Smartphone Banking Security Tips - Genisys® Credit Union

triangle warning icon   Stay vigilant and protect your account. Genisys will never contact you to confirm account details.
Read more about fraud scams

Up
Down
Genisys Credit Union
Genisys® Credit Union Genisys® Credit Union Go to main content Login
Login
eSERVICES
Open An Account

Apply for a Loan

Apply for a Mortgage

Ask Genisys

Smartphone Security

Smartphones continue to grow in popularity and are now as powerful and functional as many computers. New apps are being created every day for smartphones, like the Genisys Mobile Online Banking iPhone and Android app. It is important to protect your smartphone just like you protect your computer as mobile cyber security threats are growing. The following Smartphone security tips can help you reduce the risk of exposure to these mobile security threats and fraudsters.

General Smartphone Security Tips

  • Set Passcodes and PINs: Protect your mobile device with a password and lock it when it's not in use. Keep your smartphone in a safe location.
  • APPS (applications): Only install trusted apps like the Genisys Mobile Online Banking Application for iPhone and Android. Don't download applications onto your phone without checking them out first. Verify the legitimacy of an application by checking the app publisher, the seller and reviews of the application, before downloading it to your smartphone. Be aware that fraudsters will continue to create fraudulent applications.
  • Modifications: Do not modify (jailbreak or root) your smartphone, it will make your smartphone susceptible to an infection from a virus, trojan, or malware.
  • Backup and secure your data: You should backup all of the data stored on your smartphone – such as your contacts, documents, and photos. These files can be stored on your computer, on a removal storage card, or in the cloud. This will allow you to conveniently restore the information to your phone should it be lost, stolen, or erased.
  • Software updates: Accept updates and patches to your smartphone’s software. You should keep your phone’s operating system software up-to-date by enabling automatic updates or accepting updates when prompted from your service provider. By keeping your operating system current, you reduce the risk of exposure to cyber threats.
  • Use mobile security apps: Mobile security apps provide antivirus, anti-malware, privacy and anti-theft protection.
  • Open Wi-Fi networks: When you access a Wi-Fi network that is open to the public, your phone can be an easy target of fraudsters. You should limit your use of public hotspots and instead use protected Wi-Fi from a network operator you trust or mobile wireless connection to reduce your risk of exposure, especially when accessing personal or sensitive information or your Genisys Online Banking account.
  • Donate, resell or recycle old smartphone: Before you donate, resell or recycle your smartphone, you should wipe all data from it. It will contain personal data you want to keep private. To protect your privacy, completely erase data off of your phone and reset the phone to its initial factory settings.
  • Check the Genisys Credit Union web site’s security privacy page: It is updated on a regular basis.

Extra Smartphone Security Tip for your iPhone

Find, Locate or Lock and Track your iPhone

Set up "Find My iPhone" on an iPhone:

  1. On your device’s Home screen, tap Settings, then tap iCloud. Sign in, enter your Apple ID, or if you don’t have one, tap “Get a Free Apple ID,” then follow the instructions that appear.
  2. Tap to turn on Find My iPhone, and when asked to confirm you want this option, tap Allow.

Find My iPhone button

Now you can use Find My iPhone by logging into www.icloud.com with your Apple ID.

Use Lost/Lock Mode and Track your iPhone:

  1. Sign in to www.icloud.com, enter your Apple ID.
  2. Click Devices, then select the device you want to lock or track.
  3. Click Lost Mode (iOS 6) or Lock (iOS 5)
  4. Follow the onscreen instructions:
    • If you’re asked to enter a passcode, type the digits that will be required to unlock and use your device if it’s found. If your iPhone already has a passcode, you’re not asked to enter a passcode; the device locks using the existing passcode.
    • If you’re asked to enter a phone number, you can enter a number where you can be reached. The number will appear along with your message on the iPhone’s locked screen.
    • If you’re asked to enter a message, you may want to indicate the device is lost or how to contact you, such as: “This iPhone is lost. If found, please call me.” The message will appear on the iPhone’s locked screen.   iPhone lock/lock mode

If your device is online, it locks and tracking begins immediately, and a confirmation email is sent to your Apple ID email address. If the device is offline, the lock and tracking take effect the next time it’s online.

 Erase your iPhone:
 1. Sign in to www.icloud.com, enter your Apple ID.
 2. Click Devices, then select the device you want to erase.
 3. Click Erase
 4. You will be prompted for your Apple ID password again to confirm erase.

 

Extra Smartphone Security Tip for Windows Phone

Use the Find My Phone, you'll need to sign in to it using your Microsoft account.

  1.  On your computer, go to www.windowsphone.com and sign in with your Microsoft account.
  2.  Point to the phone in the upper-right corner, and click Find My Phone.

 To lock your phone and show a message

  1. On your computer, go to www.windowsphone.com and sign in with your Microsoft account.
  2. Click Lock, and then follow the instructions. If you don't already have a password set up on your phone, you'll need to enter one. You will use it to unlock the phone if you get it back. Note – If the phone can't lock right away, it will offer to keep trying. You will get an email if and when the lock is succeed.
  3. You can also type a message to display on your phone's lock screen. You may provide a phone number or an email address in the message, so someone who finds your phone can contact you.

To erase your phone

If you feel you cannot get your phone back, or if you have sensitive information on it that you want to protect until you recover it, you can erase your phone remotely.

  1. On your computer, go to www.windowsphone.com and sign in with your Microsoft account.
  2. Click Erase. You will asked to verify remote wipe, select Yes! Erase my phone immediately check box, and then click Erase. Note - If we can't erase your phone right away, we can keep trying. We'll send you an email if we succeed.

Android smartphones require you to install an application from a software vendor to utilize find, locate, lock or erase. Please see vendor for specific instructions.

Go to main navigation
Genisys-FacebookGenisys-TwitterGenisys-LinkedInGenisys-InstagramGenisys-YouTubeGenisys-TikTok