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Cybersecurity NJ

Cybersecurity Awareness Month: What Digital Banking Customers Should Know

Every October, Cybersecurity Awareness Month highlights a challenge that touches nearly every household and business: protecting sensitive information in an increasingly digital world.

For Freedom Bank customers, digital banking is convenient and secure, but staying safe online requires awareness. Today, we’ll explore the most common digital banking threats, explains the protections that community banks put in place, and provide general best practices to help customers reduce risk.

The Landscape of Cyber Threats in Banking

Cybercrime is constantly evolving. Criminals target individuals and businesses with tactics that often look legitimate on the surface. Among the most common threats are:

  • Phishing attempts that mimic emails or texts from financial institutions. They aim to trick users into sharing credentials.

  • Malware and ransomware that can be installed on devices when unsafe links or attachments are opened.

  • Credential stuffing, where attackers use previously stolen usernames and passwords to try to access bank accounts.

  • Business email compromise, which targets small businesses by impersonating vendors or partners.


How Digital Banking Stays Secure for Personal Banking

cybersecurity in NJ

Freedom Bank’s personal digital banking is safe and secure, giving customers confidence as they manage money from home, work, or on the go. With the mobile and online platform, individuals can transfer funds between accounts, pay bills electronically, deposit checks by smartphone, and view account history 24/7.

To help ensure that these everyday conveniences remain protected, we would like to remind customers of simple but effective security practices. For example:

  • Check that any login is on a secure session (look for “https” in the web address).


  • Avoid storing usernames and passwords in browsers or devices that others may access.


  • Keep smartphones and computers updated so the latest security protections are in place.


  • Use antivirus or anti-malware programs and update them regularly.

These safeguards, paired with the secure design of Freedom Bank’s personal digital banking platform, give customers an added layer of confidence. The goal is to make personal banking easier without compromising the safety of account information.

While banks provide the infrastructure, customers play an active role in security. Here are some universally recommended practices that strengthen protection:

  • Use strong, unique passwords for banking, rather than reusing the same one across multiple sites.

  • Enable multifactor authentication wherever available, so even a stolen password alone is not enough.

  • Be cautious with links and attachments, especially when an email or text claims urgency.


  • Update devices and apps regularly to patch security flaws.


  • Review account activity frequently through digital banking portals to spot suspicious transactions quickly.

These habits do not require technical expertise, but they significantly lower the risk of becoming a victim.

Why Awareness Matters for Businesses

Cybersecurity is not only a personal concern. For small and mid-sized businesses, digital threats can disrupt operations, damage reputations, and strain customer trust. Unlike large corporations with extensive IT departments, local businesses often operate with lean resources. This makes them attractive targets for cybercriminals who assume defenses may be weaker.

A single breach can have lasting consequences. Payroll delays, compromised vendor relationships, or fraudulent wire transfers can create both financial and reputational harm. Recovery often costs far more than prevention, which is why awareness among employees and owners is so critical.

Some common business-specific risks include:

  • Business Email Compromise (BEC): Attackers pose as vendors, suppliers, or even executives to trick staff into sending payments or revealing confidential information.


  • Unauthorized account access: If employee credentials are weak or reused across multiple platforms, hackers may gain entry into business banking accounts.


  • Insider threats: Not all risks come from outside. Without clear controls, even well-meaning employees can expose the business to vulnerabilities by clicking unsafe links or mishandling data.

  • Ransomware attacks: Businesses that rely on digital records, from invoices to customer files, may be locked out of their own systems until a ransom is paid.

Raising awareness helps businesses respond more effectively. Owners can set policies that restrict who has access to sensitive accounts, train employees to recognize suspicious messages, and encourage regular monitoring of transactions through digital banking tools.

For local businesses in New Jersey, the stakes are particularly high. Many rely on personal relationships and community trust to grow. A security incident can shake that trust, even if the financial loss is contained. By making cybersecurity part of the daily conversation, businesses not only reduce risk but also strengthen confidence among employees, customers, and partners.

Bank Securely in Bergen & Hudson Counties with Freedom Bank

If you are looking for a security-minded, convenient personal or commercial banking option in Bergen or Hudson County, NJ, visit one of our local Freedom Bank branches in your area. Combining the service you expect from a community bank with an enterprise-level commitment to account security, you can bank confidently.

To learn more about our digital banking services, contact us online today.

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