But it’s important to protect yourself against risks, just as you would when spending or managing your money any other way. Here are some online banking safety tips:
Make sure your phone, tablet or computer is secure by keeping your operating systems up to date.
You can set laptops and desktops to install software updates automatically as soon as they become available. The same goes for app updates on your devices. Choose to install them whenever you’re connected to Wi-Fi and a new update is available, or at night when your device is plugged in.
This way you'll get the latest security enhancements, which make it difficult for hackers to gain access.
You should also install anti-virus software from a well-known, reputable and trusted company to protect your device from any malicious activity. You can find out more by visiting our security centre.
Complex online passwords might feel like a hassle, but they do an important job protecting your personal information.
When it comes to passwords, longer equals stronger. Using a mix of upper case, lower case, numbers and symbols also makes them harder to crack. Another way to strengthen a password is to string together unrelated words.
If you're banking online or using a mobile app, there are further security measures you can put in place. For example, you can use fingerprint or face recognition to add biometric security to your banking app. Voice ID also adds a strong layer of protection when doing phone banking. This is known as 2-factor authentication.
Setting up a digital account can be a good form of defence against cyber-criminals. The layers of security typically make it harder for them to access your account.
Look for a padlock in the address bar to confirm your web connection is secure. But remember, the padlock doesn’t guarantee an authentic site.
For example, if you’re on hsbc.co.uk and see a green padlock, you know you’re securely interacting with HSBC. But if you’re on hs8c.co.uk, you could still see a green padlock, but you wouldn’t be interacting with HSBC. You might be on a site that’s been set up to trick you into thinking that’s what you’re doing.
So always make sure a website is genuine by checking the address for subtle misspellings, extra words, characters or other irregularities. Sites like Trustpilot can help you work out if a site is legitimate.
Shopping and bank transfers
When shopping, check again for the padlock in the address bar before entering your personal or payment details and don't give more information than is needed for the transaction.
For example, only fill in the mandatory fields.
You can usually buy things without having to create an account – so don't create one if you don’t have to. And, where possible, don't allow the retailer to save your payment details.
Never pay for something by bank transfer if you don’t know the seller. Always use a credit card, debit card, PayPal or a payment option that offers some protection against fraud.
If there's suspicious activity on your account, contact us immediately on 03457 404 404.
Even after you’ve put these security measures in place, you need to be mindful of common scams. Here are some tips on what to look out for.
Requests to move money
Genuine banks won’t ask you to move money to another account and won't ask for your PIN, password or other personal details out of the blue.
Unknown senders
Never click on links or attachments from unknown sources.
