If you bank online, you can be an easy target for hackers. To improve your odds of avoiding them, follow these guidelines.
Never do online banking in a public place.If you're using the internet at a library, for example, you shouldn't log in to your bank account there, whether you're on your own computer and accessing the library's wireless network or on a library computer. You really have no way of knowing how secure their network is or whether any of the library computers have been infected with keyloggers or other methods of stealing your banking information. Also, there's the risk that someone else could be watching you type your login information. In addition to libraries, you should also avoid online banking in coffee shops, airports, and anywhere else where network security is questionable.
Memorize your login information.
If you have your login name and password written down anywhere, you're at risk for someone else stealing it. If someone breaks into your house and you have the information filed away, it might be stolen or copied. If you email your login information to yourself and the security of your email account is compromised, your information can be stolen that way. And you certainly should not carry this information with you in your wallet, because your wallet could be lost or stolen. If you're worried you'll forget this information, write down some hints to yourself that will help you remember it but that a third party won't be able to decipher. Also, keep in mind that it shouldn't be too difficult for you as the legitimate account holder to recover a forgotten password and/or username, so it's not the end of the world if you can't remember it later.
Use complex login data.
Internet security professionals recommend using complex usernames and passwords that include some combination of symbols, numbers and upper- and lowercase letters. As well, you shouldn't use dictionary words or anything that would be easy to guess (so don't use your home address as your online banking password).
Make sure your home network is secure.
The best place to log in to your bank account is from home - unless your home network is not secure. If you don't have a firewall plus spyware and antivirus protection that you update regularly, and if you don't practice safe browsing habits (such as not opening spam or those forwarded email attachments that circulate in email messages), your home network may not be secure and may be making it easy for hackers to steal your information.
Be careful with email.
If you receive an email that appears to be from your bank and asks you for any personal information such as your account number, debit card number, PIN, login ID, or password, you can bet it's from someone who wants to steal from you. Banks do not send emails asking for personally identifying information. You should also not download attachments from emails that are supposedly from your bank, nor should you click on links in such emails. Even if you think you've received a routine email, such as one notifying you that your monthly statement is available, don't click on any links in the email. It only takes an extra few seconds to open a new browser tab or window and go directly and safely to the bank's website.
