Cyber Security Guide

Protecting Your Financial Information Online

Cyber threats are on the rise, and keeping your personal and financial data safe is more important than ever. While financial institutions implement strong security measures, customers must also take precautions to prevent fraud, identity theft, and cybercrime.

Oklahoma AgCredit is committed to helping you stay safe online by providing cybersecurity education and best practices to protect your accounts and personal information. This guide will walk you through key steps to secure your digital life and minimize the risk of cyber threats.

How to Protect Your Accounts & Devices

1. Secure Your Computer & Mobile Devices

  • Install anti-malware software to detect and block viruses, spyware, and ransomware.

  • Keep your operating system and apps updated to patch security vulnerabilities.

  • Use a firewall to prevent unauthorized access to your computer or network.

2. Strengthen Your Login Credentials

  • Use strong, unique passwords with a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.

  • Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for financial accounts whenever possible.

  • Avoid using the same password across multiple accounts to prevent hackers from accessing all of your accounts if one gets compromised.

3. Recognize Phishing & Online Scams

Cybercriminals use fraudulent emails, texts, and phone calls to steal personal information. Protect yourself by:

  • Ignoring unsolicited emails requesting sensitive information or urging you to click on links.

  • Checking that website addresses begin with “https://” to ensure encrypted connections.

  • Contacting your financial institution directly if you receive a suspicious request related to your accounts.

Safe Internet & Social Media Practices

4. Be Cautious When Using Public Wi-Fi

Public Wi-Fi networks in cafes, hotels, and libraries may not be secure. Hackers can intercept your data, gaining access to sensitive financial information. To stay safe:

  • Avoid accessing financial accounts over public Wi-Fi.

  • Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to encrypt your data when connecting to public networks.

  • Log out of all accounts when stepping away from a shared computer.

5. Protect Your Social Media Presence

Cybercriminals often gather personal information from social media profiles to guess passwords or answer security questions.

  • Limit what you share online, including birth dates, pet names, and other common password-reset details.

  • Only accept friend requests from people you know and trust.

  • Watch out for scammers who impersonate trusted contacts to request money or personal details.

Securing Your Mobile Devices

6. Safeguard Your Smartphone & Tablet

Mobile devices are just as vulnerable as computers, so take extra precautions to secure them:

  • Enable passwords, fingerprint scans, or facial recognition to lock your device.

  • Activate the auto-lock feature after a period of inactivity.

  • Install apps only from trusted sources such as the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

  • Turn on automatic updates for apps and operating systems to fix security flaws.

Stay Informed & Educate Yourself

7. Keep Learning About Cybersecurity

New cyber threats emerge daily, making ongoing education essential. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) offers valuable resources on protecting financial data. Visit the FDIC Consumer Assistance Topics page at FDIC.gov to stay informed.

8. Monitor Your Accounts Regularly

  • Set up account alerts for unusual activity.

  • Review bank and credit statements frequently to spot unauthorized transactions.

  • Report suspicious activity to your financial institution immediately.