Online Banking
Find a Location
Contact Us
1-888-779-4801
Email Us
 

Your Privacy & Security

In today’s world, online security, identity theft, and personal safety are growing concerns for all of us. At Frontier Bank, financial privacy and identity safeguards are a top priority. You can feel confident that we maintain strict internal procedures and use leading technology to protect your information.

Awareness education and personal vigilance are the best defenses against online crimes and identity fraud. As such, we've assembled some important information, suggestions, and helpful online links for this section of our website. We offer this as a service to our customers and visitors so you can take an active part in minimizing your risk. 
Protecting Yourself Online Protecting Your Identity Personal Safety Tips

Ten Tips for Online Security


Without adequate security, your computer is vulnerable to unauthorized users gaining access to your accounts and personal information. These basic tips can help safeguard your PC and your personal information when using the Internet and online services.

  • Install a firewall and antivirus and spyware detection software. Perform regular updates, and always check to make sure the security software is running before you access the Internet.
  • Use “strong” passwords consisting of at least 8 characters that mix letters, numbers, and special characters. Never share your password with anyone. It’s also a good idea to change all of your passwords every 30-60 days.
  • Do not respond to any emails, web pages, or telephone calls that ask you to verify your account information.
  • Look beyond the logo. Fraudulent emails or websites can appear legitimate because scammers often include actual logos and images they have stolen.
  • Take advantage of spam filters. Many email service providers offer them and may give you a way to mark an email as spam which helps your filter, detect, and fight spammers.
  • Type, don’t click. If you open a suspicious email, don’t click on any links. You could unknowingly download a virus or spyware to your computer. Type web addresses into your browser instead of clicking on links.
  • Delete emails from unknown senders, particularly those with nonsensical information or typos in the subject line.
  • Protect your credit card when shopping online. Before entering your card number, be sure there is an “s” (stands for secure) after the http in the web address (https). Also, look for a tiny locked padlock somewhere on the page.
  • Get additional cyber security tips from the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT).
  • View an expanded discussion of these and other online security measures at OnGuard Online.

 

Antivirus and Firewall Tips

 
What is a computer virus?

Computer viruses are small software programs that are designed to spread from one  computer to another and are intended to interfere with computer operation. A virus might corrupt or delete data on your computer, use your email program to spread itself to other computers, or even erase everything on your hard disk.

Viruses are most easily spread by attachments in email messages or instant-messaging messages. That is why it is essential that you never open email attachments unless you know who it's from and you are expecting it. Viruses can be disguised as attachments of funny images, greeting cards, or audio and video files.

What is malware?

Malware” (short for malicious software) is a catch-all term that typically refers to any software designed to cause damage to a single computer, server, or computer network. Familiar examples of malware are viruses and spyware.

Criminals are hard at work thinking up creative ways to get malware on your computer. They create appealing websites, desirable downloads, and compelling stories to lure you to links that will download malware, especially on computers without adequate security software. Then they use the malware to steal personal information, send spam, and commit fraud. The best first line of defense against malware is to use antivirus software and keep it up to date. Many antivirus packages support automatic updates.

What is a firewall?

A firewall can be either hardware devices (external) or software programs (internal) that inspect network traffic passing through. There are advantages and disadvantages to both types of firewalls, but the most important decision is to use a firewall. Utilizing a set of rules, an effective firewall will block data from certain locations while allowing the relevant and necessary data through.

For more helpful information, view the following:

 

Password Tips

Your password is one of the best frontline defenses for protecting your personal information. It is important to create strong, complex passwords that cannot be easily accessed or guessed. For maximum security, follow these basic password tips:

  • Keep your passwords in a secure place out of plain sight, and don’t share them with anyone.
  • Don’t use words that can be found in any dictionary of any language.
  • Don’t base your password on personal information that can be easily accessed or guessed.
  • Use at least 8 characters, in a combination of uppercase/lowercase, alphanumeric and special characters.
  • Try selecting an acronym based on a series of words: “Take me out to the ball game” becomes Tm02tbG.
  • Don’t use the same password for all your systems and online accounts.
  • Change your password often – at least every 90 days, if not sooner.

Get additional password tips.

 

Recognizing Phishing and Other Social Engineering Schemes


Social engineering schemes use human interaction (social skills) to obtain or compromise information about a person, an organization, or a computer system. Social engineering can occur in person, or over the telephone, or through email. Consumers should be wary of unsolicited contacts made by people who claim to represent legitimate organizations asking you to provide or update personal information.

Phishing is a social engineering scheme usually deployed by email or on a website. It appears to come from a legitimate source, such as a bank or credit card company, and is asking (or “phishing”) for your personal information. There are many variations of phishing schemes; some request you to fill out a form, others may ask you to call an 800 number and enter information via the telephone buttons, and some actually leave a botnet or mini transmitter on your computer that can transmit what you are typing.

To protect yourself from these schemes, never provide personal or financial information to someone inquiring via email. For other safe email practices, see this website’s “Ten Tips for Online Security.”

If you think that you may be a victim of a scam, see this website’s “Reporting Fraud” section.

For more information on social engineering and phishing scams, visit the following:

 

Email from Frontier Bank

Frontier Bank does not routinely contact customers via clear-text email. Customer contact by email is normally mutually agreed upon in advance and accomplished via secure encrypted email. We encourage you to contact your local branch to verify email received from us. For assistance with accessing a secure message, you can contact the sender or our Customer Call Center.


 
Frontier Bank's response to the Heartland Payment Systems breach GO
You Have the Power to Stop Identity Theft GO
Fake Sweepstakes Calls Spoofing Frontier Bank GO
Go "GREEN" with Frontier Bank's paperless e-Statements! GO
Text message phishing attacks; SMSishing. GO
Member FDIC - Equal Opportunity Lender   Copyright ©2009 Frontier Bank