• The days of piggy banks are over in the digital era.piggy bank image by William Burnett from Fotolia.com
  
  Internet banking has quickly become popular with consumers because of the ease and convenience. Financial information can be accessed online anytime through laptop computers, cell phones and even some MP3 players. But easy access comes with a price. Banks have implemented rules to ensure that customers' accounts are protected when accessed on the internet, and users are expected to follow common sense rules to maintain safety on their end.
  
  

Password Protection

• Internet banking requires that customers have a user name and password. Banks also may require that customers provide some personal information, such as answering a validation question correctly or giving a social security number. Choose a password that no one can guess; keep it in a safe place; and don't use the same password for different accounts.
  
  

Public Internet or Wi-Fi Service

• Using a public Internet or Wi-Fi service when checking your bank account online is a security hazard for your personal information. Any information exchanged over an open server may be seen by other users or stored in the server's system automatically. Newer operating systems, such as Windows Vista and 7, suggest that users label new network connections using a pop-up window that appears as the computer connects to the network. Even though users note the connection as a public network, their information still may not be safe from discovery by other computers also logged on to the same network. Wait until you can use a private, secured Internet connection to check your bank account to help prevent identity theft.
  
  

Public computers

• Public computers, such as those found in Internet cafes and libraries, are equally risky to use for online banking. Logging out of the site or having your session expire does not mean that your account is safe. Public computers can store information such as passwords and user names without the user's knowledge. There is also an increased risk of someone copying your information as you type. Do not use a public computer to access your bank account.
  
  

Secure Servers

• Internet banking services must operate on a secure server. Once users are taken to the log in page for their account, a secured connection icon (a padlock) should appear in the address bar of the browser window to indicate that the website has additional encryption. When you first start banking online with a new institution, check that the icon appears.