS. If you are doing online banking, your computer should have the following software installed: -

• A firewall. Firewalls 'block the door' to your computer so 'hackers' can't access the information on your hard drive.
• Spyware blockers. Spyware is any program that secretly downloads onto your system when you access the Internet, often through pop-up ads or attachments. The software gathers information about you from your computer and sends it to 'third parties' -- who could be scammers who will steal your money.
• Anti-Virus software. Scammers sometimes send virus 'trojan horse' programs by email, and anti-virus software installed on your system can stop these.

Install a good firewall, spyware blocking software, and updated anti-virus software program. Report all problems and suspicious activity immediately.

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