Virtual Keyboard: essential for safe online transactions
Virtual keyboards are become essential and integral part of online security feature for bank transactions, stock trading etc. Keyloggers are spreaded everyehere in the Internet which includes spywares and trojans that can easily capture the key-strokes made by uses. User name and passwords of your e-mail or bank account details are highly vulnerable to these attacks when you are entering through conventional keyboards. Periodic cleaning and scanning can remove most of these threats but it may not be able to trace a new threat whose definition is not available with your spyware software. To do away with such frauds, some banks have introduced the concept of Virtual Keyboard to protect your account or card information and password (IPINs) from getting hacked. Virtual Keypad is an online application, which substitutes the actual physical keyboard with a mouse. When you click on the virtual keyboard option at the time of net banking, the monitor flashes a keyboard on your screen. You have to use the mouse to click on the relevant keys to sign into your net banking ID.
You can try to use this keypad on your screen for a safer transaction. Changing passwords often helps in protecting your account even if inadvertently you may have disclosed it to someone. Moreover stay away from keeping obvious ones like your spouse’s name or your pet’s name. Alpha-numeric passwords along with some special character like * or # are a safe bet. PCs at cyber cafes may be infected with viruses and Trojans that can capture and transmit your personal data to fraudsters. Therefore avoid transactions within a shared or networked environment.
