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Chuck Martino Presents
Weekly Financial Article for the Week of August 6, 2007
Online Banking Precautions
Little things you can do so you don’t compromise your security.
Online banking has progressed from novelty to necessity for many of us. But there is still
that little voice in the back of our heads reminding us that our identity (and assets) could
be stolen if we’re not vigilant. In response, here are some precautions to take.
Keep your anti-spyware protection current. Many people have cutting-edge
computers capable of surfing the most complex web pages … but they haven’t updated
their anti-virus sotware in years. If you are banking online, the latest and greatest antivirus protection is essential.
Change your password. Some banks give you a password when you open an account,
instead of having you create one. Do yourself a favor and change that default password.
Is your banking password the same as your AOL password or a password from another
website at which you’ve done some credit card transactions? Is your banking password
your birth date or your middle name? If the answer to either question is “yes,” you are
opening your financial life to potentially much greater risk.
Exit wisely. When you complete a transaction online, make sure you log out of your
bank’s website. Closing the browser window is not the same thing. For extra safety,
don’t visit your bank’s website when you have multiple windows open in your Internet
software application.
Don’t volunteer personal information. If you already have a password and online
access, be wary of any request to e-mail information about your account to someone
claiming to be a “representative” of the bank. Don’t dare offer it verbally, unless you are
very, very, very sure that the voice on the other end of the line is truly representing your
financial institution. Thieves are increasingly sophisticated. Anyone with a smooth voice
and the right background noise can pass himself off as a loan officer or a teller; anyone
with good HTML skills can design a remarkably official-looking website to capture your
information in the few seconds before you figure out the hoax.
Quote of the week. “The mystery of government is not how Washington works, but how to make
it stop.” – P.J. O’Rourke
Riddle of the week. You heard me before, you hear me again. Then I die, 'til you call me again.
What am I? (Contact my office or wait for next week’s article for the answer.)
Answer to last week’s riddle: The word “run”.
Please feel free to forward this article to family, friends, or colleagues. If you would like us to add
them to the list, please reply to this e-mail with their e-mail address and we will contact them and ask
for their permission to be added.
These views are those of Peter Montoya Inc. and should not be construed as investment advice. All information is believed to be from reliable sources;
however we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. All economic and performance is historical and not indicative of future results.
The market indices discussed are unmanaged. Investors cannot invest in unmanaged indices. Please consult your Financial Advisor for further
information. Additional risks are associated with international investing, such as currency fluctuations, political and economic instability and differences
in accounting standards.