CIBC offers online banking security tips |
13 Comments |
Posted by Marc Saltzman at 9:55 AM | E-mail this post
Millions of Canadians now manage their bank accounts and other investments online, but it's no secret there are malicious types in cyberspace determined to steal your identity for financial gain.
And so CIBC has provided a few tips on safe computing practices when conducting your online banking at home or at a public computer:
* Never leave your computer unattended once you have signed in to online banking
* After completing your transactions, ensure that you sign out of online banking, clear your cache, and close your browser
* Keep your password and card number safe
* Never share, disclose, or provide your bank card number or password to another party or website other than your bank, Most banks will never send you an email requesting this information.
* Never save your bank card number or password on a publicly accessed computer.
* If using a public access computer such as an Internet café or public library, change your password after completing your session by calling your bank's telephone banking number.
* When selecting a password, choose a series of characters that cannot be easily guessed by anyone else. CIBC recommends an alpha-numeric combination that's more than four characters long and a combination of capital and lower case letters. Don't use: a password you use for any other service; your name or a close relative's name; your birth date, telephone number or address, or those of a close relative; your bank account number or bank card number.
* Do not share your personal verification question answers with anyone, and do not disclose them in any emails. Giving your password answers to another person or company places your finances and privacy at risk.
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Posted by Marc Saltzman at 9:55 AM in Found on the Web
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| Comments (13)
Eva McLean on January 3 at 11:25 AM | Report abuse
All good advice but there is one slight problem. With so many different sites now requiring so many passwords, and having so many different 'personal security' questions, I believe it is impossible for anyone to keep track of all their passwords and security answers in their heads. I personally deal with several different financial institutions. Each one has slightly different rules which means I can't use the same password or the same personal security questions everywhere.
I can only see this all getting worse as more and more security measures are needed.
Larry B on January 3 at 12:23 PM | Report abuse
Eva, If you can't deal with your passwords then online banking isn't for you.
Glenn on January 3 at 1:13 PM | Report abuse
Larry!!! If you don't have a comment that can actually help someone then don't post anything at all.Not everyone is as technologically advanced as you!!!
Nicolas on January 3 at 1:25 PM | Report abuse
This is pretty much common sense - to actually have an article tell us ''Keep your password and card number safe'' - what? as opposed to sending it out to an email distribution list.
I recommend Eva not have so many financial institutions and streamline her finances - you are in control of your life so if she chooses to make it difficult for herself then its a choice.
Marc Saltzman on January 3 at 2:01 PM | Report abuse
Hey guys,
Can we please keep the negative comments aimed towards other readers to a minimum? I try to write these tech updates for both novices and experts -- and those somewhere in the middle -- but don't want to make those less tech-savvy feel stupid by posting questions or comments. Their thoughts are just as valid as the techo-literate folks.
Thanks,
Marc Saltzman
Brenda on January 3 at 2:33 PM | Report abuse
I think that computers should have a card reader to sign on to online banking. That would make it so much simpler...
Mireille McFarlane on January 3 at 2:33 PM | Report abuse
When one absolutely has to use an internet cafe to do some banking and does not own a cell phone, it becomes very difficult to change your password immediately after completing banking transactions. Why is it not safe to use internet cafe when you clear your cache and close the browser?
Marg on January 3 at 3:41 PM | Report abuse
I received my very first phishing message from a bank where we have an acc't.
I've been somewhat alarmed- and NO I won't keep changing my password. Maybe I'll not do on-line banking as the bank prefers I do....
Larry B on January 3 at 4:23 PM | Report abuse
Brenda, do you want the computer to pour you a cup of coffee and cook you breakfast too?
Linda Gendron on January 4 at 4:09 AM | Report abuse
I completely agree with Brenda!
bigted on January 4 at 12:51 PM | Report abuse
I can't believe the number of negative responses this blog has received. Much of the information is common sense and hardly difficult to do, although the suggestion to change your password after using a public computer seems a little extreme. If that is indeed a concern I would suggest just using telephone banking and skipping the online access until a secure computer can be used.
Simply put keep your password a secret and give it to no-one, treat it with the same if not more respect than your PIN. Use a computer in an environment where you feel secure.
Finally regarding the phishing e-mails - delete them. If you bank is concerned about your online access they will just invalidate your password and cause you to call in for support, they will NEVER suggest that it can be resolved with an e-mail requiring you to divulge your information though a website link. Although if you have difficulties signing in and you have given your bank your e-mail address they may send you a temp password to let you back in but the sign in process will advise a password is coming to the e-mail address on file.
What CIBC doesn't say is that if your are victimized and you gave out your password to anyone that loss could be your own even if the person you gave it to was not the cause of the theft.
Steve K on January 4 at 10:05 PM | Report abuse
Having read 'horror stories' and spoken to victums of ID theft (primarily from the USA) it seems wise NEVER to use an unsecured computer (/ATM) for personal transactions. A home PC with the latest O/S security updates / anti-virus app updates / spyware app updates {with no malicious program or other inclusions} reduces the risk of ID theft to those doing electronic banking.
Diane on January 29 at 4:05 PM | Report abuse
Hi, how are you?