Safety Tips

Internet Banking Security

When using the internet banking service make sure to follow these safety tips:

  • Please don’t choose passwords that include obvious information such as date of birth or phone number or part of your name which could be easily identified.
  • Please don’t disclose any of your personal data (such as ID card, passport, addresses or your own bank account numbers) to anybody without verifying his/her identity and purpose of obtaining this information.  You should practice this at all times whether the requester is asking in person, by phone, through email, or a website. .  You must not disclose your internet banking user name and password with the Bank’s employees or its agents.
  • Don’t access your Internet Banking services through public or shared computers (Such as Internet cafe or public libraries).
  • Please ensure that your hardware is set up securely and is equipped with up-to-date programs and tools for protection against viruses and malware, measures include installing a firewall program and updating anti-virus software on a regular basis.

Ransomware

You may have seen the extensive media coverage on the recent cyber-attack that impacted hundreds of thousands of computers worldwide. The attack involved a type of malicious software known as ransomware that encrypts the files of an infected computer until the user pays a ransom (money) to the hacker. It is spread by unsuspecting users opening links or attachments in emails.
We are glad to provide you with some information on the ransomware, what it does, and provides advice on how to prevent and recover from ransomware infections.

What is Ransomware?

There are different types of ransomware, lockscreen ransomware and encryption ransomware. However, all of them will prevent you from using your PC normally, and they will all ask you to do something before you can use your PC once again.
They can target any user’s PC, whether it’s a home computer, endpoints in an enterprise network, or servers used by a government agency or healthcare provider.

How can Ransomware get on your PC?

Ransomware can infect your PC from nearly any source that any other malware (including viruses) can come from. This includes:

  • Visiting unsafe, suspicious, using infected Flash memory or fake websites.
  • Opening emails and email attachments from people you don’t know, or that you weren’t expecting.
  • Clicking on malicious or bad links in emails, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media posts, instant messenger chats, like Skype

It can be very difficult to restore your PC after a ransomware attack – especially if it’s infected by encryption ransomware.

What should you do to be safe?

  • Do not click on a webpage link, in an e-mail, or in a chat message unless you absolutely trust the page or sender. If you are ever unsure don’t click it!
  • Avoid fake emails and webpages have bad spelling, or those looking unusual. Look out for strange spellings of company names (like “Googles” instead of “Google”) or unusual spaces, symbols, or punctuation (like “Security Solution.com” instead of “Securitysolution.com.co”).
  • Ensure you always get latest updates for your PC Operating System patches and AntiVirus.
  • Ensure having a backup of your critical files away from your PC in case you are infected with a ransomware.
  • Do not use CDs or flash memory from unknown source unless you are sure it is checked for antivirus.

Fraud Awareness Tips

  • Make sure you use indoors ATM machines for your safety; such as the ones placed in the bank’s branches or inside Shopping Malls and not ones on the street without security.
  • Skimming often occurs at restaurants where you handover your card to someone else to swipe. Please ensure that you execute the card swipe yourself for any purchasing transaction and be cautious while the card is swapped.
  • Hide the PIN pad with your hand while using the card for any purchasing or at the ATM machine
  • Don’t carry your PINs or Passwords on papers in your wallet or along with your card
  • In case of using the card through magnetic POS machines, make sure to swipe the card only once.
  • Never click on any link provided in an E-mail which you suspect that it has a fraudulent content
  • Always access the internet banking from your browser’s saved shortcut and not from an E-mail link, please ensure your device has an updated antivirus and spywares protection.
  • Please use online banking or sign up for SMS alerts so that you can keep track of your accounts and get notified after executing any transaction on your account.
  • The bank will never call you to request or inquire any of your confidential banking details, for example ( CVV2, One Time Password OTP, PIN or online banking details).
    This is a fraud attempt, so please don’t state such confidential information to anyone including bank staff and contact the bank immediately.
  • Once you discover that your credit or debit card is stolen or lost, please contact the bank immediately.

We always look for your safety. It is important that you always remain vigilant to any suspicious activity.

In case you notice any suspicious activity, please contact the bank immediately on the following numbers:

Inside Egypt: Retail 16222 / Premier 16122

Outside Egypt: Retail +202 25296100 / Premier +202 25291300