SAFETY TIPS ON HOW PROTECTING ONLINE BANKING
By Sangotade Jelili 04:41:00 Monday, 8 August 2016
If you must do sensitive web browsing over a Wi-Fi network in a public place, you should be very sure you know that the Wi-Fi is actually provided by the business and being passed through their router. It should be encrypted so you need a password to log in. And finally, do you trust the business and its employees?
This report by howtogeek.com gives some safety tips:
Turn off all sharing
File and folder sharing is a great feature in Windows 7 at home, but when you are on a public network, you don’t want others to see your data. To turn it off, click on the network icon in the taskbar and select open network and sharing centre. Then click on the Change advanced sharing settings hyperlink. Now make sure to turn off file and Printer Sharing and Turn off Public folder sharing…make sure you save the changes when you are done.
Use correct public Wi-Fi connection
Rather than having to worry about changing your settings every time you log on to a public network. When you first connect to the public hotspot, windows will ask you to select a location for the network. For example here we want to connect to the local coffee shop Wi-Fi. Make sure you choose Public Network. This will automatically turn off File Sharing, Network Discovery, and Public Folder Sharing.
Encrypted website: If you’re accessing something sensitive on public Wi-Fi, try to do it on an encrypted website. The HTTPS Everywhere browser extension can help with this by redirecting you to encrypted pages when available. If you frequently browse on public Wi-Fi, you may want to pay for a VPN and browse through it when on public Wi-Fi. Anyone in the local area will only be able to see that you’re connected to the VPN, not what you’re doing on it.
Sensitive information: Don’t do online banking or access sensitive data on public Wi-Fi if possible, even if the sites are encrypted with HTTPS. A VPN connection will likely protect you, so it’s a worthy investment if you find yourself regularly using public Wi-Fi. If you use public Wi-Fi connections regularly, you may want to invest in a VPN. As a bonus, a VPN will allow you to bypass any filtering and website-blocking in place on the public Wi-Fi network, allowing you to browse whatever you want.
Why you should carry less cash

Carrying actual cash in your wallet is now optional, while paying with plastic has become the convenient choice. http://moneyning.com reports why you should carry less cash.
Loss: Cash not only takes up extra space in your wallet; it’s also easier to lose. How many times have you discovered that a N200 bill slipped out of your pocket, or got eaten by the washing machine? If you carry cash regularly, probably more times than you can count.
Theft: For thieves who are not tech-savvy enough to steal someone’s identity or avoid debit/credit card theft deterrents, cash is the easiest currency to steal and use without detection.
Overspending: The very real temptation of having cash (when it’s the only accepted mode of payment) often creates a crisis of self-control you would not even have to struggle with if you didn’t have cash in your wallet. This has been a great money-saving technique.. Often, you may be tempted to purchase items at a yard or bake sale, only to realise you have no cash. Of course, this very same blessing in disguise can be a cause of frustration if the purchase is something you really need.
Why you should carry some cash
Emergencies: If your car breaks down and you need to pay a towing service out-of-pocket until your insurance company reimburses you, having cash is beneficial. There are also situations when businesses and venues that normally accept credit cards are unable to because of electrical or computer issues.
Although cash is easier to lose and bulkier to carry, if you keep it tucked away in an inner part of your purse or wallet and don’t get it out unless it’s absolutely needed, you won’t even know it’s there (an advantage if you won’t be tempted to spend it). You also don’t have to keep hundreds of naira in your wallet. Though the N2,000 most people carry should be enough for common expenses, you should base this amount on your usual spending habits. Carry enough cash to cover an average credit card transaction you will encounter while away from home.
There are both advantages and disadvantages to carrying cash. The most important thing is to be prepared for the unexpected and do what works best for you.