Modern banks are distinguished from financial institutions of the past by the indissoluble link with information technology. Indeed, digital progress has favored the diffusion of technologies thanks to which the user has the opportunity to take advantage of the services offered by a banking institution by exploiting the potential of network connections.
But the improvement of information technology has also led to the need to improve the protection of private data, pushing for the creation of new strategies aimed at guaranteeing the digital security of user profiles. Nowadays, in fact, the same banks that provide customers with online multi-channel services provide an adequate level of protection, also to respond to the regulations.
However, it is necessary to specify that computer security systems vary according to the banking institutions: the question of data protection has to do directly with the bank’s corporate policy, which is free to choose the IT system it deems best suited to protect customer information. Let’s go into detail and review some key tips for cyber security related to online banks.
The importance of the institution’s fame
First of all, the first suggestion to consider to effectively protect the data of an online banking profile concerns the choice of a good financial institution. Entrusting personal economic information to institutions with a reputation that is anything but consolidated means putting the security of accounts, credit cards, prepaid cards and so on at risk, which forces us to ponder with great care the choice of the institution in which to deposit the own credentials.
For the reasons mentioned above, it is of absolute importance to put your data in the hands of a well-known and established online bank, an institution that has adequate and high-level security services. Choosing the institute that best suits your needs is not that complicated: in today’s world, there are solid and reliable banking companies, each of which is able to make specific and personalized financial plans available to the customer, so as to fully satisfy the needs of any type of user.
The most complete way to learn about advantageous offers from existing banks is to apply directly to one of the selected branches, as long as, as already mentioned, only known and more reliable institutions are taken into consideration.
The security systems of online banks
Another factor to consider carefully before opening an online bank account is the presence of state-of-the-art computer security systems.
Modern banks usually use different systems to protect users’ data: physical paper with alphanumeric codes, codes sent by telephone, disposable passwords and so on. Let’s analyze one by one the various methodologies applied by the banks to ensure high information security.
First, the security technology most used by financial institutions is the use of alphanumeric codes associated with a given card. Usually the card in question is issued by the bank at the time of opening an account, with the codes of the card that, in fact, will be associated with the same account. These codes will be used whenever you need to carry out online economic transactions.
The operation of the card is very simple: if there is the need to buy, sell, invest or exchange money online, the bank’s multi-channel service will require the insertion of one of the codes reported on the surface of the card itself or in one of the documents contained in the contract stipulated with the financial institution.
Due to the high level of security and the relative simplicity of use, the card showing passwords in the form of alphanumeric codes is one of the technologies most appreciated by banking users. Equally welcome is the use of disposable passwords communicated directly to the banking customer by telephone. Also in this case the code will be sent to the telephone number associated with the personal account when it will proceed with an economic transaction.
Use known browsers
Although different banks may adopt different IT security strategies, the operation of the technologies underlying data protection is always the same: regardless of the chosen company policy, any online bank has an encryption system based on the “HTTPS”, i.e. the encrypted (and evolved) mode of the classic HTTP protocol.
Both protocols allow the browser used by the user to obtain the information necessary for navigation. The difference between the two protocols is given by the fact that HTTPS has an encrypted connectivity system using asymmetric cryptography, which gives the user exceptional security when browsing online. Beyond the protocols, the use of a convenient and practical browser is also a relevant factor for online security.
Using browsers without data protection systems means increasing the likelihood of encountering problems related to data theft and bank credentials . Contingencies of this kind occur because of the poor protection that the browser is able to provide to users, with the bad guys who exploit the flaws of the software in use to collect all the most delicate information entered on the web. This is why it becomes essential to use a known and constantly updated browser.
Use antivirus and computer security suites
Among the most suitable methods to be able to safely use the services of an online bank is the use of antivirus or a suite for computer security.
Being software produced by third parties, and that in fact have nothing to do with (if not indirectly) with the banks, in order to use these tools it is necessary to proceed with the purchase or download of the suite that best suits the own needs . Antivirus and IT security suites, regardless of brand or manufacturer, will be able to avoid unpleasant incidents for users who choose this solution. Antivirus are designed specifically to block any malware and network threats, allowing you to proceed with a smooth and more than ever safe navigation.
Choose secure passwords
Finally, one of the methods to ensure greater security to your personal data is to choose secure passwords that are difficult to identify by the bad guys. The speech, obviously, is also and above all valid for bank data.
As for information on bank data, the security of alphanumeric passwords must be even higher. Usually the bank itself reminds users to use specific keywords. Generally speaking, passwords that are too short or contain references to the personal data of the account owner must be avoided. To access the online services of a multi-channel bank, the ideal would be to create passwords characterized by numbers, letters and special characters, thus increasing the complexity of the access key. Furthermore, the longer the password is, the higher the security level will be, reducing the likelihood of theft and unauthorized access.
