Some Steps To Secure Your Online Transactions:

                                                                                     


                         

    

    1)     Install latest security software: Prevention is better than cure and the same is true for all online transactions. The World Wide Web is full of malware, spam and spyware and the best protection to avoid your security being compromised is to use good antivirus software. One can also seek to purchase a full version of protection software rather than an anti virus which can guard against phishing, malware and Trojans.

      2)     Use different passwords: A recent study has revealed that majority of the people use common passwords for a number of transactions including sensitive transactions like net banking and credit cards for the convenience of recollecting. Using the same password makes you at high risk, as if hackers can somehow get access to one password, they would virtually have access to all your accounts. The best way to keep you safe in the virtual world is to use unique passwords for different transactions.

     3)    Create a strong password : If your bank requires a user-generated password in order to access online accounts make sure you choose one that is strong password. The best way to achieve this is by making it long and a mix of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special characters.

Always avoid using any common words or phrases and never create a password that contain your name, initials, or your date of birth. If your bank allows it, change your password every few months.

When setting up online banking, if your bank asks you to provide answers to some standard security questions remember that the answer you give doesn’t have to be the real one.

So you don’t have to answer “Thumper” to the name of your first pet – make it something else, as if it was a password. Use a password manager if you are concerned about how to remember everything!

  

4)    Always log out when you are done : It is good practice to always log out of your online banking session when you have finished your business. This will lessen the chances of falling prey to session hijacking and cross-site scripting exploits.

You may also want to set up the extra precaution of private browsing on your computer or smart phone, and set your browser to clear its cache at the end of each session.

       5)     Avoid using public computers: Always use personal computers or electronic gadgets like phones or tablets to complete any financial transaction over the internet. Never use any public computers or your friend's mobile for such sensitive transaction as their security may have been compromised. Also make sure you always connect to the internet using a secured Wi-Fi connection which is password protected. Doing financial transactions over a public Wi-Fi connection is highly unsafe and not recommended.

 6)    . Set up account notifications (if available) : Some banks offer a facility for customers to set up text or email notifications to alert them to certain activities on their account. For example, if a withdrawal matches or exceeds a specified amount or the account balance dips below a certain point then a message will be sent.

Such alerts could give quick notice of suspicious activity on your account.