Several people I know have expressed concerns recently over Internet banking. The news and other media are always running stories on how insecure the Internet is, but lets not forget that it beats the other methods of remote banking by a long shot.
On the phone, however, there is no security at all. In many cases,
operators, engineers and telephone hackers can listen in on any call they
choose, alter the contents, and replay the calls at a later date. SSL-based
Internet transactions are protected from such attacks by the implementation of
SSL itself, but telephone banking is considerably less secure.
Perhaps, instead of scaring the world with stories of security lapses,
thousands of credit card numbers being released and similar, it would be useful
to show just how much Internet Banking has added to the security of
transactions, and how banks fare online every single day, resisting attack from
countless adversaries.
Maybe then, people would be less afraid of the Internet, and learn of the
true dangers; sending bank details by e-mail, phishing attempts which involve
requesting private information through unauthorised channels.
Security as a whole would be improved by reducing the scaremongering and
emphasising what really matters!