Keeping Yourself Safe While Using Online Banking Apps

In the past, people had to visit their banks to deposit cheques, transact cash, and check balances. Now, it is easier to pay bills, transfer funds, and do more from the comfort of home, all thanks to the banking apps. But keep in mind that while the internet makes things a lot easier for us, we can fall prey to online frauds and scams if we’re not careful enough.

Therefore, it is important to stay safe while using online banking apps. Want to learn how? Here are some ways you can ensure safety while using banking apps:

Always remember that you need to have your Internet Service Provider (ISP) have your back while you are using your banking apps. Now, how does an ISP do that? By implementing security protocols in their internet service, of course!

For instance, Xfinity Internet comes with an integrated xFi Advanced Security, which is very helpful to keep you safe while you use apps with sensitive information on them. It blocks remote access to smart devices from known dangerous sources. It also monitors your network activity so that it detects when devices are working in ways out of the ordinary, which is a cause for suspicion.

Though banking apps come with integrated locks on the apps, you should still keep a lock on your phone’s screen. This gives your app another layer of protection.

You must set up codes to access apps as well. Most new phones come with a fingerprint reader, so you should also ensure adding a biometric password to your lock screen and banking apps. This will help keep any unauthorized personnel from snooping around on your phone.

Many people don’t tend to keep tabs on their accounts, which is not a good practice to do. If you don’t keep tabs on the funds in your account, you won’t be able to tell if something shady is going on or not. The less often you look into your account, the longer it will take you to pinpoint any possible problems in your account.

Therefore, you should log into your accounts as regularly as possible. These accounts include your checking account, your savings account, your retirement plan, your investments, and even your credit cards. Keeping this practice up will also give you the peace of mind that your account is secure.

While downloading your banking apps, make sure you only download from the official websites. You would be surprised to see that people have created many third-party apps that are created with the purpose of hacking into your details.

These apps are very believable since they are phishing attempts. Once you enter your data into these apps, you give away your login details to the hacker. Once they get a hold of your data, they head to the official app and empty out all your funds. Therefore, it is important that you only download legitimate apps.

It isn’t the right idea to stick to only one password for your banking apps. You shouldn’t keep one password for all your apps for too long, either. Frequently changing the password keeps intruders at bay.

Also, keep in mind that you shouldn’t share your password with anyone at all, no matter what. This can compromise your details and your funds, which is why you should only keep your password to yourself.

Using Multi-Factor Authentication will add another layer of protection to your account. Whenever you enter your password for your banking apps, it will send an email or a text to you with an OTP (One-Time Password), ensuring that it is you who is trying to log into your account.

If you get an email or a text without attempting to log in, then it means that someone else is trying to access the app. In case that happens, DO NOT GIVE ANYONE YOUR OTP, NO MATTER WHAT THEY TELL YOU. If you mistakenly do, you can kiss your money goodbye.