Some people think that doing all their banking on-line (I.e. paying bills, checking balances, money transfers, etc.) is the best thing ever. Others fear on-line banking, convinced that their accounts can be easily plundered.
So which is it?
If you’re careful, I come down on the side of “it’s safe”. Here are some things you should do to make sure it stays that way:
- Make sure your banking site is encrypted. Check to see that there is a small “lock” icon on the lower right-hand side of your Internet banking site’s screen. If there is no lock icon, your data is not secure. Move your on-line banking to another institution that protects your data.
- Make sure you choose and use a “strong” password. If you don’t know what that means, so my blog entry “Passwords (2) – Make them strong!” at http://davidrier.com/?p=29.
- Remember to log off of your banking website when you are done. Don’t leave your accounts open to prying eyes or unexpected transactions.
- Finally, if your banking website looks different in any way from what you expect, don’t sign on. Call customer service at the bank and describe what concerns you. If they made a change to their website, then “no harm/no foul”. However, if a hacker is trying to steal your password or your money, you can have your password changed or your account temporarily frozen to keep your money safe.
In other words – if you stay observant and careful, on-line banking is safe.
