Say No to Identity Theft – How to Keep Hackers Out

Identity theft is more of a problem today with virtually our entire business taking place online. Online banking has become increasingly popular due to the convenient nature that it offers to consumers. No more waiting in lines, rushing to the banks before they close or even filling out lengthy forms. However, with the establishment of online banking, it is easier than ever for hackers to gain access to our personal information, and even worse, our funds.

One of the most successful schemes that hackers employ is to send out phishing emails. These emails look legit and are set up to look like they have come directly from your bank. Such emails will ask for your account numbers, balances, passwords and other sensitive information.

If you receive one of these emails, forward it directly to your banks’ customer service department. Your bank will never ask you for any type of sensitive information in an email, so remember this when you see one in your inbox. If you are unsure as to the validity of the email, contact your bank first. Never send out any of this information in a way that outsiders can access.

Ensure that your banking session is secured. If you look in the bottom right hand corner of your internet browser, you should see a padlock icon. This icon will alert you that your session is secure and nobody else is able to hack into your online session to steal your information. If you do not see this icon, contact your bank to find out what kind of measures they use to secure your online sessions.

Set up safeguards with your account. You can set up email notifications for any activity that takes place with your account. This is done in the settings section of your banking session. You will receive an email when a deposit is made, transfers are initiated or if your password has recently been changed. At the bottom of the emails is a way to contact the bank directly should the validity of the transactions be questionable.

One important tip is to change your email on a regular basis. This keeps your security from getting lax and will guarantee that outsiders cannot access your account unless you share the password with them. Changing your passwords every 3-6 months is recommended.

With the possibilities of endless hacking and identity theft occurrences, it makes sense to want to ensure that your banking information is private. By installing the above safeguards, you are one step closer to keeping hackers from getting access to your bank accounts and your identity.