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Security Links
As a result of the
open way that the Internet operates, there are individuals that will use
it to exploit other computer systems and networks. These threats have
become more frequent and increasingly creative in their operations in
the past year. The attacks are often extremely harmful to your computer
or to your personal confidential information. First Federal Bank makes
sure that all of our data systems are secure and reliable, but the connection
at the user's end must be just as secure for your information to
be safe.
For these reasons,
we recommend that you download and install all pertinent security
patches for your PC's operating system (Windows) and the PC's internet
browser (Internet Explorer, Netscape Communicator, etc.), and maintain
an anti-virus program. Popup blockers, spyware removers and firewalls
are recommended as well. Some hackers have even started to exploit security
flaws in other programs, such as email readers and word processors.
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| March
2005 - THE NEWEST THREAT TO FIRST FEDERAL BANK CUSTOMERS |
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"Phishing"
is a technique used by scammers to gain your confidential information.
These people send authentic-looking emails to customers of banks or credit
card companies. This type of email or website imitation is known as "spoofing",
and you should not let it fool you. The emails will typically warn that
due to recent online threats, the customer needs to visit a website where
they can confirm their information. Some spoofers have even been known
to include viruses, either as a payload in the message, or as a result
of following the included link.
The
link in the email redirects the recipient to a website that appears quite
valid, usually with copies of the bank logos and often even duplicating
the layout of the spoofed bank's website. This causes the user to lower
their guard and answer the questions on the website, giving up their credit
card numbers, bank account numbers, social security numbers, telephone
numbers, addresses, and anything else that the scammer can use in executing
identity theft against the recipient.
Be
assured that First Federal Bank will NEVER request that you reveal any
information in this way. If you receive a message that appears to be from
First Federal Bank (or any other company) that asks you to verify personal
information, it is a scam. Fortunately, the only threat that can
be caused by this scheme is if you do what the scammer wants. Follow these
simple steps to protect yourself and your information:
- Don't
click on the link in the message
- Forward
a copy of the email to: webmaster@ffbtn.com
- Then
Delete the message, and remove it from your "Deleted Items"
folder.
- If
you have any questions, send an email to: webmaster@ffbtn.com.
More information
about phishing can be found in this article from Ziff-Davis News:
"Phishing is Big Business" |
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- Viruses
are programs that reproduce their own code by attaching a copy of itself
to other executable files in such a way that the virus code is executed
when the infected file is accessed. This self-replicating code, when
triggered by some event, may do a potentially harmful act to your computer.
Another way of looking at viruses is to consider them to be programs
written to create copies of themselves. Most of the viruses produced
in the last several years are spread through email. Once the program
finds itself in a system, it looks for the PC's address book, and emails
copies of itself to the addresses it finds there. In that way, the person
receiving the infected message won't be suspicious, because they recognize
the sender's address. Similar to viruses, you can also find malicious
code in Trojan Horses, worms, and logic bombs.
- Popups
are annoying because they appear on your screen without warning and
interrupt your use, but the makers of popup programs often have hidden
programs that can download viruses or spyware (see below) onto your
PC.
- Spyware
is the name for a category of programs that run in the background of
Windows to do work most people are not even aware of. Spyware programs
were originally designed to track an internet user's browsing habits,
and would transmit a log file of the internet activity back to the programmer's
server. Advertisers and companies with commercial websites would use
this information to target their future advertising programs. However,
they can also affect the performance of your computer, because they
tend to monopolize your PC's resources in the background, particularly
if there are multiple spyware programs installed and running. They can
even put your personal information at serious risk, as newer spyware
programs are designed to locate credit card or bank account information
stored on your computer's hard drive, then transmit the data back to
the hacker's PC. Other spyware programs allow a hacker to remotely control
your computer's actions, using it as a server for sending thousands
of spam messages or other advertising content. The newest variety of
spyware programs target your installed anti-virus software, disabling
the program and making your PC even more vulnerable to the hackers and
scammers.
What can be done?
- Education
is the first key. Take a few minutes to understand what the threats
are, how they can affect you, and how to protect yourself from them.
- Don't
allow yourself to be fooled or cheated by criminals looking to make
an easy buck. When you are out in a public place, you should always
be aware of your surroundings and dangers that might exist. The internet
should be treated the same way.
- Follow
the recommendations below and keep your protection up-to-date.
- Anti-virus
programs are an absolute MUST for any internet-connected computer, particularly
for systems that send and receive email, as most viruses are delivered
via email messages. Anti-virus programs must also be updated to be able
to recognize and remove known viruses, including Trojan Horses, worms,
and logic bombs. Most anti-virus program companies release updates weekly,
and the updates can be downloaded from the company's website, or through
one of the links below.
- Popup
blockers will keep you from being frustrated during your internet
browsing, and will cut down the number of spyware programs that will
install themselves on your computer's hard drive.
- Spyware
killers should be used periodically (4-10 times per month is recommended,
depending on your usage of the internet) to remove spyware from your
PC. Like anti-virus programs, spyware killers must be updated and
kept up to date to be able to recognize and remove the most current
spyware programs.
- Firewalls
are particularly useful for always-on broadband internet connections,
such as cable modems or DSL. They keep your computer from being accessible
to hackers by hiding your computer's internet address from outside of
your connection, while still allowing you to browse and retrieve information.
Please feel free to
contact us if you have any other
questions or concerns about online security. The following links should
prove useful in securing your PC:
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| Microsoft
Technical Assistance |
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| Non-Microsoft Technical
Assistance |
- Updates
for other browsers
- Enhancements and security patches for other internet browsers (Netscape,
Mozilla, Opera, etc.)
- Updates
for Aniti-Virus Software
- Enhancements for
various anti-Virus programs (Norton, McAfee, PcCillin, etc.)
- Popup
Blockers
- Downloads of several
popup blocker programs are available through this link
- Anti-Spyware software
- Downloads of the PC industry-recommended spyware removers are available
through these links:
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Spybot
- version 1.4 or higher recommended
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Ad-Aware
- SE Personal version 1.06 or higher
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Firewalls
- Downloads of several
programs to keep hackers out of your PC are available through this link.
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