Online safety tips for you and your family

With so much of our lives spent online, it's more important than ever to protect our information. Even sharing commonplace details like where you were born can help someone access your personal and financial information. Read our tips below for ways to help you and your family stay safe in the digital world.

Everyday tips

  • Use appropriate levels of privacy and parental controls for devices, apps and websites.
  • Opt out of location sharing and the ability for apps and websites to post or tag on your or your child's behalf.
  • Don’t post personal information like your birthdate, city of birth or mother’s maiden name on social media sites.
  • Learn to recognize and avoid email, phone and text phishing attacks. Remember: Huntington will never ask you for account numbers or passwords by phone, email or text.
  • Don’t use the same username and password to log into social networking or shopping sites that you use to access your Huntington accounts.

Your digital security checklist

Run through this list of quick, effective actions to help you improve the security of your devices and data all year long.

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Keep your personal data private

  • Use unique, complex passwords, and consider using an online password manager to store them and help you generate strong new ones.
  • Control who sees your information by using the privacy settings for online accounts, websites and apps.
  • Require a password/passcode to access your devices.
  • You can enter any answer to a security question as long as you can remember it later. You don’t have to give the actual name of your high school, which someone might be able to find online.  

Keep your identity safe while shopping online

  • Watch out for digital scams such as spoofed and bogus websites, phishing emails and texts, and fake apps. Scam artists also send out shipping notices or tracking messages pretending to be from mailing or shipping companies.
  • Beware of websites and emails offering incredible deals on electronics, clothing and more. Don't click links until you've verified the retailer is legitimate.
  • Verify the merchant's website is secure by checking for an https:// in the web address and an icon of a padlock on either side of the URL.
  • Avoid using a public or unsecured Wifi network while shopping online.  

Online safety during tax season

  • Beware of email, phone and text phishing attempts, especially during tax season. Legitimate companies, including the IRS, will not ask you to provide or verify sensitive information through non-secure means, such as email or text.
  • File your taxes as early as possible during tax season. Consider filing one even if you aren't required to, which can help prevent someone else from filing in your name.
  • If you suspect tax fraud, contact the IRS at (800) 908-4490 or https://www.irs.gov/individuals/how-do-you-report-suspected.

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The information provided in this document is intended solely for general informational purposes and is provided with the understanding that neither Huntington, its affiliates nor any other party is engaging in rendering financial, legal, technical or other professional advice or services, or endorsing any third-party product or service. Any use of this information should be done only in consultation with a qualified and licensed professional who can take into account all relevant factors and desired outcomes in the context of the facts surrounding your particular circumstances. The information in this document was developed with reasonable care and attention. However, it is possible that some of the information is incomplete, incorrect, or inapplicable to particular circumstances or conditions. NEITHER HUNTINGTON NOR ITS AFFILIATES SHALL HAVE LIABILITY FOR ANY DAMAGES, LOSSES, COSTS OR EXPENSES (DIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR OTHERWISE) RESULTING FROM USING, RELYING ON OR ACTING UPON INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT EVEN IF HUNTINGTON AND/OR ITS AFFILIATES HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF OR FORESEEN THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, LOSSES, COSTS OR EXPENSES.

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