Safe Banking Tips: Using antivirus, updating operating systems, secure network, ensuring that the website is genuine and more can ensure safe online banking.
Recently, a friend of mine clicked on an email from her bank. The mail provided her with a link to login to the bank account to claim reward points. However, on closer inspection of the site, she realised that it was a fake bank website meant to steal sensitive information.
This is one such example of phishing. It’s when you hear of incidents like this that you start to wonder: Is online banking safe? How secure are online transactions? What is safe banking? How safe is banking on your phone?
Here are some safe net banking tips and online banking safety measures:
1. Use a Reputed Antivirus
A reputed antivirus protects your device from phishing, malware and other such security threats. Malware is a software installed on your device often without your knowledge, which attempts to intercept traffic on your device to get access to sensitive user information.
A reputed and genuine antivirus will protect you from these threats. Safe banking can be conducted from your computer, laptop, and mobile phone which has a reputed antivirus installed.
2. Update your Device’s Operating System and Applications Regularly
Smartphone and computer manufacturers’ often update and upgrade their operating systems and applications to include the latest security patches and enhancements to fix new threats as and when they are uncovered.
Regularly updating them ensures that your device is always protected to conduct safe banking.
3. Use a Secure Network
Do not use public Wi-Fi networks for performing financial transactions. They pose the threat of a hacker intercepting the internet traffic between your device and the hotspot. They may also install the malware in your device.
Use a secure network like the one at your home to perform safe banking online.
4. Always ensure that the Website is Genuine
Genuine safe banking websites use the internet protocol “https” which can be checked from the top left section of the browser where you enter the link. When your link is preceded by “https://”, it means that the transaction is secure and all traffic to and from the website is encrypted.
Also, look for the padlock sign at the top left of your browser. This sign also means that traffic is secure. Clicking on the padlock icon will reveal the name of the business whose website you are accessing.
5. Subscribe to Mobile and Email Notifications
When you subscribe to mobile and email notifications, you are notified of all transactions and in some cases, successful as well as unsuccessful login attempts. This helps you identify and report any fraudulent transactions to the bank immediately if they occur.
6. Log in to your Bank Accounts Online Regularly
When you log in to your bank accounts online regularly, you are aware of your latest transactions and balances. In addition, most banks display the last logged in information, which you can keep a check on. If you notice anything fishy like the last login at a time when you had not logged in, report it to the bank immediately.
7. Use Strong Passwords and Change Them Regularly
Strong passwords use a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers and special symbols.
In the digital age, hacking is quite common. Nevertheless, if you practice these tried and tested methods, you can keep your online banking information secure.
1 Comment
Nice tips, very helpfull