Keeping Your Money Safe On the Internet: 10 Methods You Can Ensure Online Banking Security
By Online Security Authority on May 13, 2009 in Banking Security
Got money? That makes you the most attractive person on the internet, even more so if you regularly conduct business online. To keep your identity and money safe, here are 10 methods you should use to ensure your banking security online:
1.Computer code, types of viruses, analysis software,
Security software includes firewalls, anti-spyware and antivirus programs, which do a great job in ensuring that your computer is protected from malicious invaders that make your computer vulnerable. Antivirus software can block and/or destroy destructive programs while firewalls can help provide a stumbling block for security threats.
An anti-spyware will protect you from programs that embed themselves into your computer and report your activities (including your keypad or keyboard strokes) to a thief just waiting to use your identity against you.
2. Make sure you know what your bank’s exact URL is.
A single letter, figure or hyphen will make all the difference in a URL. Before logging on and using its online banking services, verify with your bank what their website name is. A simple phone call will save you a lot of headaches later.
3. Learn to read the signs.
When using an online banking service, make sure the pages you are accessing are truly secure. Check your browser to see if the padlock icon is locked. This is an indication that the browser is safe from outsiders.
On the address bar of your browser, you should also check if the URL address begins as ‘https://’ and not just ‘http://’. The extra letter is a sign that you are accessing a safe page.
4. Log off your computer after your transaction.
One of the most common mistakes people make when they’re through using their computer for online banking transactions is not logging or signing off. If this becomes a habit, it can become especially dangerous when you’re using public computers. Anyone who uses the computer after you can use your information and access your private stuff, including your finances.
4. Don’t open e-mails if you’re unsure where they come from.
It’s common sense these days to delete e-mails and e-mail attachments from individuals or organizations you have never heard of before. No matter how attractive the subject is, if you aren’t sure if they’re legitimate, simply delete the message and ask questions later.
5. Don’t use links to access your online banking account.
Most online banking security efforts are compromised this way. An e-mail message asking you to click on the provided link in order to input your personal data and account numbers, usually for verification purposes, is the usual trick. You’ll find out later that the e-mail message is fake.
6. Don’t ask to be remembered.
Most banking sites will prompt you if you want to be remembered on their site or if you want them to remember your password. Ignore this option. If it’s automatically checked, simply uncheck it to ensure that you don’t get remembered on that site.
You might also want to check if your computer is using software that remembers your passwords. If it is, you might want to delete the program or turn it off. Anybody using your computer can easily access your password information and use it.
7. Regularly change your password.
It’s easy to get comfy with the password you’ve been using for a long while. Unfortunately, so will diligent hackers, if you don’t change your password periodically.
When you do change your passwords, make sure they are difficult to guess and try to use a combination of letters, numbers, small and large caps. Instead of typing ‘password’, try pASs12wOrd34 to make it tough to guess. And to keep your passwords and PINs safe, NEVER share them with anyone.
8. Wipe your tracks.
Your computer keeps a reminder of your online banking transaction. To make sure that this is avoided, simple clear the cache so no record of that session is kept.
9. Protect your home or office network.
The first time you use your router, you will be provided with a default password. Change this immediately. You might also want to turn on certain security and encryption options on your computer if you’re using your own wireless router.
10. Use your common sense.
If it doesn’t feel right, it must not be right. If you don’t feel safe using online banking services, check your tools and the available services. Protect your data and prevent access to your personal information at all times. Your bank may implement its own security measures but you should also ensure that you perform security efforts on your own.
Written by: OSAblogger / Bill Wardell - Please Read Our Latest OSA eZine Edition
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