Money Monday: Steps to Safer Mobile Banking

BET.com breaks down steps to lead to safer mobile banking.

Steps to Safer Mobile Banking  - If you own an iPhone, BlackBerry or other smart device, you may be accustomed to transferring funds or checking your bank balance at the tip of your fingertips. Last year 32.5 million Americans accessed mobile banking information on their smartphones, according to research company comScore Inc. The numbers continue to increase, but just how safe is mobile banking? BET.com breaks down steps Bankrate.com suggests will lead to safer mobile banking. —Danielle Wright(Photo: The Plain Dealer/Landov)

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Steps to Safer Mobile Banking  - If you own an iPhone, BlackBerry or other smart device, you may be accustomed to transferring funds or checking your bank balance at the tip of your fingertips. Last year 32.5 million Americans accessed mobile banking information on their smartphones, according to research company comScore Inc. The numbers continue to increase, but just how safe is mobile banking? BET.com breaks down steps Bankrate.com suggests will lead to safer mobile banking. —Danielle Wright(Photo: The Plain Dealer/Landov)

Lock Your Phone - If your phone gets stolen, hackers can easily access your information by searching your device. Create a device password to give them less immediate access. Go to your phone’s settings menu and configure the device so that a password is needed every time the phone is turned on.

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Lock Your Phone - If your phone gets stolen, hackers can easily access your information by searching your device. Create a device password to give them less immediate access. Go to your phone’s settings menu and configure the device so that a password is needed every time the phone is turned on.

Look for “https” in Your Browser - Make sure you look for “https” in your Web address. because it signifies more security than “http.” Also, don’t click on unfamiliar links. (Photo: REUTERS/Mike Hutchings)

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Look for “https” in Your Browser - Make sure you look for “https” in your Web address. because it signifies more security than “http.” Also, don’t click on unfamiliar links. (Photo: REUTERS/Mike Hutchings)

Don’t Be Fooled by Fancy Websites  - Don't be lured in by a pretty website — they are remarkably easy to create. If you'd like to see what an online fraud looks like, click here.(Photo: Adam Gault/Getty Images)

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Download Bank Apps From Reputable Sources - On your smartphone you may choose to download a banking app for easier access to your funds. If you choose to do so, don’t use third parties to download your bank app or the ads you may see when using other apps. Go straight to your financial institution’s official app page to download it. (Photo: Adam Gault/Getty Images)

Be Careful of Wi-Fi Connections - If you are on a public network, your data may not be secure. Instead, use your mobile provider’s network. If that is not an option, use a password-protected, closed Wi-Fi network. (Photo: William Andrew/Getty Images)

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Be Careful of Wi-Fi Connections - If you are on a public network, your data may not be secure. Instead, use your mobile provider’s network. If that is not an option, use a password-protected, closed Wi-Fi network. (Photo: William Andrew/Getty Images)

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Regularly Change Your Password  - When mobile banking, it is important to use different passwords than the ones you use on Facebook, LinkedIn and similar sites, but it’s also important to change your password every six months to a year to ensure hackers can’t gain access. Create passwords that are difficult to figure out, with capitalized and lowercase letters and numbers.(Photo: San Jose Mercury News/MCT/Landov)

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Regularly Change Your Password  - When mobile banking, it is important to use different passwords than the ones you use on Facebook, LinkedIn and similar sites, but it’s also important to change your password every six months to a year to ensure hackers can’t gain access. Create passwords that are difficult to figure out, with capitalized and lowercase letters and numbers.(Photo: San Jose Mercury News/MCT/Landov)

Report Your Lost Phone to Your Phone Company And Bank - If you lose your phone, make sure to immediately alert your bank. Most financial institutions can disable any kind of banking or fund transfer remotely if they know your device is missing.(Photo: Laurence Dutton/Getty Images)

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Report Your Lost Phone to Your Phone Company And Bank - If you lose your phone, make sure to immediately alert your bank. Most financial institutions can disable any kind of banking or fund transfer remotely if they know your device is missing.(Photo: Laurence Dutton/Getty Images)

Include Your Bank in Your Contact List - To make sure you are not fooled if you receive a text from an unknown number claiming to be your bank, add your bank’s “short code” (a special number used to send and receive messages) to your contacts. (Photo: Getty Images)

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Include Your Bank in Your Contact List - To make sure you are not fooled if you receive a text from an unknown number claiming to be your bank, add your bank’s “short code” (a special number used to send and receive messages) to your contacts. (Photo: Getty Images)