Stay safe from "the dark"

Just like everything else, the internet has its good side and its bad side. When you order that item online and it arrives tomorrow, that's pretty good. When you find out later that your identify was stolen in the process? Well, you get the picture.

Identity thieves take advantage of your dependence on the internet. And they often buy, sell or trade innocent people's information on the Dark Web, a portion of the internet that's encrypted, hidden from conventional search engines, and often requires a special web browser to access.

Millions of people end up with their personal information exposed on the Dark Web every year. And it's not just credit/debit card numbers. According to the Federal Trade Commission,  "Identity thieves also trade in compromised bank accounts, health records, credentials, and forged documents. They can even buy entire wallets, complete with credit cards, driver’s licenses, and documents like Social Security numbers and birth certificates – everything a criminal needs to create a new identity."

How does my information end up on the Dark Web?

In general, your personal information can find its way onto the Dark Web through:

• Data breaches
• Using public Wi-Fi
• Visiting unsecured websites
• Even leaving an offline paper trail

Can I get my information removed from the Dark Web?

Unfortunately, no. That's why it's important to review your credit report and credit card statements often to look for unauthorized activity. There are also services available that monitor the Dark Web and will notify you if your information is detected. But in the end, it's important to take steps immediately if you believe or are notified that your information is compromised. 

What to do if your information is on the Dark Web

• Notify the credit bureaus. We have a list of contact information for them on our main security page.
• Change your passwords! Make sure they're unique and hard-to-guess.
• Contact Everwise and your other financial institutions so we can take steps to protect your accounts.

There are also steps you can take to help keep your personal data from getting there in the first place:

• Consider subscribing to reputable services that provide things like VPN, password management, identify protection and dark web monitoring
• Sign up for two-factor authentication when available. (Your Everwise mobile & online banking requires two-factor authentication when we detect your account is being accessed from an unrecognized device.)
• Be suspicious of uncolicited emails. Don't click on links or download attachments if you're not confident who the sender is.
• Be careful what you share on social media. Identity thieves can use this information, too.
• Use different (and not similar) passwords for each of your online accounts.
• Review the settings on your apps so you control what things it can access on your device, how it can track you, and what you allow it to share.
• Be wary of using any public Wi-Fi to access password-protected accounts. You may want to consider usng a reputable service that offers data protection when on public Wi-Fi.

Our commitment to your online security

We work tirelessly to keep your private information safe from security breaches. In the unlikely event that one occurs, we will notify you as soon as possible and offer whatever assistance we reasonably can.

Our credit and debit card partners also may text or call you to confirm suspicious transactions. They will also notify you if they took proactive action to lock down your card if they saw a pattern of suspicious activity.

Remember: Scammers will call, email, and text people pretending to be from a trusted business. We will never call, email, or text you to ask for your account information, secure access code, card information, or online banking username/password.