The shift in financial practices to an online platform has many advantages, but some people (and rightly so) are still wary of the potential dangers. The internet is not a completely safe arena, and vulnerabilities are waiting to be exploited. Money is one of those avenues. Hackers and cybercriminals are constantly operating in new channels to infiltrate and acquire personal details from people banking online. So, how best then to protect your assets? Read on to find out more about keeping your virtual transactions safe.
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Stay Updated
Software updates exist to install the most recent technology for combatting crime and staying on top of fluctuating economic and social policies. By keeping your computer or laptop up to date with the system provided advancements, you are giving it a much needed security blanket to protect it from the potential harm of wanting to gain access. You may never be targeted, but is it not best to have the top-tier tools at your disposal than to be exposed to avoidable malware, theft, or virus targets? Updating is straightforward and your device will usually do this automatically.
Check the URL
There are some simple tricks for spotting a less than reputable URL link to a website.
- Check the spelling. The majority of fake replica sites have one character that is slightly different from the original brand, so close that you may stumble across it completely by accident.
- Check the domain origin. Most sites use .com (or similar), and this will be advertised. Fake sites might change this to .org, for example.
- Your device tells you it’s not safe. A screen might pop up on your browser warning you the site does not look legitimate, and this warning warrants being adhered to.
- Stick with credible companies that are well-known in the industry for handling financial transactions. When making any transfer, try to stay with a trusted source like Ria international money transfer that willingly and proudly displays their verified credentials for you to cross reference and put your mind at ease.
Don’t Save Information Online
If you are using a personal computer, it is normal to save passwords and pre-fill form data to save time, but when it comes to financial credentials, don’t. These are some of the easiest information to phish or acquire maliciously, and when someone manages to take this information from you, it is really hard to come back from.
Trust Your Network
Avoid using a public network to do online banking tasks. These are not secure, and it won’t take much for a hacker to hop on board. If you have no other options, try to set up a VPN to protect yourself. These are also useful tools to put onto your private network too, as the more security the better when it comes to this arena.
Virtual finances are designed for convenience, and they definitely deliver. The ability to log in and see all of your accounts on screen, move money about and do general finance admin is something that physical branches cannot replicate. They are vulnerable, so take steps to stay safe.
Author Bio: Tricia Lee is a contributing writer at Sparkwebs, a Digital Marketing Agency. When she’s not writing, she loves to travel, dance, and read non-fiction.