6 keys to protecting your Online Banking

In the digital age, online banking provides convenience and instant access to our finances, but the fact that more and more people are using it has led to the emergence of new forms of scams related to identity theft. These scams, known as phishing, involve criminals posing as legitimate financial institutions to obtain sensitive personal and financial information. Such impersonations are becoming increasingly difficult to detect, because they mimic the appearance of official websites and they’re now able to communicate on the phone or the internet in any language, without making mistakes that could give them away, as occurred with previous scams. In an environment in which these threats are becoming increasingly common, it’s essential to learn how to detect and identify them. Here are some strategies that are vital for protecting your online data.

 Exercise caution with your e-mails and text messages

Fraudsters often use e-mails and text messages to impersonate banks and other financial institutions. These messages may look legitimate, but they usually contain links to fake websites designed to steal your information.

• Check the sender’s e-mail address.
• Don’t click on links or download attachments from unknown sources.
• Be wary of messages that convey urgency or warn you of threats to block accounts.
• Scams often combine fake screens and phone calls and someone impersonating a bank employee.
• If you aren’t sure, first contact your bank directly via its official website or customer service number.
• Increase your precautions during holidays and on bank holidays and be wary of messages informing you that you’ve won something.

Check the security of the website

Before entering any personal or financial information on a website, make sure that the URL begins with “https://” and look for a padlock icon in the browser’s address bar. These elements indicate that the connection is secure and that the website uses encryption to protect your data.

The best way of logging into your online banking is by typing in your bank’s URL directly and avoiding the use of external links or accesses in e-mails or SMS.

Use strong and unique passwords

Strong and unique passwords are crucial for protecting your online accounts. Avoid using the same password for multiple accounts and choose complex combinations of letters, numbers and symbols. Consider using a password manager to create and store secure passwords at your convenience. Whenever the system so allows, use two-factor authentication.

Monitor your accounts regularly

Check your bank statements and transactions regularly in order to detect any suspicious activity. If you notice any unauthorised transactions, report them to your bank immediately. Many banks offer e-mail and text message alerts to inform you of important transactions, which can help you to react rapidly in the event of any potential fraud.

Keep your software updated

One of the first steps when it comes to protecting yourself against phishing scams is to ensure that all your software, including your operating system, browsers and online banking applications, is constantly updated. Use of reputable anti-virus and anti-malware software is advisable. Developers regularly release updates to fix security vulnerabilities that criminals could exploit.

Educate yourself and educate others

Cyber threats are here to stay and they form part of the digital world. The best way of combating them is by promoting education and training at all levels. We can all play our part. Among other initiatives, MoraBanc offers you this article, while we can all keep track of developments and share useful and practical information with our friends and relatives. The more people know about how to identify and prevent phishing scams, the less likely criminals will be to succeed.