SELF PROTECTION RESOURCES

Information Security professionals recommend the following steps to protect your home personal computer:

antivirus Software. Viruses can infect a home computer in variety of ways and may severely damage your personal computer. Obtaining, installing and keeping antivirus software up to date is your best defense for protecting your home computer against computer viruses.

Spyware Detection Software

Spyware applications collect information about a user without his or her knowledge and report that information to a third party. Certain forms of spyware can track keystrokes or intercept sensitive and confidential information about an organization or user, including passwords, account numbers and other identifying data. When collected, the information can be sent back to the unauthorized party without your knowledge. Obtaining, installing and keeping spyware detection software up to date is your best defense for protecting your home computer against spyware.

Create Hard To Guess Passwords

Acceptable passwords should contain a minimum of 9 characters and contain a combination of at least 2-3 of the following types of characters: alphabetic, numeric, or special characters (e.g., &$@!). Passwords should be free of consecutive identical characters, all numerical or all alphabetical groups. Change your password every 45 days.

Online UserID & Password Selection

Your UserID and password are the keys to access your online banking account. Don't share these with anyone. Select UserID & passwords that are not easily guessed by someone else. Don't use Social Security numbers as identification, as they may be easily obtained by a spoofster. Remember to change your password periodically. No one at West Coast Bank will ever ask you for your UserID, password or Security PIN.

Personal Firewall and Router

Install a personal firewall or router to shield cable and DSL modem connections from the Internet.

Personal Identification Number Change (PIN)

It is recommended to change your PIN every 30-60 days.

ID THEFT AWARENESS

West Coast Bank is committed to helping our customers protect themselves from criminal financial fraud activity. If you are a victim of fraud, you may also wish to notify the following law enforcement agencies:

Federal Bureau of Investigations: http://www.fbi.gov/

Federal Trade Commission: http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft

Office of the Inspector General: http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/idtheft.htm

U.S. Department of Justice: http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fraud/idtheft.html

U.S. Postal Inspection Service: http://www.usps.com/

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission: http://www.sec.gov/complaint.shtml (launch an investigation: enforcement@sec.gov)

U.S. Secret Service: http://www.secretservice.gov/net_intrusion.shtml