Online banking has become very popular, and many people do all of their banking on the Internet. People who have used online banking before are now used to it and know that it is a quick and easy way to get things done without having to go to the bank. People still wonder if online banking is safe, even though it can get things done quickly.
Yes, is the answer to that question. Yes, as long as you do a few things to keep yourself safe.
Recently, a new and interesting fact about online banking came to light. It seems that people who bank online are more likely to keep an eye on their accounts than people who don't bank online. This is because people who bank online can get information about their accounts right away, seven days a week. People who don't use online banking have to wait until they get their monthly statement to check their accounts in detail.
By being able to check their accounts right away, online users could see if there was trouble coming, especially in the areas of fraud and identity theft. Liz Pulliam Weston, who writes for MSN Money, says, "Cyber crime victims who checked their accounts online paid an average of $551 per incident, while those who used paper statements paid an average of $4,543 per incident."
Even though there is more security and it is easier to use online banking, it is still important to be safe. Here are some good tips to keep you on the right track when you're online.
A good firewall is one of the most important ways to keep your computer safe. A computer firewall is just a piece of software that lets people who are supposed to see your computer data see it and keeps people who aren't supposed to see it from seeing it. The good news is that most new computers already have firewalls built into them. Most of the time, you will have an extra layer of protection if you use DSL or cable modem. Most of the time, these kinds of internet access modems have their own firewalls built in. People with older computers or dial-up modems may need to buy and have a separate firewall put in.
The use of anti-virus and anti-spy software is the second most important thing for safe online banking or any other type of online financial transaction. Most of the bigger companies that make operating systems, like Microsoft, will put out updates every so often, and users should get them as soon as they are available. Many of these updates fix bugs in the operating system, which makes it harder for hackers to get to your files. You can buy software to protect against viruses and spyware, or you can find free software online. No matter what, you should keep your computer clean.
You should never use online banking in a public place with wireless internet. Many people like to do their banking at their favourite wireless cafe while sipping coffee, but don't let them. There is software that can get your information and save it on someone else's computer. Also, you shouldn't use public computers like those at the library or internet cafes to do your online banking. Again, you could lose your information if you do this.
You can easily tell if you are on a secure page by looking for a small lock icon. This is usually shown in the bottom right corner of the browser window. Look for the "https" in the address bar. The "s" at the end means that the page is safe. If you don't see it, you are not on a secure page and may have been moved to a scam address.
If you use the security options you have, online banking will be safer and more fun.
