7 Online Banking Safety Tips You Need To Know | Southern States Bank (2024)

Whether you’re commuting to work or you’re away on vacation, safety should be your number one priority when it comes to accessing online banking. With more scams, hackers, and risks than ever, keeping your account safe and private is a must. Here are a few tips to consider to help improve your online banking safety:

1. Never use unsecured public WiFi

Public WiFi can be a real risk to the safety of your online banking, with hackers and malicious viruses getting direct access to your devices. If in doubt, use your 4G to access online banking, or even better, wait until you’re on secure, password-protected WiFi to check.

2. Don’t save logins

Some sites may provide you with the option to save your details for faster logins. But unless you know your computer is 100% inaccessible by others, you don’t want to check that box. So, keep information private, and be careful never to write logins down anywhere either.

3. Use passphrases instead of passwords

Passphrases are different from passwords; they are much longer and contain spaces between words, such as: “Every moment is a fresh beginning!” It is better to use a passphrase because they are easy to remember but almost impossible to crack. For an extra layer of security, you can also use two-factor authentication to require both a password and code for entry.

7 Online Banking Safety Tips You Need To Know | Southern States Bank (1)

4. Keep up on updates

Your devices should always be updated to the latest version to reduce security risks – and the same applies to app updates. Stay updated, and you can greatly enhance your online safety when accessing your banking services.

5. Never click on email links

Have you received an email that could be from the bank? Never click that link. Instead, open the app or type in the URL yourself to confirm legitimacy. Common phishing scams try to get you to click links to capture information, which they can then use to access your online banking account.

6. Check your account often from a safe location

Checking in with your account regularly can help put your mind at rest and ensure you notice any unusual activity as swiftly as possible. Always check your account using secure WiFi or via 4G to ensure you’re safe whenever you want to check up on your accounts.

7. Use a unique username

For many people, using your own name as a username makes sense. But this can make you vulnerable, at it is easy information for any hacker to figure out. Instead, create a unique username that you’ll remember but doesn’t include your name, details, or year of birth.

At Southern States Bank, we take online security seriously. With a focus on high-quality online banking services, we know the importance of always keeping our customers safe. Check out what we have to offer today.

7 Online Banking Safety Tips You Need To Know | Southern States Bank (2024)

FAQs

7 Online Banking Safety Tips You Need To Know | Southern States Bank? ›

If you find yourself using public Wi-Fi for your online banking operations, make sure you use a VPN. It will encrypt your activity, which means that snoopers on the same network will be prevented from being able to brute force their way into your device.

Should I use a VPN for online banking? ›

If you find yourself using public Wi-Fi for your online banking operations, make sure you use a VPN. It will encrypt your activity, which means that snoopers on the same network will be prevented from being able to brute force their way into your device.

What are 2 best practices for keeping your online banking information secure? ›

What Is the Best Way to Protect Online Banking?
  • Choose strong passwords.
  • Change passwords regularly.
  • Use two-factor authentication.
  • Stay skeptical of scams.
  • Use your financial institution's security offerings.
  • Use a password manager.
  • Check your accounts regularly.
Jul 25, 2023

What precautions should you take to ensure safe online banking? ›

7 Tips for Safe Online Banking
  1. Selecting a strong password. ...
  2. Never share your password. ...
  3. Avoid phishing e-mails. ...
  4. Use your own computer/laptop. ...
  5. Use licensed Anti-Virus software. ...
  6. Register for account notifications. ...
  7. Type the URL of your bank.

What are the safety precautions for banking? ›

  • Never give out personal info, passwords or PIN numbers. ...
  • Do not leave your account information in an area accessible by others. ...
  • Remember many e-mail systems are NOT secure. ...
  • You're responsible for the security of your computer. ...
  • Change passwords on a regularly and use passwords that are difficult to guess.

What is the safest device to do online banking? ›

You don't know who has access to the network traffic and whether they can view the data you send. For better online banking security, Marchini advises using your cellular network.

Is there a downside to using a VPN? ›

While VPNs have a lot of perks, there are potential downsides, too. A VPN can reduce internet speed and increase latency, which slows down online activities. Using a VPN can get your accounts blocked by social media sites for suspicious activity.

Which banks are safest from hackers? ›

Summary: Safest Banks In The U.S. Of April 2024
BankForbes Advisor RatingLearn More
Chase Bank5.0Learn More Read Our Full Review
Bank of America4.2
Wells Fargo Bank4.0Learn More Read Our Full Review
Citi®4.0
1 more row
Jan 29, 2024

How do bank apps know you're you? ›

Instead, banks run a lot of software in the background to make sure you're really you. Among several factors considered during logins are: the time of day, location, device IP address, mobile carrier, and if any links prompted users to open the app.

Is my savings account safe from hackers? ›

A bank account is typically the safest place for your cash, since banks can be insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. up to $250,000 per depositor, per insured institution, per ownership category. Banks that are insured by the FDIC often say “Member FDIC” on their websites.

What are the don'ts for online bank transactions? ›

DON'TS:
  • Do not disclose your CVV or PIN to anybody. The bank will never ask for personal information over a call.
  • Do not ignore a transaction alert on SMS. Contact your bank immediately.
  • Avoid saving your card details on online platforms.
Apr 28, 2021

Which banks are most secure? ›

10 Safest Banks in the U.S.
BankAssetsFDIC Insured?
Bank of America$2.54 trillionYes
Wells Fargo$1.73 trillionYes
Citi$1.68 trillionYes
U.S. Bank$651 billionYes
6 more rows
Mar 29, 2024

Can you trust online banks? ›

Online banking is generally safe and not easy to hack — as long as you take the right steps to protect your information. This means setting up strong passwords and changing them frequently, and using additional tools like two-factor authentication to give yourself an extra layer of protection.

What are two reasons to not use online banking? ›

  • Customer service lacks personal touch.
  • Not an option for those lacking access to the internet.
  • ATM options may be limited.
  • Greater due diligence required to vet the bank.
Dec 31, 2021

How to know if a bank website is secure? ›

Look for the Padlock

If you see a closed padlock, it means the website is safe to use. If you see 🛈, this means that the website isn't going through a private connection and someone can potentially see the information you're sending through the website.

How do banks avoid risk? ›

To manage these risks effectively, banks use a combination of risk assessment tools, risk monitoring systems, and risk mitigation strategies. Regulatory authorities often impose requirements on banks to have comprehensive risk management frameworks in place to ensure the stability and integrity of the financial system.

Which VPN is best for secure banking? ›

Top 5 best banking VPNs:
  • NordVPN – the best VPN for online banking.
  • Surfshark – extremely affordable secure VPN for banking.
  • Norton Secure VPN – secure banking VPN to protect transactions.
  • IPVanish – versatile and reliable VPN for online banking.
  • PrivateVPN – budget-friendly and well-rounded VPN.
Jan 22, 2024

Does VPN affect online payment? ›

Secure payment methods, such as a credit card payment gateway, are built with encryption and other security protocols to ensure the transaction goes through safely. There's no harm in adding another layer of protection with a VPN. Anyone can fall victim to financial fraud when making payments online.

Is it safe to do online banking on home Wi-Fi? ›

Is home WiFi safe for internet banking? Yes, if your home WiFi connection has been set up by a professional team and features the most up-to-date security, then you will be protected when banking online. However, outdated hardware, software and applications can leave you vulnerable to hackers.

Is it safe to use hotel Wi-Fi for banking with VPN? ›

Use a VPN. Virtual Private Networks (VPN) will allow you to have a secure connection to hotel WiFi that disguises your device's location and protects sensitive data by hiding it behind dummy information.

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