VBA Creates Turnkey Resources For Cybersecurity Awareness Month

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Join the Virginia Bankers Association (VBA) and banks across Virginia and promote cybersecurity safety throughout the month of October. The below press release, tips and images are available for VBA members to use in your publications and on social media channels at any time during the month.

How can your bank participate?

  1. Download and customize the press release below. Plan to send this press release as soon as possible. The VBA sent this press release to our statewide media contacts on October 1st.
  2. Plan to share the below tips and social media images on your social media channels throughout the month of October. Consider scheduling posts on your channels throughout the month.
  3. Please use hashtags #vabankers and #vabankerstips if you share this information on your social media channels. 

Customizable Cybersecurity Awareness Month Press Release

Tips for Banking Online Safely:

  • Monitor your accounts regularly. Make sure that all transactions posted are ones you have authorized. Report any suspected fraudulent or suspicious activity to your bank immediately.
  • Look out for strange emails! Don’t respond to emails that claim to be from your bank (or any company) requesting your account details or passwords. Banks will not reach out to you over email to ask for your account details.
  • Avoid clicking links in emails. It is usually much safer to log in to your bank website manually to ensure you are entering a secure site.
  • Change your bank passwords regularly. Avoid using the same password across multiple sites and make sure you are choosing a strong password that is a mix of upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters. Avoid using any words or phrases that contain your name, initials or your birthdate.
  • Enable two-factor authentication. Many financial institutions have added a layer of security for account holders. Two-factor authentication requires you to enter an extra verification credential before you can access your account.
  • Disable automatic login. Do not allow your web browser to store private username and password information for your online banking websites.
  • When available, only use your bank’s official mobile apps. And make sure you download apps from reputable sources such as the Apple Store or GooglePlay Store.

Downloadable Social Media Ads:

Banking Online Safely Ad for Facebook

Banking Online Safely Ad for Instagram

Banking Online Safely Ad for Twitter

Information to Help Consumers to be More Cybersecure:

  • Email fraud. If it seems too good to be true, it is probably fraud. Don’t believe that lottery awards staff or princes from a foreign country will contact you by email!
  • Fraudulent payments. Be on guard against fraudulent checks, cashier’s checks, money orders or electronic fund transfers sent with a request for you to wire back part of the money.
  • Unsolicited offers. Be wary of unsolicited offers that require you to “ACT FAST”.
  • Stay up-to-date. Make sure your device is up-to-date with the latest security updates for your operating system – Windows, Apple IOS, mobile phone IOS (Apple, Android, etc.).
  • Warnings and errors. Do not trust websites with certificate warnings or errors.
  • Beware of email attachments. It’s never a good idea to click on an email attachment or free software from unknown sources. You could end up exposing your system to online fraud and theft. 
  • Sharing online. Watch how much you share online. The more you post about yourself on social networking sites, the easier it may be for someone to use that information to access your accounts, steal your identity and more. Protect your personal information by maximizing your privacy settings.
  • Financial scams. Be aware of disaster-related financial scams. Con artists take advantage of people after catastrophic events by claiming to be from legitimate charitable organizations when, in fact, they are attempting to steal money or valuable personal information. 

Downloadable Social Media Ads:

Personal Cybersecurity Ad for Facebook

Personal Cybersecurity Ad for Instagram

Personal Cybersecurity Ad for Twitter

About the Virginia Bankers Association
The Virginia Bankers Association represents banks of all sizes and charters and has served as the unified voice for Virginia’s $615 billion banking industry and its 42 thousand employees since 1893. To learn more about the VBA and the VBA Education Foundation click here.