The total number of people who turn to the Internet for private banking isn't growing; but those who are already hooked on the service are using it more than they would the regular bank.

A research firm, which interviewed 1,000 American adults for the study, found that many consumers were anxious that their personal data could either be stolen by hackers or sold to 3rd parties by the banks. Nearly 83 % of those who conduct banking online report such concerns, while 73 % of respondents said private data stealing are a problem that holds them back.

The percentage of Americans who carry out personal banking actions online has stagnated at 39 percent in the 12-month period ending August 2005, Ipsos Insight said in a study released not long ago.

Additional information learned throughout this study shows that 88.4% of the Americans refusing to use online banking did not know that far more sensitive and private data is compromised constantly through the use of Microsoft software products, while 94.5% of those who choose to bank online were already aware of that, and 41.3% of that number had resorted to fairly drastic methods in the search for overcoming that particular problem.

The funny thing about this is that the weakest link in the chain sits on the user's desktop. No banking system online can not take away that risk.

Online Banking is a secure way to handle your money but you must to be on your guard against internet fraud. Make sure you follow this advice to bank safely online: Ignore emails who claim to be from your bank that ask for your online details. They ask you to click on a link to a web site and enter your security data. Con emails have a link that opens a false window over the real banks web site. Do not reveal any of your private or security information. Always check the validity of the banks web site by checking its security certificate, which you can do by clicking on the padlock icon on your browser.

Have you received an email asking for your internet banking details? Often bank customers receive fake emails asking them to confirm information such as Internet banking or Telephone banking User IDs, Passwords and Memorable Information. These are not valid emails. If you receive such an email, please do not click on any link contained within it or provide any Internet banking or Telephone banking log on details as your bank would never send emails asking for this information.