We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum. This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are - or become - political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

How safe is internet banking?

I am looking to open a high interest savings account. However the majority of the good ones are internet only.

Is it really that safe to conduct your transactions via the net with al the hackers etc flying around?

I have phoned Ing for their information pack but it is taking an age to get here and judging by a comment read in another thread, I am beginning to wonder whether to try elsewhere

:-/

Jon
«1

Comments

  • Murphy_The_Cat
    Murphy_The_Cat Posts: 20,967 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    From my own experience no problems or worries at all.

    I use Cahoot and they are excellent. As regards security, i read an article a while ago that said that most 'low grade' bank fraud etc ( i.e not millions) was usually down to people being careless with pin codes, leaving passwords on post it notes on computers, or sharing the same passwords as other family members.

    go online with confidence, but keep your details close to heart !

    ;D
    MTC
  • hellomoto
    hellomoto Posts: 281 Forumite
    Is it really that safe to conduct your transactions via the net with al the hackers etc flying around?

    I can only go by personal experience, but hope this helps.

    When I first started internet banking, I too was concerned like yourself, I started a couple of years ago by adding a bog standard savings account with very little cash in it onto the internet, as my confidence on how to use the account, and how to check the pages were secrure and so forth I started to add further accounts to the internet and open new accounts.

    As it stands I now have my bank account and savings oneline with one bank, my ISA online with another provider and 2 credit cards with 2 other providers all online and I have never had any problems at all!
    And of course you tend to get the best rates online!


    ;D ;D
    Thanks!! :D:D:D
  • Mortgageman
    Mortgageman Posts: 158 Forumite
    Is it really that safe to conduct your transactions via the net with al the hackers etc flying around?

    It is as safe, I guess, as using your card in a cash point machine with all the muggers around (in fact i'll go out on a limb and say it is safer)

    There are always going to be ways to cheat and steal from people, but it has to be the online banks biggest concern, so the actual transfer, and online data is pretty safe.

    The big trick, I would guess, (and no I am not talking from experience here :) ) is capturing keystrokes, which would really have to be done from an applet (a small program) that you have either deliberately, or accidentally downloaded.

    Always be careful what you download on the internet, make sure it comes from a trusted source, and never open an e-mail from a name you don't recognise (particularly if it has an attachment)
    I work for a Mortgage Adviser
    You should note that this site doesn't check my status as a Mortgage Adviser, so you need to take my word for it. This signature is here as I follow MSE's Mortgage Adviser Code of Conduct. Any posts on here are for information and discussion purposes only and shouldn't be seen as financial advice.
    ( I have ammeded this signature slightly, as I do not actively provide mortgage advice. However, I support and adhere to the moneysavingexpert mortgage broker code of conduct)
  • I have a number of bank and credit card (cc) accounts on the web and would agree with all the positive comments re internet banking. Almost all the banks and cc companies now use 128bit SSL Encryption technology, which Im told is exceptionaly difficult to copy.

    Most banks and cc cos also have a fraud prevention guarentee (eg barclaycard) whereby if anyone hacks into your account they will refund the money, although its worth checking in the terms and conds to be sure.

    It may also be advisable to get a virus checker like norton (or a free one) and a firewall (free too) to be totally safe.

    I also have an account with citibank for one of those all in one accounts, which are c**p, so dont bother with those they dont work AND citibaNk state in their terms and conds they are not liable for any losses, therefore i no longer use their site.

    But overall web banking is great, as it saves wasting 30m in a bank queqe on a wet day for a single transaction.
  • System
    System Posts: 178,223 Community Admin
    10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    I also agree with the positive comments on internet banking. I have banked with First direct for 10 years, & used their internet service since it started several years ago. I also have a Smile savings account & credit card & have had no problems with any of them.

    The convenience is definitely a big advantage as well as the preferential rates often available.

    I have never really worried about internet fraud...I think if its going to happen to me, it'll more than likely be through the more usual methods, e.g. lost/stolen cards, letting your card out of your sight at restaurants when you pay the bill, etc. And that can happen to anybody.

    Gill
    This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
  • Nobody really knows how secure they are yet, it's not been put to the test. Anti fraud guarantees are worthless if you can't prove to the bank that the withdrawal was fraud. The only protection I can see is to use an account that only pays into accounts owned by you, and not third party ones.
  • System
    System Posts: 178,223 Community Admin
    10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    According to my terms and conditions I have infront of me, it says:

    "We will only be responsible for direct loss to you, and then only if we deliberately or negligently caused you the loss. We will not be responsible for:

    - indirect loss;
    - loss of business, opportunity or profit;
    - any type of special or resulting loss; or
    - anything beyond our reasonable control (including, but not limited to, an event or series of events that disrupts our service or causes your instructions to be delayed or not acted upon"

    Would this mean that they (the bank) would or would not refund any monies stolen from the account from, say, a hacker?
    This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
  • 1jim
    1jim Posts: 2,683 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    i have found internet banking vvery convenient, i have used it for many years, i have used hsbc, egg and halifax. out of all these halifax website very easy to use, am currently switching to smile (no reason other than fancied a change and liked their ethical stance). in 3-4yrs+ have never had any problems banking on line

    jim
  • Debt_Free_Chick
    Debt_Free_Chick Posts: 13,276 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Install a firewall. This one's free

    http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp?lid=zadb_zadown

    Do not respond to emails that ask to you click on a link and reveal your logon ID and password.

    Your bank should be using a secure server. In the address bar this appears as https:// and not http://

    Also in the bottom right hand corner you should see a padlock, indicating it's a secure site.
    Warning ..... I'm a peri-menopausal axe-wielding maniac ;)
  • Shawz
    Shawz Posts: 1,054 Forumite
    I have found internet banking to be very good.
    Make sure you use an up to date anti virus software package and also software such as adaware to remove any spyware that may be on your pc.
    Looking to raise some money ;)
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 348.2K Banking & Borrowing
  • 252.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 452.3K Spending & Discounts
  • 240.7K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 617K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 175.6K Life & Family
  • 253.9K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.