Guidelines: Using eMail.
Over the past few years most banks have begun to offer banking facilities over the internet.
This means that we can make payments, apply for loans and take advantage of many other services without ever visiting a branch (or seeing our Bank Manager). Many people take advantage of the convenience offered.
It is important to realise, however, that the banks rely on us to follow their specific guidelines, with respect to using internet banking, in order to protect our money and our identity. You should make yourself aware of these.
With the job I do I visit many homes and businesses helping people enjoy the internet experience and to assist them avoid the traps others have fallen into, mainly because they have not followed some very simple guidelines.
Based upon my experience and also as a CertIA Security Professional I would like to offer the following guidelines.
- If you throw bank / credit card statements away, shred them or burn them. Make them unreadable.
- Keep your password and banking details in a secure place (preferably not in the same room as your computer.
- Make sure the password you use is at least 8 characters long.
- Avoid using predictable words and numbers such as birthdays, house and children’s names, telephone numbers. Indeed try and not use any word you can find in a dictionary.
- If at all possible make your passwords consist of UPPER and lower case characters as well as numeric values (0-9) and perhaps other special characters such as !£$%&*.
- Most web browsers retain a history of where you have visited. You should clear these files down regularly to ensure your banking details (including passwords) are not kept on your computer.
- Often the bank will allow you to let the computer ‘remember you and your password’. This is not a good idea as it makes it very simple for anyone stealing (or gaining access to) your computer the ability to empty your accounts.
- Make sure you keep your virus and 'malware' monitors up to date and use them at least once a week. These programs keep your computer protected from receiving unwanted and potentially dangerous programs and from sending information about you to someone else on the internet.
Another thing to be aware of:
One of the things which has been occurring recently, and about which there has been much excellent news coverage, is 'phishing'. Phishing is the practice of unscrupulous people sending out emails pretending to be from a bank (where they hope you'll have an account) and request that you complete an on-line form 'confirming' details of your account, sign-on and passwords. The Banks are all agreed about this matter, they do not and will not ask you to confirm such details by email. If you receive an email such as this, my advice is to delete it.
N.B. This is an example and Barclays bank are by no means the only victim of this scam.
Finally, internet banking provides enormous benefits, but we must remember that we are responsible for protecting ourselves.
If these guidelines have raised any concerns or issues for you, and you would like to discuss them, please contact me at neal.umney@ithomepage.co.uk or phone: (01280) 702523 to arrange an initial consultation.
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