Security

Data thieves work year-round to try to gain access to accounts and are particularly busy during tax season. The IRS warns taxpayers that the agency is seeing a large increase in bogus email schemes that seek to steal money or tax data.

 

 

Watch the video to learn the latest tips from our Vice President - Information & Cyber Security Jeff Kurek

The most common way for cyber-criminals to steal money, bank account...

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And how you can spot them

As scams become more prevalent, they are also more sophisticated, making them harder to detect. Scammers employ what is known as “social engineering” to manipulate people into revealing sensitive information.

It’s all about the psychology of persuasion. These scammers take advantage of human nature, aiming to lower your defenses so you’ll act on impulse rather...

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You’ve probably heard of phishing. But do you really know what it is - and more importantly, how to protect yourself from falling victim to it? Phishing scams have become very sophisticated, but there are some simple things you can do to protect yourself and keep your personal information safe.

What is Phishing?

Let’s start with a basic description: Phishing is a type of scam where an attacker sends a fraudulent message to trick you into revealing sensitive...

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Visualize yourself in these two scenarios.

 

Scenario 1

You’re working from home and an email from “your boss Sheryl” hits your inbox with a subject line: “Address”.

It looks authentic – you open the email.

It states: “Hi, please reply with your home address. I will be sending you a gift card for all your hard work.”

Wonderful! Some...

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The Oregon Trail. Carmen Sandiego. Minesweeper.

More than 20 years ago, a kid really couldn’t get into much trouble on a computer. For youngsters, the computer essentially served as an electronic hub for gaming and learning.

Today, a large percentage of American children between the ages of three and 18 have access to home internet. The built-in vulnerability of youth combined with the ease of access makes kids an easy target for cyber criminals.

Here are the...

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Did you know some fraudsters work full-time to steal money? We want to keep you safe from the scams, such as some of the latest ones involving Zelle®.

Remember, when it comes to sharing personal information with Park Bank, only provide info if you’ve called us directly. Don’t share sensitive information after you pick up a call, receive a text message or open emails appearing to come from Park Bank. 

Here...

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Cybersecurity is essential for any business, but even more important for nonprofits that are handling not only monetary donations but also donors’ private information. With more than 80% of nonprofits lacking a strategy to deal with cyber attacks and 56% not enforcing multi-factor authentication (MFA), most nonprofits are leaving themselves vulnerable.[1]

 

Cybersecurity Framework

The US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)...

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October is Cybersecurity Awareness month. And with the evolution of people working or attending school from home, online streaming, shopping, and more, as your financial partner, we also need to talk about the evolution of online safety.

 

Some important things to consider as you “boot up” …

Do I have a modern, secure internet connection? If possible, avoid joining a public network. Are my hardware and software up to date? Older devices and...

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Times of vulnerability like what we are seeing today with COVID-19 often lead to increases in cybersecurity risks.

Attackers often take advantage of the media attention around events like the current COVID-19 situation, so it’s a good idea to be extra vigilant in keeping your information safe.

“There is likely to be an increase in phishing attempts, with efforts to use the coronavirus to motivate...

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Email providers are getting better and better at protecting your accounts, from multi-factor authentication to included anti-virus and spam protection. But as secure as your email accounts might be, there are still inherent risks involved in sending your private information via a regular email.

Whether you have questions on your account, need to provide your mortgage advisor with tax information, or have any other need to provide your banker with your private information, you want to...

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