Money not refunded by bank after I was mugged

Rawrzy

I started moving most of my banking apps into a secure folder last year after worrying about this kind of thing. Unfortunately not all apps work. I noticed Barclays just errors when you try and use the app in the secure folder. Not helpful at all.

Sea_Shell

Rawrzy said:

I started moving most of my banking apps into a secure folder last year after worrying about this kind of thing. Unfortunately not all apps work. I noticed Barclays just errors when you try and use the app in the secure folder. Not helpful at all.

What is a secure app folder?  Is this an Android or i thing?

Would it also work to remove apps from the "obvious" front screen, so hiding them, but still have them available?

Rawrzy

Sea_Shell said:

Rawrzy said:

I started moving most of my banking apps into a secure folder last year after worrying about this kind of thing. Unfortunately not all apps work. I noticed Barclays just errors when you try and use the app in the secure folder. Not helpful at all.

What is a secure app folder?  Is this an Android or i thing?

Would it also work to remove apps from the "obvious" front screen, so hiding them, but still have them available?

I'm not sure if it's available on other Android models, but Samsung offer a secure folder feature which compartmentalised from the rest of the phone and requires extra security to access. You can install apps, or store photos/files etc inside of it. Anything stored in it can't be accessed from outside it without going through security. Nor can any apps installed outside access anything inside either, so say even if you accidentally installed a app from a bad actor which tries to peep on you, in theory they wouldn't be able to access any photos/files etc that are inside the secure folder. Also if you search for an app inside your phone, it won't show up anything that's inside the secure folder, which obfuscates it from anyone looking inside your phone.

Of course, the security required is customisable, so the user could still just use the same pin and defeat some of the point of it... However, if you put something more secure in, and then put the secure folder in a bit more of an obscure place on your phone, while maybe leaving one less used banking app outside as a "trap" you could potentially prevent someone from accessing them if they steal your phone. It's not as perfect as just leaving your banking apps on a phone hidden somewhere safe, but if you don't want to go that route it's an idea that might work.

There's also more niche users for the folder too, like the fact it allows you to be able to install two copies of a given app on android. Might be useful if you're trying to manage two seperate accounts somewhere but the app doesn't allow you to swap between them easily.

Olinda99

I have my banking apps in the Samsung secure folder as well although as you say Barclays does not work and never has done

not sure how well it would work against this kind of mugging attack though - any mother worth their salt would know about a secure folder and demand you open it

I am thinking of moving some banking apps that I just don't need to use out and about onto a spare phone that I have at home and would not leave the house.

Obviously the bank that I spend with I would need to have on my phone as you may need to authorize payments etc when out

GeoffTF

Olinda99 said:

Obviously the bank that I spend with I would need to have on my phone as you may need to authorize payments etc when out

I do not see why. I do not use a banking app at all for my Santander account. For online transactions from my desktop computer, Santander asks me for authentication by text message or by simply typing stuff into the pop up box. I have never been asked to authorise in person payments.

MikeJXE

I am on iPhone with 10 banking apps all face recognition

I can't see how anyone could get into any of them with just my passcode 

please say so if i am wrong 

Cornish_mum

Hi OP, I just wanted to say how dreadfully sorry about this awful experience. Thank you for posting as a result I have just deleted multiple defunct banking apps from my phone as a security measure. CM

Olinda99

MikeJXE said:

I am on iPhone with 10 banking apps all face recognition

I can't see how anyone could get into any of them with just my passcode 

please say so if i am wrong 

in this scenario of course they can get into them - they hold a knife to your throat and say tell you to open the app

MikeJXE

Olinda99 said:

MikeJXE said:

I am on iPhone with 10 banking apps all face recognition

I can't see how anyone could get into any of them with just my passcode 

please say so if i am wrong 

in this scenario of course they can get into them - they hold a knife to your throat and say tell you to open the app

I guess you are spot on with that so time to do something about it

I use chase for my everyday shopping via the wallet, theres never much more than £100 in the account

The other banks now I will move to my spare iPhone or even take the spare with me with just the Chase account on. 

overspender22

For those saying to move the banking apps into other folders (I.e not on the Home Screen), there is a search function on phones. It’s easy enough for muggers to search the names of banks on an iPhone and find you have a NatWest app installed, or a Santander one etc. I for one will be limiting my phone to one ‘spending’ app and using my other accounts at home. 

Seen too much of these hostage style situations where the poor person is held with the thieves and violence is used.