| By :
Molly Wider
You may want to keep this in mind the next time you access your online account. Despite the bank's best efforts to keep customers protected, hacker attacks remain a serious threat, costing Americans millions of dollars each year. Last year, the Internet Crime Complaint Centre reported the country lost approximately $559 million to internet thieves for the duration of 2009. That is more than twice the amount for losses in 2008, where the same centre recorded losses of $268 million from the internet. Sean Sullivan from an internet security firm, F-Secure, says, "Last year there were more online bank robberies than there were actual on-site bank robberies. Banks have become very proactive in protecting accounts from hackers, but it's still quite a large problem. We see all types of new attempts every day." According to F-Secure, the biggest threats to consumers who bank online are what are known as banking Trojans. These codes are specifically aimed at banking fraud. They are invisible and can hack through your computer, stealing data such as passwords. Some of the more advanced Trojans have the capability of producing fraudulent transfers to drain your account while you're logged in to your account. Business accounts have become the more desirable target as opposed to personal accounts as hackers would much rather break into an account with six-figures instead of a personal account with only a few hundred or a few thousand dollars in it. Unfortunately, business accounts are the most vulnerable and least protected. So, how can we tell if our bank is safe for online banking? Well, the more passwords and questions requested in order to log in, the safer the website. Banks that ask for only a username and password are not as secure as they should be. Many banks now require a site key name and even use personalized symbols that appears during the login process. You should also be prompted to answer a security question as well prior to gaining access to the account. If you have been the victim of online banking theft, it is imperative you know your rights. If the bank can show any sort of breach was caused on your part, they are not liable for your loss. For customers who have a business account or line of credit, extra caution is recommended because the bank will most likely not be obligated to cover your loss. With proper caution and strong passwords, online banking remains safe for many of us. Using encrypted sites and staying away from public connections while banking are additional ways to keep yourself protected.
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