July 2010 Security Update

Unfortunately, we share the world with some very cunning criminals who are constantly thinking up new ways to trick us out of our money. Because of this, it is more important than ever to establish and maintain your own good security practices.

Protect your PIN
While other countries are more used to dealing with card fraud, many Australians still believe this country is not affected by this particular type of crime. Unfortunately, this is not the case. In Australia it is becoming more common place for fraudsters to attempt to capture PINs using hidden cameras, or ‘shoulder surfing’ techniques (essentially looking over your shoulder).

Once the PIN has been obtained, the fraudsters may then try to steal the card from their target. Alternatively, the card details can be captured illegally from the magnetic stripe and used to produce counterfeit cards in a technique that is called ‘card skimming’.

There are two golden rules when it comes to protecting your PIN:

• Cover your PIN with your hand any time you enter it on a keypad.
• Never tell anybody what your PIN is. First Option staff do not have access to Members’ PINs and will never ask you to reveal your PIN.

If you suspect you have been the target of a fraud attempt, contact us as soon as you can to cancel your card and receive a new card and PIN.

Protecting children online
The internet has revolutionised the world in terms of accessibility. We can now read the newspaper online, buy our groceries, do banking online and even chat to people on the other side of the world. The benefits of the internet are extensive, though caution should be exercised as with all interactive media.

Perhaps the most vulnerable users of the internet are children. There have been wide-spread cases where children have been manipulated and mislead by online information. In response to these cases the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Microsoft Australia have joined forces to launch a ThinkUKnow campaign on internet safety for kids. This campaign is designed to assist teachers, parents and carers in protecting children in the online world of Facebook/MySpace and instant messaging.

The campaign website has a variety of information available, from what adolescents access online and what you can do to protect them, to how you can report inappropriate information or behaviour. While this campaign is designed for parents, carers and teachers, the AFP also intends to develop materials for young people, to educate them on the risks of online interaction and how to protect themselves.

For more information on this educational campaign visit www.thinkuknow.org.au

Keeping up-to-date
Finally, we believe it’s important that you have access to up-to-date information on security issues. That’s why the First Option website has important security information and links to sites that post regular updates on recent security issues.