Safe to do internet banking at internet cafes?

Hi everyone

We%26#39;ll be here soon and apparently there is an internet cafe (104 Bvd St Germain, 6e) not far from where we are staying.

Is it safe to do internet banking at these venues?

It would only be to t%26#39;fer money from one account to another and check on balances.

Any tips?

Thank you,

Karen

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Hi Karen,

Any security expert would advise you to avoid doing that. However, if you need to do so, ask your financial institution if they have any advice on doing this safely.

Having your own laptop with security software installed is probably a better option.

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Apparently one of the newer fraud games entails watching people at internet cafés, sometimes from far off with a telephoto lens or binoculars, and capturing their security information. I wouldn%26#39;t be comfortable doing it and recommend you avoid it if possible.

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The answer is simply NO. Do not, EVER type a password on a keyboard you don%26#39;t own or from a machine you don%26#39;t control. There are endless schemes for harvesting passwords and account logins that even the internet cafés don%26#39;t realize they%26#39;re contributing to.

When we travel we take our own small laptop, have software that identifies and confirms %26quot;encrypted%26quot;, in other words %26quot;safe%26quot; wireless connections, and even with all that, we change our passwords before we leave and change them again when we return.

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Hi Karen. I wondered this same thing before our last trip, but decided against doing anything of any importance at the internet cafes. Just checked emails and kept in contact with the kids at home that way through hotmail accounts.

Not sure if it is any safer, but most banks here that offer internet banking also offer telephone banking. I have no clue how safe that is, but maybe you could do bank transfers and check balances from a pay phone? Perhaps you could check with your bank as to how secure this procedure is.

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I wouldn%26#39;t do it - I%26#39;d be willing to lose some interest or incur some extra charges and just make the transfer before traveling. The risk far outweighs the convenience.

If you can%26#39;t move funds before you leave home, make an arrangement with your banker that a coded message emailed to them, or given in person on the phone, will result in the transfer you wish to make. Banks love security solutions, and this one isn%26#39;t hard to arrange.

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What about a computer that%26#39;s provided in an apartment you%26#39;re renting? Wouldn%26#39;t that be safer?

Thx,

Sandy

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Karen, Its not safe.

My son is a banker in the UK and his strongest warning to us when we travel is not to do internet banking in a internet cafe...we wouldn%26#39;t anyway.

We always take a small wireless laptop when we travel, worth it%26#39;s weight in gold, so if you can take one I would.

Not sure how safe Hotel computers are having never used them, perhaps someone can help you with that.

Another option is have someone that you trust at home to make transfers for you while you are in Paris, you could then text them to make transfers when and if needed.

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Thanks everyone for your advice.

The apartment has a wi-fi connection but weren%26#39;t going to take our laptop due to weight. Obviously it will be safer than a public place!

Thanks again

Karen :)

2 more sleeps in my own bed, then.............Paris!

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Have a wonderful time in Paris

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Thanks CK. Sounds like you%26#39;re a Kiwi like my husband!