Life gets busy and sometimes it can seem more efficient to let someone else take your debit card to the store or log in and make a transaction for you.

But, even if it’s a loved one or someone you trust completely, sharing this information puts your accounts at risk, as they may not be as cautious as you are with these credentials.

Public Wi-Fi doesn’t always have the security and encryption to protect your data. This means you can’t be sure who might see what you’re doing online.

As a result, it’s best to log into your digital banking from the security of your private home network. If you’re out and about, use your cellular data plan or a Virtual Private Network (VPN) instead of Wi-Fi.

It’s important to set a unique, hard to guess password for your digital banking. That way if a password for another website is exposed, your banking will still be secure.
Here are some tips for creating a strong password:

• Use a mix of lowercase and uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols
• Never use personal details, like birthdates and children’s names, or common words, like “password”
• Use a string of words to create a complex phrase that’s at least 8 characters long

Example
C@shFlowIsK1ng

The digital landscape is constantly evolving, which is why providers release periodic security patches to address new changes, risks, and vulnerabilities.

So, to keep your systems secure, make sure you update your browsers, devices, and anti-virus software when these patches come out.