Minimizing the risk of current online threats is a cooperative effort of SECU
and our membership. Please review how you can
protect yourself
from these online threats, as well as
how SECU protects you.
Should you fall victim to fraud, please review our instructions for
dealing with fraud.
Malware
Malware, derived from the words "malicious" and "software", is used by criminals
to damage your computer system without your knowledge. Malware includes all types
of unwanted software such as computer viruses, worms, trojan horses, spyware, and
adware.
The most recent Malware reported is the Sinowal Trojan. This Trojan prompts members to enter in
personal information on a page that looks legitimate, but is not. SECU will never require or ask
members to provide personal information, such as your Social Security number and/or account
information, online.
A virus was recently reported where members were being prompted to enter
personal information before they could proceed further on a
fraudulent sign on page.
The goal of this Malware was to gather your personal information by linking you to a
fraudulent site that looks legitimate. SECU will never require your personal information.
Keystroke Logging
Without anti-virus software and firewalls protecting your personal computer,
you may be at risk of having your computer infected by a key logging virus, or
"key logger." A key logger records keystrokes as they are typed, thus stealing
valuable information such as online passwords.
Email Fraud
Email fraud, or "phishing," involves emails that appear to be from a legitimate
source, but are a criminal attempt at obtaining personal and/or account
information. It is important to remember that State Employees' Credit Union
never requests personal information via email, as email is not a secure method
of communication.
Identity Theft
"When anyone knowingly transfers or uses, without lawful authority, a means of
identification of another person with the intent to commit, or to aid or abet,
any unlawful activity that constitutes a violation of Federal law, or that
constitutes a felony under any applicable state or local law."
- Identity Theft Act of 1998
By obtaining personal information, such as a social security number or credit
card information, a thief can commit fraudulent acts (such as creating new
accounts) using the unknowing victim's name. Unfortunately, most victims are
unaware of the crime until after it has already been committed and damage has
been done to their credit history.
