Banking – prevention campaign

28th July, 2011

Banks hold joint prevention campaign on care in internet banking.

The slogan is "If you're going on holiday, this information is for you". The banks belonging to the Interbank Online Security Forum, which was set up by the APB and comprises important financial institutions in Portugal, wish to warn internet users of the risks to which they often unwittingly expose their computers. These warnings draw attention to the importance of updating antivirus programs, using firewalls, not opening or answering emails from unknown senders and not installing programs without being sure they are safe.

The protection of any computer depends first and foremost on its user and failure to obey some basic rules is like opening your door to strangers. With the mass use of the internet, some users make it easier by providing private or personal data in emails or clicking on links to bogus websites, all which has its consequences. Some online banking users may be fooled into following instructions from people whose only aim is to obtain data under false pretences and make improper use of them.

It is necessary to bear in mind that the harmful effects of phishing, in its broadest sense, are not exclusively reduced by expensive technology that banks have in place. It is associated with users' own behaviour and they should not be taken in by the arguments that cyber-criminals often use.

In cyberspace, just like in the real world, criminals are always trying to profit from illegal acts. There are more and more people using home-banking systems and this is one of the channels on which they focus their attention. This situation is made even worse by the fact that the transnational nature of their crimes makes them difficult to investigate. The phishing and malware used in cybercrime are becoming increasingly sophisticated and hard to detect, even for security conscious users.

The campaign by the Interbank Online Security Forum tells internet users in general and online banking customers in particular about some of the precautions that they should take to protect their access and therefore their assets.

Banks have been using their websites and other channels to inform their customers of the precautions that they need to take to protect their computers.