emails that seem legitimate and appear to be coming from a reputable source, but, are in fact, a trap. Woerner encourages diligence and awareness as most people think they won’t ever get hacked. He also provides a few tips on how to stay protected: • Trust but verify If an email or phone call seems suspicious, take the time to call the vendor/business to confirm its authenticity or lack thereof. • Stay up to date on patches A patch is a piece of software designed to update a computer program or its supporting data, to fix or improve it. Make sure the programs on your computer such as Adobe Flash, Microsoft, etc. are current. • Be careful when using wi-fi It is very convenient to use public wi-fi; however, those airwaves are easy targets for hackers. Often times, these airwaves are insecure so it’s best to not use this wi-fi for anything sensitive. Woerner has a wealth of information and tips about safeguarding people from the dangers of an insecure cyber world due to his continuing education in the field. His numerous certifications and awards are benchmarks of his knowledge. “I am a hacker,” Woerner said, “but an ethical one.” He figures out how to use objects for other ways than they are intended all in the name of protecting privacy. He
is a member of InfraGard Nebraska which is a partnership between the FBI and the private sector dedicated to sharing information and intelligence to prevent hostile acts against the United States. Bellevue University is one of only 120 four-year universities in the country named as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance/Cybersecurity from the National Security Agency (NSA). As a Centris member, he has a vested interest in making sure Centris is armed with the knowledge to keep members’ information safe and secure. Woerner wasn’t happy with his bank, and in 2013 he switched to Centris where he was able to refinance his house and open other accounts. “Centris feels like a family and not a large corporation”, he said. Ron Woerner’s mission is to educate people about online safety and to make sure businesses have the right protections in place with the appropriate level of controls without any surprises. For more cybersecurity information, Woerner recommends www.ftc.gov and www.staysafeonline.org as well as contacting him at (402) 557-7539. He is always willing to come to a business, school, church, etc. to speak about this very important topic.
Editor’s Note
Are you a Centris member making a unique contribution to the community or know someone who is? Tell us your story for a chance to be featured in the Member Spotlight of the Centris Newsletter. Simply contact us at marketing@centrisfcu. org or by phone at (402) 758-6523.
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