Safeguard Your Identity: Bank Online with a Sense of Security

With the eco-chic move to a paperless society, and the convenience factor of receiving bills and paying bills online, millions of people are banking online these days. When you see headlines such as “University of Florida Breach Exposes Nearly 100,000” or “Missing Arkansas Background Records Raise Concerns,” you start to wonder how safe online transactions really are. It seems that an advanced society like ours has a lock-down on our personal banking information. Our bank websites have the little lock icons that ensure encryption and security, right?nnThe security factor seems high until you realize that almost 10 million Americans were victims of identity fraud in 2008, which is over a 20 percent increase since 2007. With over 2 million personal data records breached since 2005, millions have been exposed to the ill effects that being a victim of identity theft can quickly have. And just like you use the Internet for convenience, thieves are conveniently using it to access your bank accounts, steal you identity, and steal your moneynnn7 Steps to Being a Smart & Safe Online BankernnTake these seven steps when banking online for added security. While nothing is 100 percent effective in keeping the identity thieves at bay, there are ways to drastically reduce your chances of becoming a victim.nn1. Create strong passwords. The entire preface of a password is to protect your information, but there are ways to create more effective passwords. First, use a combination of capital and lowercase letters. Second, create passwords that are at least eight characters long.nn2. Use unique passwords. Most people have the habit of creating one or two passwords and then using those passwords for everything. The problem with this is that once a thief figures out your password, they can use it to gain access to one account after another—gaining more and more personal information on you, making you more and more vulnerable. Make sure that you use unique passwords for your banking information.nn3. Sign off. It’s easy to get distracted and walk away from your computer with your bank account still open online. Some banks automatically log you off if your activity goes dormant, but you can help keep your information safe and secure by logging off of your account when you’re done—each and every time. nn4. Look for the safety lock. Always make sure you are working on a secure connection. Look for the little safety lock icon in your browser that indicates your connection is safe and secure (SSL).nn5. Type the bank web address. Always make sure you’re really on your banking site by typing the address into your browser rather than clicking on links from emails. Many thieves create phishing sites to look like your bank’s website, but it’s really a ruse to gain your logon and password information.nn6. Don’t save your passwords. Many websites and even programs on your computer give you the option of saving or “remembering” your passwords. Opt to type in your password instead. This keeps the wrong someone from gaining access to your accounts. Don’t give them the information they need! nn7. Don’t go public. Never access your accounts from public computers or computers shared by someone else. This can expose private information and put it at the fingertips of thieves.nnBanking online is quick, easy, and convenient. It allows you to take control of your personal finances with a few clicks of your mouse. It can also make you vulnerable to identity thieves, which can take a toll on your finances—draining your bank account and exposing your personal information. Practice safe and secure banking by following these seven steps. It’ll keep the convenience of online banking in your life and the inconvenience of being a victim of identity theft out of your life.