Safety tips for mobile banking

Protect your financial information

Smartphone technology brings the power of the online world into the palm of your hand – including your banking. And while it’s convenient, when you bank through your smartphone, there are steps you should take to keep your private information secure.

You can do almost anything with a smartphone – take photos, text friends, update your social media, shop, surf the web…you can even make phone calls. And of course, the technology will even allow you do your banking from virtually anywhere.

While Bluetooth technology enables mobile banking, it can also enable thieves. Bluetooth provides a way to exchange information between wireless devices such as smartphones and digital cameras. But it can also open the door for hackers to steal your personal information. When Bluetooth is enabled, it creates an open network to your mobile device. For sensitive information like mobile banking, we recommend your disable Bluetooth until you complete your transactions.

Smart practices for smartphone banking

BlueShore is committed to making mobile banking on your smartphone as secure as online banking. Your personal access code prevents unauthorized access and our 128-bit SSL encryption protects your data.

But just like your home computer, it's important you ensure both your device and its wireless connection are well protected. Each device is different and the technology is constantly changing, but here are a few basic tips:

• Disable Bluetooth when not using your device and during financial transactions
• Password protect your device and ensure you have the autolock set to the shortest time possible
• Never store passwords or confidential information on your device – never!
• Keep your phone’s software and the apps you use regularly up to date
• Encrypt your data. But read the user manual closely – setting the encryption function can have unexpected side effects, such as disabling certain functions.
• Don't rejig or modify your device. This can leave you open to viruses and other malware. Follow the manufacturer's directions.
• Regularly delete text messages and e-mails, clear your memory and cache to get rid of any passwords, unencrypted, and certificate-related data
• Set up security alerts as a convenient way to be notified by text or email of suspicious or fraudulent activity involving your account
• If your phone is stolen, contact your service provider and deactivate it as soon as possible

Protecting your identity while you're banking online is important to us. If you have any questions regarding the security measures we've put in place, visit your local branch or contact us today.