By banking online, you are facilitating the bill payment process by saving time and money. Most of the larger banks around the world offer online banking, or at least online access to accounts, and there are even institutions with the temerity to go strictly online. With the latest in web safety, these sites are heavily encrypted and designed to be hack-proof. However, a large amount of the cases of hacked accounts do not point to the website, but rather on the account holders themselves. There are several simple steps that can be taken to avoid your account, money, and personal information being put at risk. As the old adage goes, better safe than sorry!
Do not, in any case, give your username/password to anybody. Your bank will not ask you for your password or even username. Why should they? Such information is privy only to a certain few employees, and it is impossible for the information to be lost. If you believe this might be a cause for concern, get in touch with them at the usual customer service number - never use a number you have gleaned from a website or email, rather, take the old-fashioned route and use the phone book or pop over to the nearest branch.
You must be absolutely sure that any and every computer you use to access your account information has antivirus software - the latest edition, bar none. You should also make sure that the machine is running an up to date browser that can support the standard 128-bit encryption used by most secure websites. When you are done, always be sure to log off and even clear the Auto complete bar also, it can make it too easy for someone to log in and guess your password.
If you could, use two passwords for your accounts, but if using just one, make sure it is strong enough. This is because most hackers, viruses, worms and other human and virtual miscreants are sadly inept in the sense they would use just one password to do their damage and try logging into your accounts. Mixing and matching letters and numbers can dramatically heighten your security. Birthdays, pet names, and nicknames also tend to be easiest to guess.
Never trust any email sent to you that links directly to your login page. This seemingly innocuous strategy is what hackers use to "phish" for your private information and compromise your security. Even though the site looks like the site you are familiar with, it may not be. These thieves have become experts at copying the look of real sites with their own copies designed to extrapolate victim's bank numbers and more!
As you can see, it is not at all difficult nor complicated to ensure that your personal information remains yours and nobody else's. There are thousands of people and programs trying to steal your information, but you have plenty of tools, people and strategies on your side also! So come on now and give yourself some security!
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