Online Security

Granite Credit Union makes every reasonable effort to protect your privacy.


Security

This website takes every precaution to protect users' information. When users submit sensitive information via the website, information is protected both online and off-line.

Should a registration or application form ask a user to enter sensitive information (such as credit card number and/or social security number), that information is encrypted and is protected with the best encryption software in the industry. While on a secure page, such as Granite Credit Union's Online Banking, the lock icon on the bottom of Web browsers such as Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer becomes locked, as opposed to unlocked, or open, when you are just 'surfing'.

While we use SSL encryption to protect sensitive information online, we also do everything in our power to protect user information off-line. All of our users' information, not just the sensitive information mentioned above, is restricted in our offices. Only employees who need the information to perform a specific job (for example, a Member Service Representative) are granted access to personally identifiable information. Our employees must use password-protected screen-savers when they leave their desk. When they return, they must reenter their password to regain access to your information. Furthermore, ALL employees are kept up-to- date on our security and privacy practices. Every quarter, as well as any time new policies are added, our employees are notified and/or reminded about the importance we place on privacy, and what they can do to ensure our customers' information is protected. Finally, the servers that we store personally identifiable information on are kept in a secure environment, behind locked doors.

 

Supplementation of Information

In order for this website to properly fulfill its obligation to our members, it is necessary for us to supplement the information we receive with information from 3rd party sources.

For example, to determine if our members qualify for one of our credit cards, we use their name and social security number to request a credit report. Once we determine a user's credit worthiness, this document is placed on file or destroyed, but never disclosed to another party.

 

Links to Other Websites

This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that Granite Credit Union is not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every website that collects personally identifiable information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this website.

 

Personal Data Encryption

All personal data sent to our servers from our website is encrypted. You can verify you are logged onto a secure site in two ways.

  1. In the address bar of your browser, you will see that the address begins with https://. Non-secure sites begin with http://.

  2. Most browsers have a padlock icon in the bottom right or left of the browser window. You will be able to click on the padlock to verify the security of the site you are visiting. Please note that when you want to perform online transactions, you will be forwarded to our online banking provider. When verifying the padlock for Granite Credit Union, you will be verifying for www.granite.org. When verifying the padlock for online banking, you will be verifying for www.flexteller.net based out of Salt Lake City, Utah

 

Phishing

Granite Credit Union will never send an e-mail to you asking you to log onto our website and update your personal information. This is a type of fraud known as "phishing". If you ever receive an e-mail that appears to be from Granite Credit Union asking you to update personal information on a website, please report the e-mail to us right away and do not respond to the request.

 

Smishing

Fraudulent text messages sent claiming to be from your Granite or another known business is commonly referred to as ‘Smishing’. They might offer a gift card or falsely alert you to a problem in an attempt to get you to click links leading to malware, viruses, and even identity theft. Granite Credit Union will only send unsolicited text messages to notify members of fraud. If you think your Granite account has been compromised, please contact us immediately.

 

Strong Passwords

It is important to use a strong password. A strong password is at least ten characters in length, and contains contains a variety of numbers, capital letters, and special characters (e.g., !@#$%&). Failure to use strong passwords could allow your online account password to be easily guessed, breaching your online account.

 

Security Software Warning

It is important that you take measures to protect your computer from viruses, spyware, malware and other online and digital threats. Anti-virus software scans files or your computer’s memory for certain patterns that may indicate the presence of malicious software (i.e., malware). Anti-virus software (sometimes more broadly referred to as anti-malware software) looks for patterns based on the signatures or definitions of known malware. Anti-virus vendors find new and updated malware daily, so it is important that you have the latest updates installed on your computer. Once anti-virus software is installed check for updates and scan your entire computer periodically. Failure to have protective software could allow hackers to gain access to your online banking login credentials, breaching your online account.

 

Updating Computer Operating Systems and Software

Updates are "patches" that fix problems in the operating system (the basic program that runs computers) or in applications and programs installed on a computer. Unpatched computers are especially vulnerable to viruses and hackers. Install all critical and security-related updates when they are available. Ensure your computer is configured to notify you when updates are available.

 

Public Access Computers

Using a public computer to access your online banking account is not recommended. Public computers may contain software such as key loggers that help hackers obtain access to personal and confidential information which may include online banking login credentials.

 

Suspicious Activity

If at any time you suspect unauthorized or unusual activity on your account, please contact the credit union right away at (801) 288-3000 or visit your local branch.

 

Warning

Unauthorized users who attempt to log on to this website will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

 

Mobile Banking Security

Mobile Banking Security
Using your mobile device to access your account does come with some risks. Here are some tips to help alleviate those risks:

  • Never leave your mobile device unattended.

  • Use the device’s locking service on your mobile phone. Such services use a PIN or a trace pattern to unlock your mobile device.

  • Never use the Remember Password function. If your mobile device is lost or stolen, allowing your device to remember passwords could allow unauthenticated access to your account.

  • Never share your password with anyone.

  • Be careful with the apps you download. Some apps may contain malware that will try to collect user names and passwords.

  • Be careful when clicking on links. Fraudulent links can take you to fake websites that look legitimate.

  • When providing sensitive data on a website, make sure the website is secure. A secure website address begins with https//.

 

General Guidelines

  • Windows users: Set your computer to download operating system updates on a regular basis. Look in Control Panel and find System or Automatic Updates. Windows updates can also be found in the Tools menu in Internet Explorer, or by visiting Microsoft's Web site

  • Mac users: Consult the "software update" pane in System Preferences to enable updates. Set it to check for updates as frequently as possible.

  • Mobile users: Remember to sync often to get available updates. Always install updates when they are available.

  • Everyone: Look in the menu of applications and web browsers when they are running to see if there is an "update", "auto update" or "check for updates" option, or something similar. If so, select the option and set it to check for updates as frequently as it allows.

Some updates require you to restart your computer for them to go into effect, and you may not be notified when this is the case. Whether your computer is being patched for you* or you do it yourself, shutting down or restarting your computer regularly -- at least weekly -- helps to make sure software and security updates are properly installed and are protecting your computer and information.

 

Risks of Shopping Online

Online shopping can be convenient but requires attention:

  • Beware of bargains: there can be many hidden costs to buying online such as shipping and duty charges.

  • Scam artists offer deals that are too good to be true, selling goods that are counterfeit, damaged, stolen or simply nonexistent. Easy-to-use Web design software has made it easy for scammers to create entire fake storefronts. Well-known auction sites and marketplaces such as eBay or Etsy may be reputable (though you should always check to make sure you’re at the correct Web address), but it doesn’t mean the vendors or buyers always are.

  • User information is sometimes archived by vendors. While this is said to be for convenience purposes (usually to make “one-click shopping”) it’s risky to store personal and financial information online, and several online businesses have had breaches of customer information data.

  • Some sites will store login information and recent credit card details in cookie files in your browser’s cache.

 

How You Can Protect Yourself

Use a credit card. Credit cards typically have robust protections against identity theft: it’s usually easy to cancel charges for purchases you didn’t make, and credit card companies keep a watch for suspicious activity on your card. You can also get a separate credit card with a low credit limit to use online, which will further limit your possible losses.

Make sure your data is encrypted. Your web browser will let you know if you are shopping on an encrypted site. The closed padlock icon or the prefix “https:” are intended to let you know that your transaction is secure (this does not, however, mean that your data is secure at any other time, only during the transaction itself).

Clear your cache. After purchases, print a copy of your transaction receipt or save it to your computer as a PDF. Then clear your browser’s cache to remove evidence of your transaction.

Keep your software up-to-date and your computer secure. It is important that your computer be updated with the latest security features and bug fixes. Security software that keeps your computer free of malware will help keep it safe to send your financial information over your computer.

Be wary of in-app purchases. Many of the apps you know and love on your smart phone and tablet devices include the possibility of upgrading the application, buying extra features, or purchasing media with the minimum amount of hassle. While this is convenient, it can also cause you to rack up unexpected costs. If you share your device with other people, make sure that you don’t have your account information saved on it so as to reduce the likelihood of accidental purchases. Purchases made in apps are rarely reversible.

Log out. On shared computers, it is important to get into the habit of clearing the information you would otherwise leave behind. It is also important to actually log out (via a “log out” or “exit” link) of online stores so that subsequent users don’t have access to your accounts, purchase information, and payment methods.

Get informed. Before buying from a website or doing business with another user, look into who you’ll be doing business with. Marketplace sites typically have user ratings and you can do a web search for reviews of products and services before buying them. If a given website or product has no reviews online, it may be worth waiting a little while to see what others say about it.

Look closely. Items can be described in various ways and the language used can some times alert you to what’s actually being sold: words like “refurbished” or “like new” are just ways of saying “used” (this isn’t a bad thing, but it is worth knowing what it is you’re buying). On some sites, scam artists will go so far as to state that an item is not actually the item in the photograph. This should give you pause.

Avoid knockoffs. If you are buying merchandise, look to make certain it is licensed and not counterfeit. There is a huge market online for counterfeit versions of high-end designer goods. Not only are counterfeit goods illegal, but they are usually of shoddy workmanship. It’s not impossible to find good deals online, but you should be wary of deals that make you want to run for your credit card.

Pay fair. Some of the most tempting bargains on the Internet are for goods that were stolen or otherwise acquired illegally. These deals are often covers for scams because the vendors know you’re unlikely to report the fraud: after all, a victim is far less likely to report being swindled to police if the item they were purchasing was a music album that hasn’t been released yet, or a DVD of a movie that isn’t even playing in cinemas. Even if the items are real, you could be breaking the law by buying stolen goods.

Report fraud. If you are a victim of online fraud, it’s important to report it so that other people can’t get scammed the same way. If you know about successful or attempted crime online, visit https://www.usa.gov/online-safety to report it.