General Tips

• Do not open or respond to online solicitations for personal information. Ubium Bank will never send unsolicited email containing attachments, or require customers to send personal information, via email or pop-up windows.
• When a Social Security number is requested to sign up for a service, confirm that it is actually needed rather than some other identifier.
• Carry only necessary identification with you. Make photocopies of all the information you carry daily and store the copies in a secure location like a safe deposit box.
• Shred documents containing financial or personal information before discarding. Many fraud and identity theft incidences happen as a result of mail and garbage theft.
• Utilize paperless statement options and manage your accounts online. If you receive fewer paper statements in the mail, your exposure to mail theft will be lower as well. Checking your balances online can help you regularly monitor your account activity and more quickly detect fraudulent transactions.
• Receive and pay bills online with billpay.
• Always put outgoing mail in a U.S. Postal Service mailbox, which is more secure than your home mailbox. Make sure to collect your incoming mail promptly each day.

Be aware & diligent

With a few simple steps, you can help protect your Ubium Bank accounts and personal information from fraudulent emails and web sites:

• Delete suspicious emails without opening them. If you do open a suspicious email, do not open any attachments or click on any links it may contain.
• Ubium Bank will never request personal information by email. Never provide sensitive account or personal information in response to an email. If you have entered personal information, call us immediately at 310-697-6970.

When encountering a pop-up window, be aware of the following:

• Ubium Bank does not use pop-up windows to request customer account information.
• We will never display a pop-up window on our site that you haven’t requested by clicking on a link – all of our pop-up windows are user-initiated.
• Pop-up windows are often the result of programs installed on your computer called “adware” or “spyware.” These programs look in on your Web viewing activity and regularly come hidden inside many free downloads, such as music-sharing software or screen savers. Many of these programs enable harmless advertisements, but some contain “Trojan horse” programs that can record your keystrokes or relay other information to an unauthorized source.

Report fake emails, websites and pop-up windows

If you receive a deceptive e-mail, such as a message phishing for your information forward it to the entity wrongfully being impersonated. For Umbium “Bank-related” phishing email, forward it (as an attachment) to reportphishing@Ubiumbank.com and contact us immediately at 310-697-6970.

If you encounter a fake website, or pop-up window, or if you responded to one of these with personal information, please call immediately at 310-697-6970.

Practice safe computing

While we can’t maintain your computer systems, here are some tips you can take to help you protect your computer and your personal information when you are online. If in doubt, contact a local computer security professional for assistance.

• Protect your passwords. Keep your passwords in a secure place, and out of plain view. Don’t share your passwords on the Internet, over email or on the phone. We will never ask for your password. Here are a few password best practices:
  • Use passwords that have at least eight characters and include numbers and symbols (like !@#$%^&*),
  • Avoid common words: some hackers use programs that can try every word in the dictionary,
  • Don’t use your personal information, your login name or adjacent keys on the keyboard (like qwerty) as passwords
  • Change your passwords regularly (at least every 60 days), and
  • Use a different password for each online account you access.
• Keep your computer’s operating system up to date. If your computer is more than five years old, its operating system (e.g. Windows 2000, Mac OS 9, etc.) may not offer the same level of protection as newer systems. Operating system manufacturers provide frequent updates to help make your system more secure. These are usually applied automatically through email or via your Internet connection. You may also check their web sites, including:
  • For Windows: microsoft.com/security
  • For Apple Mac OS: apple.com/support
• Use a current web browser. To provide our customers with the most secure online access to their accounts, we continually upgrade our online services. In certain cases, the software you use to connect to the Internet (your web browser) may eventually become unsuitable for sensitive transactions such as Internet banking. In order to maintain a high level of security, Ubium Bank does not allow access to online banking using browsers that do not meet our security criteria. You may need to upgrade to a supported browser. You should also make sure that your browser is up to date (patched). You can usually use the “Help” menu in your browser to check for software updates.
• Install a personal firewall. Though most office networks include firewall protection, your home computer may benefit from this added level of security. Check to see if your operating system already includes a firewall prior to purchasing a separate one. Make sure your firewall software is on, and set to disallow unauthorized connections.
• Install and update anti-virus software. Commercially available virus protection software helps reduce the risk of contracting computer viruses that can compromise your security. These programs offer continuous upgrades in response to the latest threats. Some of the most popular programs are:
  • McAfee VirusScan: microsoft.com/security
  • Symantec Norton Antivirus: apple.com/support
• Consider anti-malware, anti-spyware, and pop-up blocker security software. You can eliminate potentially risky pop-up windows by removing any spyware or adware installed on your computer.
• Use secure web sites for transactions and shopping. Be sure the web page you are viewing offers encryption of your data when transmitted over the Internet. Often you will see a lock symbol near the website address in your browser window, or the web address of the page you are viewing will begin with “https://”. The “s” indicates “secure” and means the Web page uses encryption. Ubium Bank, for instance, provides 128-bit encryption – the highest level commercially available today.
• Avoid downloading programs from unknown sources. Downloads from unfamiliar sources may contain hidden programs or viruses that can compromise your computer’s security.

Be cautious when using public WiFi

Public WiFi is very convenient, but the data traffic sent over that wireless connection may be susceptible to eavesdropping. If someone is connected to the same WiFi network as you, they may be able to sniff packet information that you send and receive from your device. Avoid accessing your banking and financial information or accessing sites that require you to input personally identifiable information. If you must use public WiFi to access this information, it is recommended to install a VPN (Virtual Private Network) application that will ensure a secure encrypted connection. Be diligent and ensure that you are installing an application from a reputable developer.

Learn How to Secure Your Mobile Device

With advances to modern technology, you can do anything with your mobile devices. This includes having access to your financial information at the tip of your fingers. It is important to remember that this also creates a potential security risk to your personal information and your mobile applications. To learn more about key practices to help you secure your mobile device click here.