THE FIJI Police Force has confirmed a rise in internet banking crimes. Several people in the last few months have lost substantial amount of money from their accounts, with police blaming it on hackers.
This crime is growing like a disease around the world and just recently reached Fiji.
Here are some tips from cibc.com to ensure that your online banking experience is safe and hassle free.
Keep your passwords, Personal Identification Number (PIN) and card numbers confidential
Do not share your Online Banking password or bank machine Personal Identification Number (PIN) with anyone. Giving your password or PIN to another person or company places your finances and privacy at risk. Never share, disclose, or provide your card number or password to another party or website other than your banking website.
Changing your password
Never save your card number or password on a publicly accessed computer. If using a publicly accessed computer such as at an internet café or public library, change your password after completing your session. When selecting a password, choose a password that cannot be easily guessed by anyone else. 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.
Look for the lock icon
Before entering personal information on a website, look for the "lock" icon in your browser. A closed lock or padlock indicates that the website you are on is secure.
Use a firewall
When your computer is connected to the Internet, it is vulnerable to attack. Although this is a problem for all types of Internet connections, DSL and cable modem connections are more vulnerable because they offer an "always on" capability. You can help protect your computer from attack by using a personal firewall. Personal firewalls can be software, hardware, or both, and create a barrier to attacks. Microsoft Windows and Apple MacOS X both include automatically activated firewalls. If you are not sure your system has an activated firewall get in touch with your service provider for assistance.
Install security updates
Most personal computers use the Microsoft Windows and Apple MacOS operating systems. The makers of these systems regularly issue security updates to protect against new and emerging threats. You should download and install security updates regularly or configure your operating system to automatically check for new updates.