Believe it or not online banking has existed globally in some form since the early Eighties, in particular with the Videotex system. Unfortunately it eventually turned out to be a major flop, apart from in France. Luckily, almost three decades on, online security has dramatically increased allowing online banking to flourish.
The most notable security advancement is the implementation of SSL security, which stores all secure data remotely and can apply scripts to it, for example checking current balance. The encrypted information is then sent securely back to the user. Users can check the webpage and data they are sending is secured by ensuring there is a padlock symbol displayed in their browser.
Online banking has really only taken off in the last decade, when the first internet only banks started, including Egg, First-e and the Smile. Smile was the first full internet bank account, now owned by the co-operative is award winning and known for its corporate social responsibility.
Now a days online banking is just as strong as ever. All the major high-street banks also offer a special internet account or at least the option of online banking. The attraction of an online bank account is mainly ease and speed of access, paperless accounting and primarily more competitive interest rates available.
Due to the nature of online banking and the potential for illicit activities to take place, online banking has constantly been a target by thieves and cyber criminals. The security precautions employed by banks are considered the strongest in the world, therefore canny hackers tend to prefer targeting less aware customers.
A common attempt to obtain bank account information is to create look a like websites, impersonating the genuine bank websites, known as phishing. This technique can easily deceive experienced web users who would not consider themselves at high risk of being caught out. Once a customer opens the website they believe to be the banks, they often enter their personal details such as usernames, pin numbers or passwords. Your confidential details are then sent directly to the criminals who would attempt to use your details themselves.
Banks and security corporations are in an ongoing struggle to protect their customers and their funds from external threats. The latest innovation aimed at increasing online safety is the introduction of security tokens, a physical device that an authorized user of computer services is given to aid in authentication
So what is the future of online banking? Well the simple answer is as secure as your money is, exceptionally. With increasingly complicated security algorithms and authentication systems being developed, external threats are diminishing. Additionally new approaches of online banking are emerging, in particular mobile banking, definitely a technology we will become accustomed to and probably not live without over the forthcoming decade. If you are pursuing a career which will be as secure as your money, why not look into banking jobs, in particular online banking jobs?
By: Charles Newman About the Author:
