First New Mexico Bank, Las Cruces is dedicated to making information security one of our highest priorities.

We utilize the latest software, hardware and other technologies to prevent unauthorized users from accessing our computer systems. We have implemented many different levels of security including User ID, password, challenge questions, personal image, encryption of sensitive data, firewalls and others on our online banking site. However, since account information and sensitive data can be obtained directly from your personal and business computers, we strongly recommend you take the following actions to further protect your computers and the data you access.

General Advice:

• Keep security software up-to-date.
• Don’t click on any links or open any attachments in emails unless you know who sent it and what it is.
• Download and install software only from websites you know and trust.
• Use a pop-up blocker and don’t click on any links within pop-ups.
• Resist buying software in response to unexpected pop-up messages or emails.
• Create strong passwords and don’t use the same password on many accounts.
• Use password management software to help you create and store your passwords.
• Don’t share your passwords on the phone, in texts or by email. If you receive messages asking for your passwords, it’s probably a scam.
• Back up your data regularly.

Talk to Your Kids:

It’s important to supervise your child’s online activity. The best way to protect your kids online is to talk to them. Discussing the risks and the do’s and don’ts of online activity will help protect them from hackers, scammers, predators and cyberbullying.

OnGuardOnline.gov provides a free complete guide for parents on how to talk to kids about online security and socializing online.

Detect Malware:

Malware also known as “malicious software”, is designed to harm, attack or take unauthorized control over a computer system. Monitor your computer for unusual behavior. Your computer may be infected with malware if it:

• Slows down, crashes, or displays repeated error messages
• Won’t shut down or restart
• Shows numerous pop-up windows
• Displays web pages you didn’t intend to visit, or send emails you didn’t write
• Installs new and unexpected toolbars.

If you suspect there is malware on your computer, stop shopping, banking and doing other online activities that involve user names, passwords, or other sensitive information until you can get your computer checked for malware. Once your computer is back up and running, think about how malware could have been downloaded to your computer and what you could do differently to avoid it in the future.