On-line banking is a great way of banking from the comfort and convenience of your home or work. However, many people don’t realise that their personal computer (PC) is the weak link in on-line banking. If you use on-line banking, then you need to be aware that your banking details could be accessed by hackers and criminals if your PC has a Trojan program on it or you have been tricked by a scam.
On-line banking is a great way of banking from the comfort and convenience of your home or work. However, many people don’t realise that their personal computer (PC) is the weak link in on-line banking. If you use on-line banking, then you need to be aware that your banking details could be accessed by hackers and criminals if your PC has a Trojan program on it or you have been tricked by a scam.
What are Trojans?
Trojans are hidden and unwanted programs that get placed on your PC by e-mails that trick you into opening e-mail attachments or by entering your PC through security holes.
While there are many types of Trojans, the on-line banking Trojans capture your keystrokes and mouse clicks, place them in a file, and then e-mail or transfer the file, containing your banking information, to one of their own computers when you next use the Internet.
Trojans are hidden and unwanted programs that get placed on your PC by e-mails that trick you into opening e-mail attachments or by entering your PC through security holes.
While there are many types of Trojans, the on-line banking Trojans capture your keystrokes and mouse clicks, place them in a file, and then e-mail or transfer the file, containing your banking information, to one of their own computers when you next use the Internet.
What are scams?
On-line banking scams are designed to get access to your credit card or on-line banking details. There have been quite a few recent scams targeting the ANZ’s, Commonwealth’s, and Westpac Bank’s customers. These types of scams arrive as an e-mail pretending to be from your bank and direct you to a web address where you will be asked to enter your details for on-line banking. However, the web address is not the bank’s real web address. The fake website, typically hosted somewhere overseas, will have pages stolen from the bank including the bank’s logo. If you enter your banking details on this page, they are then stored by the criminals so they can rob your bank account.
On-line banking scams are designed to get access to your credit card or on-line banking details. There have been quite a few recent scams targeting the ANZ’s, Commonwealth’s, and Westpac Bank’s customers. These types of scams arrive as an e-mail pretending to be from your bank and direct you to a web address where you will be asked to enter your details for on-line banking. However, the web address is not the bank’s real web address. The fake website, typically hosted somewhere overseas, will have pages stolen from the bank including the bank’s logo. If you enter your banking details on this page, they are then stored by the criminals so they can rob your bank account.
How the banks protect you
Banks protect their computer systems from regular outside attacks and hacking, and they ensure the data you send and receive to the bank is safe by encrypting the data, particularly your log on details and password. You can see when encryption is being used if you use Internet Explorer, which shows a padlock symbol at the bottom of the window in the status bar.
Most banks also run sophisticated analysis programs that look for evidence of fraudulent transactions.
Hackers and criminals tend not to use programs that try to guess your log on details and password as banks can generally detect and trace the attempts back to the computer trying to get unauthorised access. Also, many banks will automatically lock the on-line account after a set number of failed attempts to log on.
Banks protect their computer systems from regular outside attacks and hacking, and they ensure the data you send and receive to the bank is safe by encrypting the data, particularly your log on details and password. You can see when encryption is being used if you use Internet Explorer, which shows a padlock symbol at the bottom of the window in the status bar.
Most banks also run sophisticated analysis programs that look for evidence of fraudulent transactions.
Hackers and criminals tend not to use programs that try to guess your log on details and password as banks can generally detect and trace the attempts back to the computer trying to get unauthorised access. Also, many banks will automatically lock the on-line account after a set number of failed attempts to log on.
What can you do?
You, and any other person using your PC, should know how to protect your PC against these events:
• Never open an e-mail attachment from someone you don’t know
• Never give your password to anyone else and don’t use ‘guessable’ passwords
• Install an anti-virus program on your PC and update it regularly
• Install a firewall
• Install all critical updates for your operating system, browser and
e-mail programs.
• Think carefully about using the ‘pay anyone’ access offered by your financial institution. If you use this facility and an unauthorised person gets your user name and password they could transfer money into their own accounts. If you don’t use the ‘pay anyone’ facility, then an unauthorised person would be limited to viewing your banking details, transferring money between your own accounts, or paying their bills through B-pay.
• Talk with your bank if you have any concerns about banking on-line.
You, and any other person using your PC, should know how to protect your PC against these events:
• Never open an e-mail attachment from someone you don’t know
• Never give your password to anyone else and don’t use ‘guessable’ passwords
• Install an anti-virus program on your PC and update it regularly
• Install a firewall
• Install all critical updates for your operating system, browser and
e-mail programs.
• Think carefully about using the ‘pay anyone’ access offered by your financial institution. If you use this facility and an unauthorised person gets your user name and password they could transfer money into their own accounts. If you don’t use the ‘pay anyone’ facility, then an unauthorised person would be limited to viewing your banking details, transferring money between your own accounts, or paying their bills through B-pay.
• Talk with your bank if you have any concerns about banking on-line.
Do you have any questions you’d like answered?
We’d like to answer any questions you have about PC hardware and Microsoft Windows. We’ll answer several questions each month. Simply e-mail your question to manager@dingley.net.
Please note, we won’t be able to answer your questions by return e-mail due to the large volume of e-mails we are likely to get.
We’d like to answer any questions you have about PC hardware and Microsoft Windows. We’ll answer several questions each month. Simply e-mail your question to manager@dingley.net.
Please note, we won’t be able to answer your questions by return e-mail due to the large volume of e-mails we are likely to get.
Contact us
For any help with your PC or Internet access, please visit Dingley Computers, Shop 9, Pethybridge Close, Dingley Village (next to Post Office) or talk to Bruce or Andrew on (03) 9558 2456.
For any help with your PC or Internet access, please visit Dingley Computers, Shop 9, Pethybridge Close, Dingley Village (next to Post Office) or talk to Bruce or Andrew on (03) 9558 2456.