To stay secure, please read the following recommendations for best practice online security options:
Install a personal firewall product
Hackers can infect home computers by connecting to your computer while you’re surfing the internet. The best way to protect your computer from unauthorised connections from the internet is to install a personal firewall. There are several options on the market, some of which are free.
- McAfee
- Symantec
- Zone Labs
The firewall sits between your computer and the internet and acts as a security guard, restricting what can enter and leave your computer.
At first, the firewall may ask you what you want to allow in or out of your computer. However, it soon learns to make these decisions independently, based on the decisions you make early on. The most important point is never to allow anyone else to connect to your computer.
Regularly use an antivirus product, and keep it updated
These products can also scan for spyware and adware.
The most common way to receive a virus is through an attachment to an email. Attachments may appear to be word documents, spreadsheets or pictures but often contain malicious viruses. If you use email at home, you should use an anti-virus product to protect yourself and never open an attachment that has not come from a trusted source.
There are many anti-virus products and some are available for home users free of charge:
- AVG
- Kaspersky
- McAfee
- Symantec
- Zone Alarm
With any anti-virus product, it’s important to keep it up to date, so to protect against new viruses that are released. Most commercial products (such as McAfee, Kaspersky and Symantec) have a mechanism to update themselves automatically. The free products typically need to be updated manually.
The anti-virus product should also be scheduled to scan your computer regularly in order to detect and clean out any viruses.
Do not open unsolicited emails with attachments
These may contain a virus. Also, if you receive an unwanted email saying "reply to unsubscribe", ignore it. Senders can use this to confirm your email address is valid - and are then likely to send you more emails.
Review your “Sent items” folder
If it contains messages that have been sent without your knowledge, your computer may have a virus or may have been compromised.
Update your operating system (Windows, Mac) and browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari)
Make sure your computer software has all the necessary security updates available from the vendor. It’s best to ensure this is done automatically.
Ensure no one has unauthorised access to your computer.
Destroy or delete anything containing login details or security information. Even if we sent it to you.
Never email, write down or tell someone your security information or logon details. The only time you will ever need to enter your Investec Online Banking user ID, password and secret is when you log on to Investec Online Banking at investec.com.
Do not save login details or passwords on your computer
Disable, refuse or decline any on-screen prompt on your computer which asks if you wish the computer to remember any of your security information or logon details.
Avoid reusing the same security information
You should create and use different passwords for each service provided by us, another member of Investec Group or another service provider.
Don’t leave a computer unattended while logged on to Investec Online Banking
Change your passwords regularly
Avoid familiar names, numbers and places (such as birthdays and phone numbers).
Be aware of ‘shoulder-surfers’.
Shoulder surfing refers to people who use direct observation techniques, such as looking over someone's shoulder to get information. Shoulder surfing is particularly effective in crowded places because it’s relatively easy to watch someone as they fill out a form or enter their PIN or passwords at a cash machine or while using online banking.
Protect your printed or physical information just as you would protect your valuables.
This includes statements from financial institutions, shops and utility bills. Shred or destroy any personal documents you don’t need to keep.
Always log off from Investec Online Banking
It’s important to always end your session by clicking on the Log off menu item before closing the browser. Investec Online Banking does have an automatic timeout feature for security purposes, but we always recommend you end your Investec Online Banking session once you’ve completed your online banking activities.