TAKE THIS TO THE BANK:

Digital banking is fast, easy and, best of all, there’s no need to queue at the bank! The only concern is keeping your cash safe. Here are some tips to protect your transactions from cyber fraud.

Valuable tips on how to safely transact online

We live in an era when everyone is glued to their digital devices, whether it’s for work, online shopping, mobile banking or social media. But technology, like most things that simplify our lives, comes with its own set of disadvantages. In this case, it puts you at risk of cybercrimes like data hacking or cyber fraud – which is why it has become ever more important to protect your hard-earned money.

We keep our homes and cars safe by taking precautions and putting security systems in place; your device should be handled in the same way to protect all your personal information, as that can be used to access your accounts. This is why smart digital devices enable us to codify our passwords with fingerprints and intricate patterns. But while these security measures offer some peace of mind, they aren’t necessarily enough to prevent hackers from accessing your banking information.

In addition to all the standard security measures, here are some tips to help you safeguard your transactions – one less thing to worry about, so you can focus on the business of living your life.

11 IMPORTANT TIPS TO MAKE YOUR DIGITAL DEVICE MORE SECURE

1 Avoid using Wi-Fi hotspots to perform transactions

Making use of free Wi-Fi is tempting, but if you share a network, there is the possibility that information can be intercepted. Ensure you only transact on trusted networks.

2 Make sure you aren’t on a spoof site by clicking the security icon on your browser toolbar

(the lock icon to the left of the URL) and checking that the URL begins with ‘https’ rather than ‘http’. Never access your banking site by clicking links, and don’t enter banking credentials after clicking a link. Instead, use the browser to go to your banking website by entering your bank’s address in the address bar.

3 Ensure that the device you use for internet or mobile banking has the latest version of antivirus and antispyware software installed,

and is from a reputable vendor. You need to keep up to date: hackers and security software are often neck and neck in terms of what they’re able to do – it just makes sense to keep your security current.

4 Memorise your PIN and passwords.

Never write them down or share them, not even with a bank official. You need to be suspicious of a bank official if they ask you to share your password or PIN. Legitimate consultants won’t ask you for such confidential information.

5 Choose an unusual PIN and password that are hard to guess, and change them often.

Try using lines from your favourite songs: just use the first letter of every word. It means you have lots of options – and makes it very difficult for anyone else to guess.

6 If you suddenly lose reception on your cellphone for no reason, contact your service provider immediately

to confirm that there hasn’t been an illegal SIM swop on your number. Notify your bank immediately if your SIM has been swopped. Be vigilant, and act immediately.

7 Register for your bank’s cellphone notification service to receive electronic messages relating to activity or transactions on your accounts as they occur.

This is a great security measure, and even though you pay for the service, the security it offers far outweighs the cost: it means you know exactly what’s happening on your account at any given time and can take action quickly if necessary.

8 Do not use public or shared computers

at libraries, internet cafés, restaurants and hotels to transact on or to access sensitive data.

9 Don’t send emails that contain information like your card number and expiry date.

There are many other ways to pay for something online. You should never need to send this sort of information in an email, which can be intercepted.

10 Don’t ever click on suspicious links as your device could be infected with viruses, spyware and Trojans.

These links are designed to pique your interest. But don’t take the bait: the results can be disastrous.

11 Never click on a link to take you to your bank’s website.

Always log on to your bank’s site by typing in the web address yourself. The links can be convincing, and could take you to a landing page that’s just as convincing – but totally fake. And always check for the lock icon and the ‘https’ in the address! ✤