​Protect Your Information Online

Protecting yourself online

Be cautious with your information online

• Do not send personal information by email or instant messages. Once sent or shared, the information is no longer under your control and could be intercepted and stolen.
• Strictly limit any personal information you post on the web and restrict who can access it. Consider deleting old posts that include personal information.
• Unless you personally know and trust the sender, do not open files, download programs or click links in emails or instant messaging. Phishing scams often use these “click bait” techniques to steal and abuse identities and may even gain remote control of your computer.

Be smart about your passwords and your Personal Access Code (PAC)

• Use strong passphrases that are difficult to guess and include combinations of upper and lower case letters, numbers and symbols.
• Ensure your passwords are always unique and never reused on different sites or accounts. You may need to select a trustworthy password database to keep them secure.
• Keep your PAC confidential and do not share it with anyone.
• Never disclose your PAC in a voicemail or email, and do not disclose it over the phone.
• Ensure no one observes you typing in your PAC.

Be aware of phishing attempts

Phishing scams are common forms of identity theft when criminals try to gain access to your private and personal information by disguising themselves as a legitimate company you may trust – like a financial institution.

Phony email, text messages and websites often include official-looking logos and identifying information fraudsters have taken directly from legitimate websites. These copycat sites, also called "spoofed" websites, are often where people will unwittingly send personal information to fraudsters.

Protect yourself from fraudulent websites. Don’t use search engines to find website – always type in or book mark website addresses, to ensure you are connected to the legitimate site.

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