3 SMARTER WAYS TO USE YOUR MOBILE BANKING APP IN 2017

USING SAFE ACCESS MEASURES

By Manisha Dorawala

K E E P I N G Y O U R B A N K ’ S A P P U P D A T E D According to Panda Security, you should make sure access to your bank is only done through the latest most updated banking app. It may seem like the most obvious thing to only use the official banking app of your bank, but there are sometimes apps out there that look like the real thing but are actually put out by scammers. So you should make absolutely sure you’ve got the right app installed and if it doesn’t automatically update, you should immediately download and use the latest app that comes out when you’re notified of it.

Just as you would with a computer, you should always use safe practices such as constantly changing your password and logging off when your banking session is done. If your bank offers it you should also use two-step authentication, a process by which they send an access code via private text to your phone and it expires once you’ve entered it in your session. That way in case your password is compromised, the hacker will not get access to the code without having your mobile device. You also might be able to get alerts when funds are withdrawn for any reason.

A V P N C A N A L S O H E L PYou may or may not want to use a VPN, but if you’re using your mobile device on an unsecured network it’s usually a good idea. Bear in mind many VPN services have monthly fees, but if you can afford them they can definitely help you beef up security. According to Digital Trends, some good mobile VPN apps out there include Vypr VPN, TunnelBear, Express VPN and Flash VPN. While it may take some technical knowledge on your part, you might consider setting up a VPN connection on a secured home network that you can access while you’re away.