
Our glossary to banking safely online:
Your password is your key to access Internet Banking. If it is in the hands of someone else, it means that your accounts are also in the hands of someone else. Click here for protection.
Attacks coming from the Internet are possible due to the bugs and weaknesses in your software. In order to repair these breaches, software companies offer updates and patches. Through regular updates, you can maintain your security against attacks that seek to establish unauthorized access to your computer by exploiting software weaknesses.
There are tens of thousands of viruses loose on the Internet; while these viruses can damage your computer or render it useless, they can also steal your personal information. For protection, use Anti-Virus software programs.
A firewall provides protection against attacks from the Internet. You can guard your computer against unwanted attacks and access by using a firewall.
Communicating via e-mail over the Internet is not secure. Click here for secure communication.
What are the types of online fraud?
As Internet usage has increased during the past few years, there has also been an increase in fraud cases as well and new methods have emerged. Click here for methods of online fraud.
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Password SecurityWhat are some online fraud methods?
Phishing is one of the most common and dangerous Internet crimes. These attacks aim to steal the information the individuals or companies use to make their financial transactions. They send an e-mail prepared to look like it is coming from a bank, card company or a financial company, to all e-mail addresses they can get. The e-mail is about updating of customer information or password change and it includes links to pages that look identical to the original company pages. Some customers, without realizing the danger, answer these e-mails providing the requested information. As a result, customer's personal information and passwords are stolen.
What kind of information is stolen with phishing?
Credit card and /or debit/ATM card numbers and CVV2
Passwords and PINs
Bank Account numbers/Customer numbers
Online Banking Log-In/Password information
These are e-mails that offer the recipients a generous amount of money in an imploring/requesting fashion if he/she agrees to help transfer immense sums of funds, usually in American Dollars. These funds may be claimed to be company profits, accumulated bribes, unspent government funds or the unclaimed money of a deceased person.
They are after your bank information. Transfer process usually requires the recipient to make a payment as fee/tax/bribe to complete the transaction. Such payments are stolen.
A recent tactic has been to take the recipient to a fake bank web site and show an account with tens of millions of dollars so that the recipient is convinced the money is ready for transfer. This money does not exist in reality. It is also common to use the recipient's bank information for other kinds of fraud.
The recipient is sent a letter or e-mail saying that he/she has won a lottery prize. The recipient is required to reply in order to claim the prize. Then the bank information is requested for transfer. A service fee is also requested. This fee will be stolen if it is sent. It is highly probable that the bank information provided will also be used for other kinds of fraud.
Most of the e-mails warning of viruses are false messages sent to create disturbance and disruption.
Viruses known as Trojans are used to remotely control the user's computer. Generally they consist of two modules. While the first module enables the hacker to access the customer's computer and control them, second module creates an open door to make a connection between the hacker and the customer's computer.
Trojans cannot be installed without the consent of the user. Files with .ini or .exe extension may include a Trojan.
Key-loggers can basically be defined as small programs that regularly transfer data to another computer without the knowledge of its actual user. Hackers use one of the existing keylogger programs or write a small keylogger program and send it to various computers. After the keylogger does its own installation in the remote computer, usually without being noticed, it starts working and sends the data it records to the hacker periodically. It usually records any keyboard movements and transfers them. Screen Loggers and key-loggers are based on the same logic, but the data sent is not only the keyboard information but also screen shots. With the click of the mouse on the screen, a picture is taken of all of it or a part of it (usually a mouse-centered small rectangle) and sent to a fixed address.
Hackers can capture customer information for fraudulent using programs such as Trojans, key-loggers, and screen loggers.