Online banking is a secure and convenient way to check your balance, pay bills, transfer funds, and perform other transactions in the comfort of your home or office. It is wise to adopt a cautious attitude and to be wary of fraudsters when you access your bank accounts online.
Here are some tips:
1. Make sure that your computer, internet connection, and the website you’re accessing are secure.
Computer / mobile device
- Always keep your computer security up to date with anti-virus and anti-spyware software, and a good firewall.
- Set your operating system and web browser to update automatically.
Network
- Avoid using a public Wi-Fi connection. Most Wi-Fi hotspots don’t encrypt the information you send over the internet and are not secure.
- Secure your home wireless network. Change the default name of your router and protect it with a strong password. Turn off “remote management” features, if any.
- Turn on the encryption feature of your wireless router. Using encryption is the most effective way to secure your network from intruders.
- Encrypt your network with WPA2, which offers better protection compared to the older alternatives Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) and Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA).
Website
- At the start of the URL, make sure it says “https”. This means the site is encrypted for security.
- Look for other signs that signal the level of security: a lock icon (padlock), which appears in the browser address window, should be closed rather than open. A green lock icon means that the website has implemented the extended validation security feature.
2. Some online banking facilities, like EastWest Online, require a one-time password (OTP). Ensure that your mobile number is updated as OTPs are sent to the mobile number you registered in the bank’s system.
3. Never login to EastWest Online or any other online banking portal through a link in an email. Type the web address into your browser yourself.
4. Close the “remember me” pop-up. Never allow the browser to auto-fill your username and password.
5. Ensure no one is watching when entering your username and password.
6. Regularly check your transaction history to spot unauthorized transactions.
7. Utilize an automatic screen lock on your computer.
8. Never walk away from the computer when your account information is on-screen.
9. Always log out of your online banking session.