How safe is a banking app on public networks?

silvercar

Shortly going on holiday, will include places where I am nervous of my phone being stolen/ muggings.

Is it safer to remove the app from my phone, thereby removing the risk of the banking app being compromised.

Or is it safer to keep the app, so that I can monitor the account. Particularly relevant if the associated card was lost/ cloned/ stolen. Assume hotel wifi is open and unsafe, in emergency could use roaming abroad but would rather not.

dj1471

If you're using your cards abroad it's advisable to keep an eye on your accounts.

If your phone is properly secured the risk associated with theft is minimal - most banking apps are PIN or password protected, additionally you should ensure you have a decent PIN required to unlock your phone and encrypt it if supported.

All banking connections will be encrypted but I'd still avoid using them on true public WiFi - e.g. Starbucks, public transport, etc.

mt99

Put a pin or fingerprint to unlock your device

Make sure the unlock pin is different to the banking app pin

No problem using it on public networks it's all strongly encrypted.

silvercar

iPhone 6, so PIN and fingerprint locked, plus the app is fingerprint/PIN protected. I don''t remember the PIN on the App as it I only use the fingerprint for it.

Thanks for the info.

System

In my view, if you are using your own device in a reputable location then you should be fine. If anything seems off, simply don't use it.

Even on 'open' networks, the underlying data will be encrypted.

If it's in the EU/EEA (or you have inclusive roaming elsewhere) then using mobile data will be lower risk.

silvercar

I was more worried about my phone being stolen and some undesirable accessing my bank account through the app.

mt99

They would only be able to access your bank through the app if they knew the PIN (or password).

Even if they could get in, normally they would not be able to use the app set up a new payee and pay themselves anything BUT I have just hear NWide is going to include this function.

silvercar

mt99 wrote: »

They would only be able to access your bank through the app if they knew the PIN (or password).

Even if they could get in, normally they would not be able to use the app set up a new payee and pay themselves anything BUT I have just hear NWide is going to include this function.

NatWest allow £250 per day.

Chapuys

1. Most phones need a pin or fingerprint (or face) to login. If yours doesn't have one - add it. Thieves/fraudsters wouldn't be able to get into your phone, let alone open the banking app.
2. Most banking apps have a password, pin, fingerprint (or face ID) to login. If yours doesn't have one - move banks. They simply can't get in the app to do any damage.
3. 99% of all banking apps encrypt the data between the app and the bank so someone could copy your data in transit and not be able to access it. If you bank doesn't use encryption, then you have more worries to deal with than worries about going on holiday.

In the end, as long as your phone is secure. You banking app should be secure.