It is easy for fraudsters to hack your internet banking password by capturing your keystrokes on your keyboard. This is possible through couple of programmes called 'Spy Ware' and 'Trojan Programmes', which are primarily designed to capture these strokes.
How do these softwares get installed?
These softwares are often installed, mainly through downloads, in the computer system to capture confidential user data without your knowledge. Then this software reports the relevant information — in such cases internet banking passwords — to the creator of the software or to one or more third parties. Experts say these software often get downloaded by the victim's PC through some free downloads or MP3 or even movie downloads.
Now these programmes are used for a number of destructive purposes like erase, overwriting or copy data from the infected computer, corruption and encryption of files etc. To add to you woes you cannot remove Spyware or Trojan with the regular anti virus software. In fact some of these programs have the ability to partially or fully disable the anti virus tools.
How does virtual keypad help ?
Virtual keypad is an online application, which substitutes the actual physical keyboard with a mouse. When you click on the virtual keyboard option at the time of net banking, the monitor flashes a keyboard on your screen. You have to use the mouse to click on the relevant keys to sign into your net banking ID. Banks have come with what's called 'Virtual Keyboard' to protect your account or card information and password (IPINs) from such fraudsters' hands.
Using the Virtual keypad
The bank gives you an option to used a physical keyboard or virtual keyboard. Once you enter your log in ID, you have to choose the option of virtual keyboard by clicking on the appropriate option. Then you can use the mouse to key in your password.
Scrambled virtual keypad
In a scrambled keypad, the position of keys on the virtual keypad keeps changing every time you sign in. This makes it difficult for the camera to capture the exact letters for the password. Changing passwords often helps in protecting your account even if you may have inadvertently disclosed it to someone. Moreover, stay away from keeping obvious ones like your spouse's name or your pet's name.
Alpha-numeric passwords along with some special character like * or # are a safe bet. Lastly, use your personal desktop or personalised office desktop for your transactions. Avoid cyber cafes/public computers for net banking.
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