PassMark FAQs

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What is PassMark Security?

PassMark is the global leader in user authentication solutions for financial institutions offering online banking services. PassMark's system enhances fraud and identity theft protection when accessing your accounts via NWLink Internet Banking by allowing you to choose an image and a phrase known only to you and NWFCU. This combination image and phrase is your personal “passmark” – a new, added form of verifying you to our site and our site to you when conducting online transactions via NWLink.  

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How does PassMark Security work?
As part of NWFCU's layered online security system, PassMark identifies your computer hardware to authenticate you to our site and our site to you. This means that once you've set up your PassMark within NWLink, at login, PassMark will work behind the scenes to verify your computer, account number and password. You can also verify our online banking site by confirming that your secret security image and phrase are correct.  

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How does this enhance my online security?
The PassMark system prevents unauthorized access to your accounts and reinforces the fact that you are at a valid website, our NWLink Internet Banking system. Your online banking experience will be the same as it has always been, only now you will have an extra layer of security working behind the scenes to protect your account. 

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Why must I register/participate in this enhancement?
The new login security measure is a requirement of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council guidelines and is part of our continued commitment to protect you against identity theft and fraud.  

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I already have anti-virus software and a personal firewall installed. Why do I need this?
Your antivirus and personal firewall protect you against viruses, Trojans and hackers. The PassMark Security feature protects against other kinds of threats such as stolen account numbers and passwords. It works with your other personal security programs, but it does not replace them. 

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How do I register for PassMark Security?
After PassMark has been fully implemented by NWFCU, you will need to follow the onscreen instructions when you next login to NWLink. Simply choose a secret security image from the library of choices, enter whatever caption you'd like, and then answer three challenge questions. Once you have completed these steps, your added layer of protection is automatically applied to your account. 

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How long does registration take?
Total registration time is dependent upon the speed of your PC's web connectivity and how long you wish to browse the library of secret security images. Generally, it takes only a few minutes to complete the process. 

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How much will this enhancement cost?
There is absolutely no cost associated with our PassMark Security enhancement. 

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Will I need to change my NWLink Internet Banking password?
No. Your NWLink Internet Banking password remains the same.  

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Will I need to use the same PC every time I wish to conduct transactions on NWLink?
No. Your PassMark login identifiers protect you whether you login to your account from your personal computer or from any other web browser or PC.          

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Why do I need to set up challenge questions?
In the event that NWLink is ever unable to completely identify you, you will be asked one of your challenge question(s) at login to further verify your identify.  

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Will I be asked my challenge questions on a regular basis?
Challenge questions are typically asked only when your PassMark identifying token is not available, such as when you are using a computer that you have never registered with PassMark, as in the case of a friend's PC, work computer or an Internet café. 

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Can I upload my own image rather than select from the generic library?
Yes. You can upload a favorite photo of your pet, a child or even your wedding photo – it's up to you! To upload an image, simply click the ‘Browse' button and locate the image that you wish to upload from your local or network drive. Click ‘Accept This Image' to proceed. (Note: The image must be 100 x 100 pixels.)

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What is to stop someone from stealing my PassMark Security image and caption?
Your unique verifiers are only displayed once you click the ‘Submit' link to login to NWLink Internet Banking from a known computer. If you are attempting to access your accounts from a different (i.e. unregistered) PC, the system will ask one of your challenge questions before displaying your image. Your secret security image and caption will only be displayed if your challenge question(s) is answered correctly. As with all web matters, you should take the same care to ensure your privacy and protect your passwords as you would during any online transaction. 

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If I lose my password, how will the PassMark Security system prevent an unauthorized person from accessing my account?
When an unauthorized person tries to login from another computer, the system will recognize that they're using a different computer and will ask one of your challenge questions. The unauthorized user won't know the correct answer and will not be able to sign in to your account. As with all web matters, you should take the same care to ensure your privacy and protect your passwords as you would during any online transaction. 

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How do I know if my registration for the PassMark Security process is complete and working?
Once you're completed the initial PassMark registration, your NWLink Internet Banking experience will not change much from your current login process. You will enter your account number as you normally do. When you click the ‘Submit' link, your selected secret security image and caption will be displayed for you to verify before proceeding. It is now safe to enter your password to access your account. If you login from a different computer, one or more challenge questions will be asked to verify your identity. Once you provide the correct answer(s), your secret security image and caption will be displayed.  

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When I enter my account number, I'm asked a question instead of seeing my image. Why?
A challenge question is asked when you login in from an unrecognized computer, before you enter your password. This is to help verify that it's really you attempting to login to your accounts. Your correct answer confirms your identity.  

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The secret security image and/or caption I see is not what I selected. What should I do?
If you think your secret security image and/or caption is inaccurate or that your security has been violated, DO NOT provide your password information and contact our Call Center immediately.  

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What will happen if I delete my web browser's cookies?
If you delete your web browser's cookies, NWLink will be unable to identify your computer and you will be asked a challenge questions to verify your identity. 

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