I have questions for all of you that download and also do your personal banking or business on a computer. Are you worried that you might get a virus? Maybe the kind that gathers your keystroke information so they could hack your bank accounts? Do you use a different computer for business and banking? It's been brought to my attention that even protective virus software companies have to find out there is a virus before it can protect us. How do they find out there is a virus? Someone gets one. Someone has to be first before we are warned that the virus exists and none of us want to be first so what should we do?

I only use my desktop computer for banking; NEVER my wireless laptop.

1 comment

by sewmom 02 Jul 2013

Thank you.

I know what you mean about "someone being first" No product is 100% secure. Eset and Bitdefender make some impressive claims that seem to be valid...It does make the internet a bit scary. I don't use my phone for banking ever and I don't "friend" or "like" my bank as that becomes public info fast!
There are a lot of "false positives" in anti-virus software like Kaspersky, Eset, TrendMicro, and Bitdefender as well as Spybot mentioned in another comment -- because they use a kind of predictive test to stop the viruses yet to be found or named. I know it is not much of a consolation, but it does help me sleep.
I use the onscreen keyboard in my anti-virus program to enter sensitive info. I check my bank info frequently. I avoid freebies especially from questionable sites and I avoid clicking on links in emails. I also run a deep scan weekly and a regular scan daily.
I do not recommend Norton, MacAfee, AVG, Avast and some of the others to any of my clients. Many hackers/virus writers are very good at bypassing these products. Some of these products are virus-like themselves but are probably better than nothing.
Good luck and safe surfing!

1 comment

by sewmom 02 Jul 2013

Thank you. Some interesting information that I haven't heard before.

We don't do banking online. Not that far to the bank, & as long as we can drive, we'll go to the bank to do it! I do know people have been known to hack into bank accounts! But then the bank is responsible to replace our money. As for online virus, I just have to trust my security. Nothing is fool proof...mean that both ways, not completely safe & especially from fools that want my little bit of money or computer info!

There is antivirus software that protects hackers from reading keystrokes, also be vigilant about keeping it up to date. Google anti-virus to see the range of features available....

I use antivirus software too. The point is that someone is going to be the first to get a virus BEFORE the antivirus software companies know about it and look for it.
What if I was the first for a new virus and someone took all the money out of my account or got into my company site and took the site down?

2 comments

by crafter2243 02 Jul 2013

I can only speak from my recent experience with my sister in laws account. Since it was fraud the bank did reverse the transaction and started a fraud case. She is 86 years old and is starting to do some strange things. After the attempt to withdraw the $ 8000,00 the bank person went over her account for the last 3 month and opened 6 fraud cases and the bank has returned over $ 2000,00.
As far as getting into your company site I have no clue.

by crafter2243 02 Jul 2013

I take one more precaution. Any time I am not on the computer I will shut down the internet. Often people think that once they sign out from Explorer etc that that is enough.

I use Spybot, plus antivirus software. I keep a close eye on my accounts and run Spybot every week if not more often.

1 comment

by sewmom 02 Jul 2013

Definitely a good plan.

This last week my credit card information was hacked from a bank and there are about 15 purchases that were made within an hour, totaling over $500.00. Now there is a company working on getting these costs removed so I don't need to pay. Two of the purchases (all downloads) were for anti virus software!
Best is advice is to watch the account on a regular basis and as soon as you see something questionable, call the bank immediately.
Christie in Germany

2 comments

by sewmom 02 Jul 2013

I'm sorry to hear that. It actually happened to us a couple of months ago too. Fortunately credit card companies are really good about taking care of those charges.

by basketkase 02 Jul 2013

Yep, we were hit on our credit card in April for the 4th time in 2 years.......this time they actually went into a store in Orlando FL and used the number, we live in IL....Sad world!

Sewmom I have been doing my banking over the internet for over 4 years, since my bank is 150 miles away. I keep my eye on the account almost daily to make sure no unauthorized transactions show up. The problem is that banks can get hacked into as well. My sister in law never has done any on line banking but has beginning stages of alzheimers and someone somehow got all the info and tried to take $ 8000,00 out of their account.

2 comments

by crafter2243 02 Jul 2013

P.S rescuer will probably give you better advise. I know Norton is not the safest virus protection for instance

by sewmom 02 Jul 2013

Thank you.