Your protection

Your identity

Look after your security details

Only enter personal details in trusted secure websites by ensuring that the security icon (locked padlock or unbroken key symbol) is showing in the bottom of your browser window.

Keep your password and answers to security questions secret.

Do not use obvious passwords, like your date of birth, telephone number, address, your name or the name of a friend or relative.

Do not use your internet banking password for anything else, e.g. your email account.

Don’t access internet banking from computers situated in public places such as internet cafés in case they’ve been infected with a Trojan. Be suspicious of any unsolicited calls purporting to be from the Bank asking for bank, credit card or personal information to be disclosed and report these immediately.

Do not respond to any unsolicited Text Messages purporting to be from the Bank asking you to validate any internet banking or personal information and report these immediately.

Be alert for phishing

A phishing email is a fraudulent email claiming to be from a bank or other well-known company. These emails are sent out by fraudsters and can look very convincing. They employ a number of tricks to persuade you to disclose information. For example, they may inform you of a problem with your account and ask that you urgently verify your account details.

The email will request that you follow a link to the bank's website where you will be prompted to enter a range of personal and financial information.

This link will take you to a spoof website operated by the fraudster where your information will be collected and used without your knowledge.

What to do if you think you have received suspicious contact?

• Do not reply to the email and NEVER follow any links
• Forward the email to us at reportphishing@cybusinessonline.co.uk (please note no acknowledgement will be sent)
• Delete the email from your inbox

What does ring-fencing mean for you?

Ring-fencing is new UK legislation brought in after the financial crisis to protect customers and the day-to-day banking services they rely on. It mostly affects larger UK banks that will have to separate their day-to-day banking from other, riskier, activities such as investment banking.

Most Clydesdale Bank and Yorkshire Bank customers will not be affected. If you hear nothing from us directly, then you can assume this is you.

However, a few business banking customers will be affected. If this is you, you will receive direct communication from us to tell you about it.

If you have accounts with other banks, they will be in touch with you to let you know of any changes.

At a time when changes are happening in the banking industry, all bank customers should remain alert to the possibility of banking and online account scams.

Steps you can take to protect yourself include:

• Treat all letters, phone calls, emails and text messages with caution. Don’t assume they are genuine if they claim to be from your bank. It is best to check with your bank using the number on your card or bank statement.
• Do not give out your account or card details or make changes to payments unless you are certain who you are dealing with.
• Never disclose security details, such as the PIN for your bank or credit card or your online banking password. Remember a bank or other genuine organisation will never ask you for these.
• Don’t be rushed or pressured into making a decision or acting quickly. A genuine bank or other organisation won’t mind waiting if you want time to think.

Find out more ways to protect yourself from banking and online account scams at: www.fca.org.uk/consumers/banking-online-account-scams

If you are suspicious about any approach please contact the Bank immediately.

For more information

I think I have been a victim of online fraud. What should I do?

If you think that any of your accounts registered with BusinessOnline have been accessed online by anyone not authorised to do so, logout immediately and contact us from the UK on 0800 121 4209 or on (+44) 141 248 4855 from anywhere outside the UK.

Your computer

Download and install IBM Trusteer Rapport

We have teamed up with IBM to bring you the industry leading IBM Trusteer Rapport software for free. Installed on all computers that will access BusinessOnline and used in conjunction with your existing Firewall and Anti-Virus you have the reassurance of additional protection for your internet banking activity and from identity theft.

Find out more about IBM Trusteer Rapport.

Anti-virus software

Anti-virus software is designed to protect your computer from viruses, Trojans and spyware. It is essential that you have anti-virus software and that it is kept up to date. Remember to set to automatically download updates and to regularly perform full scans of your computer to help you stay virus free.

Make sure your virus protection software is set to scan all downloads and attachment files, particularly if you don't know or trust the person who has sent you the attachment.

Firewall security

A firewall is software designed to shield your computer from unauthorised access and block unwanted Internet activity. Whether using your home or any other PC, you should check that it is maintaining a firewall and that it is up to date. We recommend that your firewall is set up to work on both incoming and outgoing Internet communications so that you have complete control.

Operating system security

Security problems are often discovered in existing software such as your computer’s operating system (eg- Microsoft Windows). Therefore you should regularly check for updates to the main software on your computer by visiting the supplier’s website or using the update features in the software where available.

You should regularly visit Windows Update (opens in new window) to check for new patches from Microsoft if you have any versions of a Windows computer.

Stay alert

• Type cybusinessonline.co.uk directly into your browser.
  By typing directly into your browser instead of following links, you greatly reduce your chances of being duped by a spoof site.
• Check for 'https' and the padlock.
  Genuine secure sites have addresses that start with 'https'. They also show a locked padlock symbol in the bottom section of your internet browser, or beside the website address.
• Double-click the lock symbol.
  Double-clicking the locked padlock symbol brings up information about the lock that can help you confirm that the site is genuine. If the padlock is not within its valid dates or has been issued to a website that you do not recognise, do not enter your security.
• Always logout of secure sites.
  Never leave your computer unattended when logged in to a secure session (like internet banking). Ensure you log out properly when you have finished your internet banking session.
• Computers in public places.
  You cannot be certain about the security of public wireless networks or computers in public places (like a library or internet café). So be very cautious about using internet banking services in these situations. Never change your security details while using a public wireless network or a public computer.