6 Mobile Banking Safety Tips
Smart phone technology has made banking easier and more convenient than ever. As long as you have your phone by your side, you can check your account balances, deposit checks and pay bills anywhere. However, mobile banking can present security risks if you are not careful. To prevent your private data from getting stolen, follow these mobile banking safety tips:
Do Not Use Public Wi-Fi Networks
Wi-fi might be okay for checking your social media sites, but you should not use it for banking. If you do, other people who are signed into the same wi-fi network can get access to your financial information. If you can't wait until you get home or to work to check your account balance, use your 4G connection to access it.
Remember to Log Off
When you are done using your account, do not forget to log off. If you do not sign out and your phone is lost or stolen, someone can get access to your personal and financial information.
Do Not Save Your Account Username and Password
Your banking app might give you the option to save your login information. Do not do this. Yes, it is annoying having to reenter your username and password with a touch keyboard every time, but saving your login data can leave you open to data theft.
Always Use the Banking App
Do not try to access your banking account through a mobile web browser, as it is not always secure. Instead, log into your account through the banking mobile app.
Create a Password for Your Smartphone
If you have not created a password for your smartphone yet, it is time to do so. A password can prevent other people from having access to your banking information and other private data. Use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters and numbers, so that it will be more difficult for other to guess your password.
Upgrade Your Mobile Banking App
If you receive a message on your phone to update your mobile banking app, do not ignore it. It takes just a few minutes to install the update. If the app is out of date, it could have security issues and put you at risk of data theft.
Mobile banking can be perfectly safe if you take the proper precautions. If you follow these helpful tips, you can access your mobile banking account on the go without worrying about security issues.