There are several proactive steps we recommend you take to protect your personal information and financial data from cyber threats and unauthorized access. Here are some key measures:

• Regularly review your bank statements, credit card bills, and online account activity and report any unauthorized transactions or suspicious activity immediately.
• Consider freezing your credit report at the three big credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Freezing your credit is free and will stop fraudsters from taking out loans or opening credit cards in your name. Please be aware that after you freeze your credit, when you apply for new credit or a loan you will need to unfreeze or “thaw” your credit with each bureau individually. It is not hard to do, but you will need to determine which bureaus the lender or creditor will check and thaw those reports.
• Use strong, unique passwords that are at least 16 characters in length, and are complex. Include a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid using personal information like birthdays or common words that a hacker could guess or obtain from social media sites or other stolen data.
• Use a password manager to save those long, complex passwords.
• Use Two-Factor Authentication, aka multifactor authentication, whenever possible, for every site or app you log into. Simply using a single password to access your accounts and data isn't enough protection against hackers anymore. 
• Always be skeptical of unexpected requests for personal information, even if they appear to come from a legitimate source. Always verify the identity of the requester before sharing any personal or financial information.
• Be on the alert for phishing and other scams. One red flag is that scammers will try to create a sense of urgency to manipulate their victims. Avoid clicking on any links or downloading attachments from unknown or suspicious sources.
• Keep your software updated on your computer, smartphone and other devices to ensure you have the latest security updates, especially anti-malware/virus software.
• Avoid using public Wi-Fi networks for accessing sensitive information such as online banking or shopping. If you must use public Wi-Fi, use a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt your connection to protect your data from being intercepted by cyber criminals.

As your financial partner, rest assured that Lake Ridge Bank will do everything possible to keep your information and accounts secure, but remember you have an important role in preventing fraud against your accounts as well.

Do not hesitate to contact one of our knowledgeable bankers if you have any questions or call our Client Support Center at (608) 223-3000. Together we can keep your data safe.