Online Banks Require Website Security

According to a recent survey conducted by Kaspersky Lab, approximately one third of online users do not feel safe when conducting financial transactions online. Online merchants have noted feeling insecure when running financial transactions online with their computers, laptops and tablets.

This same survey also revealed that an additional 28% of people using a smart phone do not feel comfortable engaging in financial transactions using mobile banking applications. In fact, when the Kaspersky Survey was broken down even more, they found that only 22% of tablet users and 27% of smartphone users are unconcerned about entering financial information from their gadgets. This means that on average, over 75% of consumers and bank account holders are worried about their personal information being accessed online.

Because of this survey’s results, financial institutions and bank representatives are shifting more and more toward online methods of delivering safe and secure services to their consumers in hopes of easing some of their concerns.

Most online users are unaware of how dangerous it can be to process transactions online. Here are some key tips to help you be secure online in every aspect.

Run Security Scans on your own computer. By making sure that your computer or tablet is secure and works with PCI Scans like those offered by Trust Guard, then you will be able to know that your private information is going to be blocked by hackers trying to breach IP Addresses.

Trust Your Bank. If you can’t trust that your bank’s website is secure, you may want to switch banks. The online world is huge, and you should be able to feel secure enough to log in to your online banking and take care of everything. One of the best ways to know if you bank’s website is secure is to see if the URL is marked with a lock next to the web address. This Lock Icon is to inform you that the website has been verified and all information posted on it is secure and private through an SSL certificate. This is one thing I always look for; not just for my online banking, but also for all secure checkout pages I visit when purchasing anything online. If I am shopping online and don’t see this security lock near the URL when checkingout, I leave the page and do my online business elsewhere. 

Example of a Secure Banking URL:

 

As an online banking user, you deserve to feel safe and secure while online. It is your responsibility though to make sure that you are doing everything you can on your end to be secure. Secure your computer with security scans and only visit websites that display secure trust seals and SSL locked domains.

 

Online Security in Germany

I was recently reviewing a German Article about online security. It was so interesting to find that a German organization is pushing to increase their online commercial value by 10% this year. If they do this, their online turnover for 2013 would reach 32 Billion Euros.

So how did the Germans get so involved with the online networking world? Well, in 2012 more the ¾ of all Germans above the age of 16 bought multiple products and services over the Internet. It is proven that the online world is no longer focusing its strength in the U.S.  Asia, and most of Europe are also engaging in the art of the online business world.

Though this is a great national breakthrough for the inter-web, it also demonstrates the need for international online security.

With people accessing the web all over the world, it is even more crucial to have your online businesses, websites, and personal computers secure. International online services offer more diversity of goods, services, and pricing, but they also invite more hackers and identity thieves to access your personal information.

In the Eurostat and recent German Articles, Author Jan Valcke states:

“Most consumers know that online security has two sides. On the one hand, they are afraid to fall victim to obscure criminals; on the other hand, they are well aware that malware on their own pc can forward banking and credit card information to criminal units, even though they only deal with serious and trustworthy traders.”

Valcke continues to say, “Online providers that want to differentiate and ensure a safe shopping experience for their customers can do more than just the bare necessities. They can, for instance,set up a defense against online theft and password hijacking by Trojans and rootkits. They cannot avoid that there may be some malware on the consumer's PC that can have a negative impact on the shopping process, but at least, they can diminish the risks and consequences.”

You online security is important, and everyone who does business online, no matter where they live, knows it. Don’t take the risk by avoiding PCI Compliance. Make sure your website and your computer are secure today.

Business Security and Confidentiality

How to Keep Your High-Profile Conversations Safe and Secure

Before smart phones existed, planting secret and covert listening devices was the most popular way for spies, private investigators or government officials to ‘illegally record’ content from private conversations. Just like in the movies, people with resources would surreptitiously plant listening devices to find out top-secret government, business or personal information.

Approximately 130 million smartphones are in use in the United States today. With more and more undercover apps created daily, every smartphone user now has the potential of becoming a covert operative with their own Wi-Fi receiver, camera, audio recorder, keyboard and computer at their disposal.

As a business owner or manager, maintaining security and privacy for high profile meetings is vital. Whether it is a shareholder meeting, political fundraiser or internal executive meeting, there should be confidentiality and security.

For example, this past year, when “off-the-book” comments made by Mitt Romney at a fundraiser were recorded and posted online, his political campaign took an insanely massive negative hit. The theft of intellectual property costs American businesses billions of dollars each year. So how can corporate and government leaders ensure that their meetings are safe and secure and that proprietary information is not leaked? How can everyday business owners make sure the information they discuss and process is kept secure?

This is the point of today’s article. Today, we are going to talk about how you can help make sure that your business is 100% private and secure.

In my own career, I have been responsible for the safety and security of every merchant I speak to concerning their private IRS information, banking information, and other private data. The following tips explain how I have been able to ensure that none of the secure data I send out or speak of is breached.

1.      Always have your meetings behind closed doors. Even if I need to have a quick talk with one employee, if it is about information that should be kept private, I make sure that the other employees leave all mobile devices at their desk and that the office door is closed for our discussion. Eliminating mobile devices and even tablets with cameras into meetings is a good way to ensure that the information will be kept secure.

2.      Never communicate on a non-secure computer or mobile device. This is something that is so crucial, yet so many businesses ignore. Make your website and computer secure! Be PCI Compliant. I am always baffled when I hear business owners complain about having to pay less than $10/month to have a secure computer, when they process credit cards online. That is just ridiculous. Not only will PCI compliant security scans protect the consumers you work with, but it also protects your private information, the emails you send out, and the documents saved on your computer.