Online banking is fast and hassle-free. But whether you log on to the digital version of a brick-and-mortar bank or use a modern, online-only bank, protecting your account information is essential. Here are 10 tips for keeping your bank account secure.
This infographic is titled "Keeping Your Money Safe and Secure While Banking Online." 1. Sign in securely. Information transmitted over unsecured Wi-Fi networks can be intercepted. 2. Perfect your password. Use strange capitalization, numbers and symbols to maintain security. 3. Beware of malware. Steer clear of downloading software from sites you’re not familiar with, or clicking links from suspicious-looking email. 4. Clean your system. Update your computer’s antivirus programs regularly to banish any malware or viruses. 5. Look for the lock. The URL for a site in your address bar should begin with “https” and your browser should display a small lock icon. 6. Beware of phishing. Never click on a link in an unsolicited email. 7. Mobile banking apps. Only download the app created by your bank. 8. Guard your phone. Keep your phone—and all the personal information it contains about you—secure at all times. 9. Clear your cache regularly. Go to your browser’s security settings to clear the data—the cached information—periodically. 10. Never bank on a public computer. The security of a public computer can never be guaranteed.
Seth Kaufman is a journalist and ghostwriter based in Brooklyn, New York. His work has appeared in the New York Times, The New Yorker online and many other publications.