Last Updated on March 8, 2021
3. Don’t access your bank account using a public Wi-Fi network
Everybody loves having free Wi-Fi in a public space. But that doesn’t mean that you should use any random network to make all types of actions on your smartphone or laptop. Logging into your online bank account is among the things that you definitely should do through an unknown Wi-Fi network. Apart from having many more vulnerabilities than a private network (that can be more easily exploited), there are also a series of free Wi-Fi scams. Here’s the most common one: The scammer sets up a fake Wi-Fi network that he tries to make look legitimate by giving it the same name as a nearby location such as a restaurant or a hotel. This might trick a lot of people into accessing this fake hotspot. As soon as a device is connected to it, the scammer will have access to all your information. Just play safe and check twice before accessing a public Wi-Fi network. It is also a good idea to use a reliable VPN service to establish a secure and encrypted layer of security between your device and the internet access point.
4.Keep your devices and apps updated
New features and aesthetics changes are great, sure. But the main reasons behind software updates are security improvements and bug fixes. It’s a cat-and-mouse game between hackers and software developers: hackers are constantly trying to find vulnerabilities and security breaches in software, and developers are constantly trying to make it more secure. In the vast majority of cases, developers are clearly winning. Most data breaches occur when users are running an older version of a piece of software. So, stop postponing all software and system updates!5. Use the bank account app on your smartphone
Statistically, smartphones are much safer than computers. This is because the software we install in these small devices is always carefully controlled and analyzed by trustworthy companies before entering the market (such as the Google Play Store and App Store). Download the mobile banking app directly from your bank’s official website and use it to do all your transactions. Please make sure you log out of your account once you have finished using it and never. Warning: if you are aware of the risk and you still want to access your bank account using your computer’s browser, at least disable the automatic login. It might save you a few seconds, but it’s far from being a safe method.
