When was the last time you walked into a banking hall to initiate a transaction? You probably don’t even remember, or you probably don’t visit the bank as often as before – and that’s because online banking is the new normal. Over the years, banking has evolved to offer customers a more personalized and safer way to the bank. But, the big question is “is banking online as safe as you think?”
With the rise of cybercrime globally, many customers have huge concerns about how safe online banking is, and what measures can be put in place to make banking online safer. However, while there are several ways banks and users can make banking online more secure, here are six simple ways to enjoy a safer and more secure banking experience.
1. Use An Authentic Anti-Virus Software
One of the best ways to ensure that your banking experience is safe and secure is to use original anti-virus software to protect your computer from malware, phishing, or any other security threats. Without proper protection, fraudsters can easily gain access to your information and banking details. Authentic anti-virus software can help detect and remove spyware or malware that can steal your information.
2. Don’t Use Public Wi-Fi
We know it may be hard, but as much as possible, avoid using public WiFi. It is very easy for hackers to access sensitive information about you over a shared public network. As such, using public Wi-Fi hotspots for the internet, mobile banking, or making payments on e-commerce websites can easily introduce malware into your computer or mobile phone. However, if you still want public Wi-Fi, it would be best if you set up VPN software to protect your computer.
3. Regularly Change Your Password
I get it, you’ve probably heard this a million times, but it is important to change your password regularly. But even more importantly, ensure that you use a strong password to heighten the level of security.
Maintain optimal confidentiality with your passwords. Never use the same password across various platforms, this just makes it easier for hackers to access your information. Also, make sure to use strong and long passwords – avoid generic dates or numbers that are easy to guess.
4. Subscribe For Mobile Notifications
Subscribing for mobile notifications is one of the best ways to easily detect if there has been any suspicious activity on your computer or your bank account. If you haven’t subscribed now, then you need to do it now. These notifications will quickly alert you of any suspicious transaction, and help you track when and even where the activity occurred. These notifications do not only alert you in cases where there’s a suspicious transaction on your account but also when there are unsuccessful login attempts to your net-banking account.
5. Do Not Use Public Computers To Access Your Net-Banking
Whether it’s at the café, or your office, using a public computer to access your net-banking is a bad idea. Using a public computer increases the risk of exposing your login credentials and any other sensitive information to a third party. Hackers can easily detect and monitor your activities, as well as save your information over these channels.
Technology has made banking easier and accessible round-the-clock, but on the downside, it has also made users more susceptible to online fraud. As such, it is crucial to follow these easy tips to ensure that your bank account and computer are safe and secure.
Avoid using public computers or even using someone else’s computer to access your net banking. However, if you must, then it would be best to clear the cache and browsing history, and also remove all the temporary files from the computer. Also, never save your ID and password to the browser, as this makes it easy for other people to access your account. Another alternative is to browse using incognito mode.
6. Check Your Account Regularly
Whether you’ve subscribed for mobile notification or not, it is essential to regularly check your account and activity to detect if there has been any suspicious activity on your profile. The good news is that most online banks have a ‘last logged in’ or ‘login history’ feature on their sites, making it easier for you to keep tabs on all your activities and easily spot any abnormalities. If you notice any suspicious activity, the first thing to do is to change your password and then contact your bank for further action.
Technology has made banking easier and accessible round-the-clock, but on the downside, it has also made users more susceptible to online fraud. As such, it is crucial to follow these easy tips to ensure that your bank account and computer are safe and secure.