Summer is always a time to kick back, relax and . . . change your internet passwords? 

That’s right — June is National Internet Safety Month, an annual reminder to upgrade your personal cyber security measures. After all, nothing says “relaxation” like knowing your identity and finances are protected online. 

As part of our ongoing commitment to your safety, we’re sharing a few essential tips and reminders to help our members and readers stay safe on the internet.

1. Review your passwords

Take a minute to review the passwords on all of your online accounts. You may want to update passwords that are easy to guess — for example, they’re too short or don’t include varied characters and cases. You can also check your devices to see if any of your passwords have been compromised. If so, you’ll want to update the passwords for the compromised accounts as well as any other accounts that use the same passwords. 

Want to create a stronger password? Here are a few tips:
● Capitalize some of the letters in your password
● Incorporate numbers and symbols into your password
● Use more than one word 

If you incorporated all of those ideas into a single password, you might get something like this: B1u3H0u$e as opposed to “blue house.”

2. Get familiar with phishing scams

Unfortunately, phishing scams are nothing new, but they are getting smarter all the time. Some signs of a phishing scam can include:
● A phone call or email that appears to come from a website or company that you trust, urging you to take immediate action to protect your account. If this happens, you can look up the email address or phone number to see if it is tied to the company it claims to be from. You can also call or email the company directly using the contact information on their website to ask whether they’ve reached out to you. 
● An email or text message that claims to be from a company you trust, asking you to click on a link or attachment. The message might ask you to click a link to review suspicious activity on your account, confirm your payment information or claim a prize or a refund. In these cases, it’s best not to click on anything within the suspicious email or text message. You can also contact the company that it claims to be from to ask whether any action is needed on your account.

Spectrum CU has recently been made aware of a phishing scam in which the fraudsters are claiming to be from the Credit Union. If you get a text message that appears to come from the Credit Union that asks you to click a link to confirm a Zelle® transaction, please do not click the link. You can call us at 800-782-8782  or send us a Secure Email via Digital Banking if you receive this text message. For more information, please visit our Fraud Alert page.

3. Talk to your kids about internet safety

Most kids get to enjoy more free time in the summer months. The end of the school year is a good time to talk to your kids about internet safety and keeping their identity safe. Topics can include:
● Setting family rules and establishing a safe space for your child to communicate with you if they have questions or concerns about something on the internet
● Information and content that is and is not appropriate to share on the internet 
● What to do if they get bullied on the internet
● How to respond if someone they meet on the internet asks to meet up in person

With these safety tips in mind, you’ll be better prepared to keep your information safe on the internet. Remember, Spectrum CU will never send you an email requesting personal information. To learn more about our commitment to protecting your financial and personal information, visit our security page anytime.