Phishing is when criminals use fake emails to lure you into clicking on them and handing over your personal information, or installing malware on your device. When criminals go phishing, you don’t have to take the bait. It’s easy to avoid a scam (phishing) email when you know what to look for!  The signs can be subtle, but once you recognize a phishing attempt, you can avoid falling for it. Know the signs of a fake phishing email The offer inside is too good to be trueLanguage is urgent, alarming, or threateningWriting is poorly crafted, with misspellings and bad grammarGreetings…

One of the best ways to keep your information secure is also one of the easiest: Keep your software and apps updated!  When updates become available for your phone, computer, tablet, or other device, make them right away. We know how tempting it can be to click “remind me later,” but here’s why that’s not the best idea.  These updates are pushed out to fix general software problems and provide new security patches where criminals might get in. (Cyber criminals are always looking for new ways to steal your data through software, and updating your software is an easy way…

Over the years, we’ve gone from having just a couple of passwords to keep track of, to managing upwards of 100 passwords or more. If you’re like most people, you’re probably using the same password for most of your accounts—and that’s not safe. If that one password gets stolen because of a breach, it can be used to gain access to all your accounts… and any personal or financial information they contain. That’s why we recommend using a password manager! What is a password manager? A password manager is software designed to manage all your online credentials, like usernames and…

First things first: What is multi-factor authentication? Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a security measure that requires anyone logging into an account to complete a two-step process to prove their identity.  In short, multi-factor authentication makes it twice as hard for criminals to access an online account! How does multi-factor authentication work? By requiring two steps instead of one to log in, multi-factor authentication greatly increases the security of any account. When MFA is activated, you’ll log in to your account with your username and password like normal, then complete an additional security step to finish the login process. Examples of…

Peer to Peer or Person to Person (P2P) payment services are an easy way to send funds directly from your account to another person. These services are available through several providers via websites and mobile apps.  Funds can be sent quickly often using only a phone number or email address. However, P2P transactions have risks and do not have the same consumer protections as other transactions. Unlike credit card and debit card transactions, there are no chargeback rights on P2P payment services. This means if you send someone money, even someone who has defrauded you, we may not refund your…

Summer is a popular time to travel, whether for a relaxing overnight or a week spent exploring a new destination. You’ll likely be taking along your smartphone or other device to assist with directions, locating or identifying points of interest, and capturing that special photo. Practicing good cyber hygiene before, during, and after your trip will help secure your devices and allow you to connect with confidence when you’re away from home! Before You Travel Update your devices. Updating devices will fix security flaws and help keep you protected. Whether it’s your computer, smartphone, or gaming device, be sure to…

Check out these great tips to improve your saving habits—and make smarter choices about your spending—today! Start with these simple wins:   Use bill pay. Sign up to Round Up and Save with your debit card.Use a card with rewards! (We have rewards on both debit and credit cards.)Open a Christmas Club or other special savings account. (With AirTeller, you can do this online.)In AirTeller, add tags to your transactions. This makes tracking your spending even easier. Zero out your money at the end of each day. For example, if you have $24 in cash at the end of the day, put…

Not even the best security measures will keep your data safe if someone (or something) guesses your password.  Here are our recommendations to make your passwords less vulnerable.  Let’s start with the “do’s” of a good password. DO use multi-factor authentication (MFA) whenever available. DO increase the length to create stronger passwords. DO change your password whenever you think it may have been compromised. What are some password “don’ts”? DON’T use names or dates associated with you or your family. This includes the names of your pets and any information available on social media. DON’T reuse passwords across multiple systems or…

Here in Wyoming, most of us are familiar with snowy weather and can handle it without much thought.   However, the cyber storm that started forming just before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine—and then exploded after—is unfamiliar to most, and possibly more devastating. The attacks on Russia’s computer and communications networks by the western computer/technology community, from Microsoft to individual hackers, have shown how effective cyberwarfare can be.  There are also signs of how effective a counterattack could be.   It is easy to think that we, meaning individuals in the middle of America and small institutions like First Education, will not be…

Don’t fall victim to a fraud! Here are 10 tips to outsmart even the trickiest tricksters.  1. Spot Imposters. Scammers often pretend to be someone you trust, like a government official, a family member, a charity, or a company you do business with. Don’t spend money or give out personal information in response to an unexpected request, whether it comes as a text, a phone call, or an email.  2. Conduct Smart Searches. Not sure if a message or email is the real deal? Type the company or product name into your favorite search engine along with words like “review,”…