Q: Is it safe to do my banking and finances online?
Yes, if done properly. The key is the security of the computer you are using.
Most parents have the misconception that their bank is the weakest link,
or that their information will be stolen while traveling across
the Internet. While your bank website could be insecure, large banks
invest a great deal of money in protecting your transactions.
Also, as your information travels across the Internet it is encrypted,
making it very difficult to intercept and recover. The weakest point
in any online transaction is most likely your own computer.
For online transactions, use only computers that you know and trust.
Do not use un-trusted computers such as cyber cafes, computers at
conferences, or your kids' computer at home if its behaving erratically
To learn more about building and using a secure, trusted computer
at home, refer to the short ParentPaper
10 Steps to Securing Your
Home Computer.
