NDCU Cyber Security & Fraud Resource Hub

Wi-Fi hotspots are great for browsing the web. But make sure you don’t use them for online shopping or banking. Public Wi-Fi rarely has the security and encryption in place to protect your data properly, which means you can’t be sure who might see your activity online.  

So it’s best to do your digital banking using your own secure home network or, if you’re on the go, use your cellular data plan.

It’s essential not to reuse passwords for important accounts, like your digital banking. This ensures that, if a password for another website is discovered, your financial information still remains secure.  

We also recommend that you avoid using personal information like birthdates and loved ones’ names or common words (e.g. password) and strings of numbers (e.g. 12345) in your NDCU Personal Access Code (PAC).  

At NDCU, to ensure its strength, we require all PACs to: 

• Be between 9 and 30 characters long (no spaces) 
• Include numbers, upper and lowercase letters 
• Contain at least one of the following special characters: @ # $ ! ? 

And you cannot repeat a PAC you’ve used in the past.

Fraudsters are constantly finding ways to try and access systems. Providers combat this by releasing regular security patches to address any new vulnerabilities or cyber security risks.  

As a result, it’s important to keep your browsers, devices, and anti-virus software up to date. So these new features immediately start protecting your systems.

You wouldn’t tell a burglar the passcode to your alarm system. Sharing too many personal details on social media can be the same thing since fraudsters can use the information.  

Some key details to avoid sharing include:  

• Date of birth 
• Name of your first pet 
• Where you went to school  
• Family connections  

These details may seem harmless, but they’re also often used to verify your identity by various institutions.