Banking Safely Online
The days of going to a bank to make a payment or transfer money are quickly becoming
numbered as more and more people are choosing to do banking via the internet in the comfort of their own home. It has been estimated that 423.5 million people across the globe accessed online banking sites in April of 2012 and that banking websites reached 28.7% of the internet audience. This proportion of internet banking users is likely to continue to rise as many people are beginning to see it as the easier and simpler alternative. With internet banking there is no waiting in queues for a bank teller to serve you and you are not restricted by opening hours. As numbers increase, however, it is important that people are aware of how to keep their personal information and their funds safe. Just like in a real-life bank where someone could easily look over your shoulder as you fill in a money transfer form, with internet banking you need to be vigilant about potential security risks. These risks can be avoidable if you are careful and follow precautions.One of the main points in internet banking safety is to make sure that you are on the right website. Fraudsters can easily set up webpages that look almost identical to the real thing - unfortunately many people are taken in and may end up trying to login through the fake website, giving out their personal login details and passwords in the process. It is important that you do not try to access your account through a website link that was sent to you in an email especially if the email is unsolicited. To avoid this make sure you access the website by typing the URL in your browsers address bar. If you are unsure about whether a site is real or fake you can always contact your bank on an advertised phone number.
Many internet banking scams will involve sending out emails in bulk that appear to be from a legitimate bank and that ask you to click on a link in order to verify or update your account details. A bank should never ask you for your passwords or PIN numbers, and especially not through an email. It is very unlikely that a bank will need you to tell them all of your personal information so be wary of giving out information, especially to people you dont know. One of the ways that you can tell if an email is a fake is to look at the greeting. Usually scam emails will be general emails that have been sent to a large number of people, as a result they will often use very vague greetings such as Dear valued customers or Dear Sir or Madam. If it was really your bank contacting you, it is very probable that they would know your name.
Keeping your computer secure is also important when you are using internet banking, you should make sure that your computer is up to date with the latest anti-virus software and that you have enabled some form of firewall. These measures can keep your computer safe in general but can also add an extra layer of security to your online banking transactions. When visiting your banks website to use their banking services online ensure that the http at the beginning of the URL has changed to https, this shows that http secure is being used which is a communications protocol that is used for secure communications. Your browser may also show a locked padlock or a key which signifies a secure connection.
There are a number of other guidelines that you can follow to use internet banking safely. Avoid giving out your login details to friends or family members and only write your passwords down if you can disguise what they are effectively. Dont use the same password for your online banking as for your email or online shopping, and choose one that is difficult to guess. Make sure to utilise any extra security measures that your bank may provide, such as key-fob devices that produce one-time passwords or hand-held chip and PIN readers.
You should also try to avoid doing online banking in public places and on public Wi-Fi hotspots as they will generally be less secure. If it is unavoidable, however, consider using a VPN as this will encrypt your data and make it more difficult for snoops to see or interrupt your communication. You should also always make sure to log out properly when you have finished and never leave your internet banking session unattended. If you notice any unauthorised transactions, unusual activity or anything suspicious, contact your bank immediately.
by: Izzy Evans Advertising Cheap Makeup Online Getting To Know The Products You Buy Online With Product Reviews How Do The Online Classes Work? How To Complete An Online Course The Online Furniture Bonanza California Updated Copy Of Marriage License Available Online California Updated List Of Public Arrest Records Available Online Idaho Free Obituary Search Online Quickly Sell Your Products Online When You Buy Website Traffic Several Creative Ideas Online For The Casual Wedding Dresses Know Your Import Regulations When You Buy Import Cars Online Dynamic Balance Technology Of Wine Steel Online Fan Has Achieve The Leading Domestic Level State Of Maryland Criminal Records Available Online