Do you bank online?

[KatMac]

OK, as usual, you all have been a wealth of info. Many thanks! I think I've found a workable solution for my personal comfort level: if I can get my bank to restrict online access to one account only, I'll go for it.

Meantime, I see now I need to get things up to snuff before I do any kind of online banking. I had not heard of ewido before (HAN, thank you! You've been a wealth of info.) I do run XP, so downloaded and ran ewido. Well, much to my shock ewido found 183 spyware/tracking cookies that Spyware Blaster didn't block and neither SpyBot nor AdAware detected (all of which I keep updated meticulously). So I need to go through my PC with a fine tooth comb before I even consider anything else at this point. And ewido looks like a program well worth purchasing.

Some of the malware/cookies found were in Docs & Settings\Cookies folder, but most were in Mozilla, Firebird and Firefox Profiles folder. Quite frustrating and confusing. I use Mozilla primarily. With all the armour I use, I just don't get how this stuff got past it or went undetected.

[KatMac]

I prefer to pay all creditors directly, rather than through my bank, unless they have no on-line pay option. I have different user names and passwords for all creditors, and the bank's info is different from any creditor. If any user info was ever to fall into the wrong hands the damage would be limited to that account only rather than "putting all my eggs in one basket." By all means, try it!

OK, I'm up and banking online and this is the first question I encountered. I went to pay my cellular bill and thought, hmm, do I pay through Cellular carrier site or from my bank's site and designate payment to cell carrier. I reread the posts here and found lgbpop's method and reasoning, which makes sense. So I'm curious. How many of you pay via vendor's sites, and how many pay strictly through the bank site? I thought the bank's site would be more secure than a vendor's, but again, lgbpop's reasoning also makes sense.

[liam858]

If the option is there to use Debit payment through a certain site, and i think i can trust it (Certain PC component sites and Amazon etc) then i just do that, or if a Paypal option is available through a certain site i would also do that, otherwise i would get bank details from that end and do a transfer from the bank's site. Sometimes i find it safer if you need to sign up for an account too, so you need to securely log-in and then send payment through a vendor, or debit card.

Liam

[fink]

I do it through the banks site whenever possible. I know it's secure and it's more convenient as well... the past payment records are all in one place & easily retrievable.

One stop shopping... Umm, paying.