How to stay safe using internet banking

What you can do to protect yourself when using internet banking

It is important that you take positive steps to protect your computer if you use it for internet banking (or any other form of e-commerce). It is important to use only a trusted and secure computer to access your internet banking account. Using publicly shared computers, such as those at internet cafes, is strongly discouraged. If you use your home computer to access your internet banking account, we recommend:

• Install reputable anti-virus and firewall protection on your computer because this provides additional layers of protection that you need to reduce your risk of exposure from viruses that can rob your computer of valuable personal information.
• Remember that after you install virus protection you will need to regularly update the software, usually by installing patches (used to update or fix a bug in a computer program), so the protection remains current.
• Install any security patches for your operating system and other software installed on your computer and keep these up-to-date.
• Request the issue of a security token to you.
• Keep your external transfer limit to the minimum required.

Using internet banking

When banking on the internet follow these steps:

• Always access our website by typing the address into the browser. Never log on by clicking a link embedded in an email.
• Keep your computer up-to-date with anti-virus, firewall software and the latest patches.
• Confirm that your data is encrypted between your computer and the Society by looking for the verisign secured symbol.
• Always log out from the internet banking menu when you finish all your banking.
• Close your internet browser after logging out at the end of each internet banking session.
• Beware of any windows that ‘pop up’ during an internet banking session and be very suspicious if it directs you to another website which then requests your customer identification or password.

Protect your access details

• Avoid using passwords or PINs (Personal Identification Numbers) that are relevant to your personal situation. Passwords with telephone numbers, postcode, your name, or the name of a close relative and dates of birth are simple for criminals to trace. Create passwords with letters and numbers that cannot be easily attributable to you.
• Always memorise your password or PIN and do not write it down or store it on your computer. You are responsible for keeping this information confidential.
• Change your password regularly and don’t use the same password for other services such as your video store.

Things Hume will never ask you about

• Hume's staff will never ask you to divulge your internet banking password over the phone or in person.
• Hume will never send you an e-mail asking you to log in and update your internet banking password or other details.

Check your transaction history and statements

We recommend that you regularly check your transaction history and account statement to make sure there are no unauthorised transactions on any of your accounts. If you suspect that any such transactions have taken place, please contact us on Phone (02) 6051 3211 - normal business hours
Phone 1800 808 550 - after hours.