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Internet banking Security vs Convenience

Sometimes I wonder.... Have we placed too many security features into our online banking system to a state where it hinders convenience. I know security and convenience doesn't go hand in hand. But the fundamental principle behind the creation of online banking is convenience. The ability to conduct banking at the comfort of your home or office. Yet with the increase in security features, sometimes you feel that it would be better if you just get your ass out of your house and queue up at the bank.

I wanted to transfer $5000 from one bank to another bank using internet banking last sunday evening. But I discovered that the daily transfer limit between banks is set at $1000. If I want to increase the limit, I will have to download a form, fill it in and mail to the bank. *Horror* Isn't online banking suppose to do away with all those forms already?

In order to transfer money from one bank account to another, I need to add bank account payee first. The system will send me a SMS with password for me to activate that account payee. Without the activation password from my handphone, the fund transfer cannot take place. So rightfully, all the accounts in my transfer payee should already be authorised by me. Right? Then why still the $1000 limit? And why do I have to submit a form and wait a few working days if I want to increase the transfer limit?

So either I can transfer $1000 everyday for 5 days or I can just go down to the bank on my non-working day (which is Saturday), withdraw $5000 and deposit into the other bank. I choose the latter. Surprisingly, the queue was rather short for both banks.

OK, I know I'll get flame for this post. I've already been flamed for the 2FA post that I did several months back. But seriously, I think we have overly secured our internet banking to a state where it is no longer convenience to use.

Let me walk you thru the steps to make a online banking money transfer:-
Login internet banking with user id and password (Security #1)
Enter 2FA password (Security #2)
Create bank transfer payee.
Authorise transfer payee with SMS password send by system (Security #3)
All IP address are logged (Security #4)

Isn't there already enough security features to prevent hackers? A hacker needs to know my login id, password, have my 2FA token and my handphone to successfully transfer money from 1 bank to another. All all these while, his IP address will be logged and we will know which account he transfer the money too. Why the need to limit the daily transfer limit when it's already so secured? And why the need for physcal forms and why need to wait a few working days if I want to change the daily transfer limit? Why can't I use my 2FA code or SMS password to change the limit?

Is it time for us to rethink about our internet banking security policy and how it hinder convenience? I know internet security is important. But there is a need to balance the security and convenience before everyone find it a hassle to use internet banking and start queuing at the banks again.

haha.. i had the same frustration a few weeks back.. internet banking is supposed to make user's life easier.. but with unneccessary security measures, it's become such a p#%n in the @&%.. oh, i also resorted to the conventional way of withdrawing and depositing back..

thanks for sharing..

=)

I never trust internet banking. Also dunno how to sms, Jaymes does the sms for me. hehe...

if the hacker can hack your userid and password, he can also hack your 2FA token and i think hp.

correct me if I'm wrong, but hacker can hide their IP address also right...

but then again, you must be damn loaded for the hacker to go to such extend.

Hackers can hide their IP address? Really ah? How to find out someone's, like a troll's, IP address?

My only comment is : Wah... you so rich ah?? :P

furfur: I think the 2FA and HP is rather hard to hack. Or near impossible. I won't say impossible because I don't believe in 100% secure methods. :P

Even if someone managed to hack pass 2FA and HP, he still need a valid local bank account to transfer the money to.

ccda: If that person really can hack pass my userid, password, 2FA, HP SMS, hide his IP and transfer to an account, then I guess he deserves all the money inside my bank account. (Anyway, not much inside lah)

Izel: No lah. Your hubby richer.

so chim.. dun understand how all these security system act but i m a internet banking addict. Too troublesome to go queue up in the bank.

Yeap. It's very troublesome to queue up in the bank. I think I haven't queue up at the back for almost one yr already.

Oi! What richer? Still bleeding like crazy leh .. not easy to start a company running with no salaries hor.

Assets richer mah. :P

Hahah.. assets he is richer than you. He got plenty of assets and they are all over his body leh.(fats) :P

hhhmmm.... din know you are interested in fats. Ok... I'll stop my jogging and eat more. :)

Errrr... I prefer hard cash leh.. Care to transfer some over?? :P

Sorry, my cash all paper, very soft 1. :P

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