The title of this is really vague- but i'm concerned about using internet cafes to book hostels or any trips I decide to do. Should I be wary if I have to type in any bank account details of being hacked when I use internet cafes? (I'm not talking about the actual websites themselves, I mean how easy is it for someone else to see what I have typed somehow?!) I am travelling in Oz, NZ and Fiji, so not sure how big the risk is. Any advice/feedback would be helpful as I'm leaving in just under a month!
How big is the risk? That's a rather (as you say) vague statement. First let me say that I'm an IT professional that manages a security group. When I travel I do carry a netbook for those occasions I need to transmit sensitive information. However, I do sometimes find myself out without it and need to get on line. I really do have some concern about using a public PC that I have no knowledge about. One thing that is simple for an unscrupulous provider to do is to install a key logger on the PC. This means that anything typed via a keyboard is saved and can be read later. So what I carry are a couple of portable apps on a thumb drive. I can fire up a browser that is independent of the PC so surfing history, cookies etc are not stored on the PC but rather on the thumb drive. Additionally I fire up an onscreen keyboard. This allows you to enter information without using the keyboard. In this way the keystrokes are not logged.
If this fool proof? No, there are ways to capture anything that appears on the screen, but it reduces the risk way down when using a public computer.
Hope this helps a little.
You could try getting access to online banking through your bank so you keep an eye on your account. Banks NEVER ask for your details online. They always do so by mail.
Generally internet cafes are not too bad. It's wifi that is potentially dangerous with credit cards as your screen can easily be read from another computer nearby. There is a computer programme which allows this.
You could if you have time set up another bank account, get a debit card from them and feed money into it (ie: send cheques to it from your main account) as needed so there is little for any thief to steal from it.
I meant more like, if i was booking a hostel online, having to put in my card details for the payment. because hostelworld makes you do that..to be honest most do! so I could ring them instead i suppose. Online just seems easier but not sure about the risk. I will just get my dad to check my bank details for me from home.
0 Response to "Risk of bank account being hacked when travelling? "
Post a Comment