Also, do not forget that...
- The bank will never ask you for your personal passwords in any way, except through the secure environments of Internet & Mobile Banking.
- For your banking transactions, enter the address of the website of the bank with which you cooperate or log in to the application that you have downloaded. Do not click on a link.
- Make sure you are on the official website of your bank by checking the security lock at the beginning of the search bar.
Undoubtedly, the technology available now provides many conveniences and the internet has upgraded many aspects of our daily lives. However, there are also dangers that we must protect ourselves from and, fortunately, we can, as long as we stay informed and remain diligent.
However, there are also dangers lurking on the internet that we need to be aware of in order to protect ourselves.
A series of useful tips are listed below for secure online shopping and other transactions.
- Passwords should be changed frequently, even if this requires you to constantly remember new combinations and passwords. The more often, the better.
- Avoid commonly used passwords on your platforms, online channels or for your cards. Commonly used passwords may be more convenient, but they also increase your exposure to the risk of hacking.
- When setting a password, avoid using your personal information, such as date of birth, phone number or name. Instead, be creative by setting passwords that do not have a predictable sequence, but are as random as possible.
- Don't save! Do not enable the "autosave" feature of the browser. This feature stores your personal passwords on the computer you are using. However, it can leave you exposed, especially if you use computers also operated by others, such as shared ones at work.
- When shopping online opt for companies you know, which have many ratings and display the indication ‘secure connection’ during browsing.
- Do not neglect the security of your personal computer. Use browser updates with advanced security design. Install an antivirus, but also a firewall and take care of their maintenance.
- It is very important to pay attention to the emails and SMS you receive, even if the sender's name is that of a company you may know. Do not open communications that seem strange to you, have spelling mistakes, that strongly urge you to click on a link or have attachments ending in .exe, .pif, or .vbs ,. In the above cases, delete the mail or SMS and do not reply, nor give personal information that may be requested.
- Avoid sending your personal information via email as much as possible, as its interception is possible.
- Check your bank accounts often and record their transactions. If you notice suspicious or strange activity, such as a transaction that you did not make, or anything that seems unusual, inform your bank immediately.
- If you often shop online, you may find it useful to use a prepaid card for your purchases, which is loaded with only a specific amount of money.