Please be aware of a recent increase in Adware activity that claims to be associated with financial sites. Adware is advertising-supported software that, when downloaded, allows unsolicited pop-ups or other advertisements to appear on the affected computer. The pop-up advertisements claim to be associated with a site the user is currently visiting in an attempt to convince the user to purchase a product or service, such as credit monitoring. The advertisement may even display the website’s url address to make it seem as though the pop-up is associated with a website the user intended to visit.
Adware is typically downloaded by accident and may result from visiting certain websites, playing “free” online games, responding to surveys or entering to win free merchandise, such as electronics, from online ads. Though most adware is not harmful, it can contain malicious software and immediate steps should be taken to remove adware when it appears.
Meredith Village Savings Bank (MVSB) does not allow third-party pop-up advertisements on its website. Should you receive an unusual pop-up when visiting MVSB’s website or your NetTeller Online Banking, please do not respond to the advertisement by clicking on links or entering any personal information. Adware pop-ups typically contain small print disclosures in the lower portion of the advertisement, stating the advertising company the pop-up is associated with. Though the advertising company may provide an adware removal tool, we recommend reviewing the recently added programs on your computer and deleting any items that you did not authorize to ensure the adware has been successfully removed.
If you access or enter any personal or financial information online, we always recommend maintaining a reputable, current anti-virus program and installing the latest security updates for your operating system and applications you use. Scanning your computer regularly can eliminate potentially risky software, such as adware. If you provide any personal or financial information in response to a suspicious pop-up, email or website, please contact MVSB as soon as possible so that we can assist you with protecting your accounts.
