Protect your information
Some key tips to help protect your information
Email scams and spam emails
Phishing emails
Trojans
Protecting your passwords
Using public computers
Email scams and spam emails
Spam emails are randomly sent to email addresses purporting to come from an organisation or individual and they might claim to contain urgent news, confirmation of a non-existent order, that charges will be made to a credit card, or indeed any excuse to encourage the recipient to click on a link and visit a spoof web site.
Visiting the web page with an unprotected computer and web browser allows the attacker to run malicious code on your PC, usually installing a trojan or keylogger. Should this happen, the attacker can gain full remote access to your PC, which then allows them to steal usernames, passwords, other personal information and to control the computer for other purposes such as sending more spam emails and installing other malicious software.
Remember, Clydesdale Bank will never ask for your Internet Banking password or security questions by email.
If you receive an email from an organisation or individual that you don’t know, ignore it. Don’t click on any links, and don’t reply to it. Simply delete it.
Phishing emails
A phishing email is typically an email claiming to be from a bank or other well-known company trading on the Internet. It may inform you of a problem with your account, or that charges will be made to your credit card, or even that someone wants to send you money! These phishing emails are sent out randomly and may look very convincing.
The email will request that you follow a link to the bank's website where you will be asked to provide a range of information such as your credit card number, personal identification number (PIN), passwords or personal information such as mother's maiden name.
Clicking on the link, however, will actually take you to a spoof website operated by the fraudster who will collate any information that is entered by you for their own fraudulent use.
Again, don’t do any of the things requested in the email. Ignore it, don’t click on any links, and don’t reply to it.
You can find out more information about phishing emails at AntiPhishing.org (opens in new window).
What to do if you think you have received a phishing email
- Do not reply to the email and NEVER follow any links.
- Forward the email to us at reportphishing-cb@cbonline.co.uk
- Delete the email from your inbox.
Trojans
A Trojan is a program that contains and installs malicious coding to a PC or virus. They may be disguised as something innocent such as a game or an email that contains an attachment.
Trojan's usually require the recipient to open an attachment or click on a link which will activate a virus and download malicious coding to your PC such as keystroke logging program.
How can you protect your PC against Trojan Viruses
- Never open attachments that come in an unsolicited email or you are unsure of.
- Watch you’re clicking – you may not realise a link or attachment is unsafe until it is too late.
- Ensure that you have up to date Anti virus and Anti spy ware installed on your PC.
- Ensure that your browser and operating systems are up to date by downloading the latest patches
Protecting your passwords
Clydesdale Bank’s Internet Banking requires you to enter your Customer Number and Internet Banking password each time you log in. You also need to answer one of three security questions which you set up during the registration process.
DO keep your password and answers to security questions secret
DO use a mixture of numbers and letters in your password
DO change your password regularly
DO be careful to avoid letting others watch you if you use your own computer or laptop in a public place
DON’T leave your computer unattended while logged in to Internet Banking
DON’T use obvious passwords, like your date of birth, telephone number, address, your name or the name of a friend or relative
DON’T use your Internet Banking password for anything else (eg- your answering service)
DON’T let others watch or hear you entering your password (for example, screen-reading software speaks data entry and screen text to assist visually impaired users)
Using public computers
We recommend that you don’t access Internet Banking from computers situated in public places such as libraries or internet cafés, as they may be set up to remember passwords, or they may have been infected by viruses and Trojans that could intercept your details and allow others access to your Internet Banking.