Thursday 9 November 2017

What are the do’s and don’ts of internet banking?

Internet banking is a system which allows individuals to perform their banking activities at home via the internet. Some online banks also have a physical presence while others are online only. A customer can perform all routine transactions like account transfers, balance inquiries, make payments and even apply for loan or credit cards. The most important feature of this mode of banking is that it enables a person to conduct your banking activities from the comfort of his home and at any time of the day.

Some people are skeptical about using internet banking and this is not without cause. In spite of all the advantages, there are quite a few drawbacks of this mode of banking. Unscrupulous people may try to trick you and steal your money from account if you are not careful. However, the primary advantages of banking over the internet are as follows:

• You do not have to physically visit a branch but can do your banking from anywhere and at any time of your liking. The account is accessible 24 x 7.
• You can use a wide range of devices for conducting your business activities. For example- mobiles, tablets, computers, laptops or anything else that supports internet.
• All the transactions are updated immediately and this allows you to have access to your account information without going through the hassles of documentation.

There are, however, a number of dos and don’ts that you need to keep in mind while banking over the internet. They are:

• It is highly recommended that you choose a safe and secure password for mobile banking. You should not use family name, pet name, date of birth or any such commonly known names as your password.
• Do not provide account information if you receive any random e-mails asking for such. Do not divulge any information even if it is stated in the mail that it has come from a bank or any other government entity.
• You should always visit your bank’s banking site directly and avoid accessing the site through other third party link or e-mail. You should verify the domain name before you log in.
• You should log out of your internet banking site as soon as you are finished with your business. You should not close the window without logging out.
• You should avoid using public Wi-Fi and you should also install a suitable firewall and security antivirus to protect your computer and its contents.

While using your mobile to do banking,

• You should never save your log-in details or your password.
• Always keep your phone locked to prevent unauthorized use and also report loss of phone immediately to the bank.
• Never download apps from shabby websites and always log out of your account.
• You should keep a tab on your account balances regularly.

Inculcate these habits if you are banking over the internet and keep potential harmful elements at bay.

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