Cybersecurity Checklist for Bank Customers

Consumers are becoming increasingly dependent upon computers, mobile devices, and the World Wide Web for everything from communication with others, shopping, accessing medical records, paying bills, to banking. In honor of this, we’d like to share our Cybersecurity Checklist for you today.

While it is true that technology provides consumers with a more convenient means of handling tasks, it also increases the risk that a consumer’s personal and financial information may become compromised.

As a bank customer, it is imperative that you are familiar with methods that will aid in preventing online fraud and identity theft. The following represents a cybersecurity checklist that bank customers may use to ensure that their information is protected at all times:

Cybersecurity Checklist

1. All electronic devices that are utilized to access the internet – particularly banking information – should have a security program installed and running at all times. It is important to modify the settings of this type of program so that it automatically updates to provide the highest level of protection from threats. These programs are called “anti-virus programs”. It is best to opt for those that include a firewall and protection against malware and spyware.
2. When utilizing a smartphone, tablet, or another mobile device, you should always protect the item with a password. This will control the access that others have to the information on the device should you leave it unattended, lose it, or it is stolen.
3. Caution must be utilized when accessing the internet. Public Wi-Fi hotspots/networks should never be used to conduct banking activities or engage in communications that involve providing personal and/or sensitive information. Many of the places that offer these hotspots/networks may not have updated security software monitoring the internet activity that takes place, therein.
4. When setting up banking accounts online, it is imperative that you use passwords that are extremely difficult to guess. Additionally, you should make certain that you change those passwords on a regular basis. Be careful to avoid using passwords that contain account numbers, personal information, PINS, and those that you use for unsecure websites and email addresses.
5. You should train yourself to identify safety features that are utilized on the internet. For example, you may look at the web address. If it contains an “s” after the “http”, then, it is usually secure. If it contains a padlock picture on the page, it means that it is secure. Many cyber-criminals will duplicate pages in order to gain access to your information. By the time you log in and realize that the page does not belong to your financial institution, the damage is done.

There are several distinct methods for protecting yourself, as a banking customer. The cybersecurity checklist contained here is the most basic of strategies, yet, the most important of all. The main thing is, practice precaution.

Billions of dollars are lost – annually – because of the cybercrimes that occur with banking customers.