At Axis Bank, we would never ask for your personal details through an email. Nor would we ask for your password through any means, phone, fax or in-persons. If any of our bank personnel asks you for your password, do not disclose it and report him or her immediately to us. Please write to ibrm@axisbank.com

Changing passwords often helps in protecting your account even if inadvertently you may have disclosed it to someone.

When you create your password, make it at least 6 characters long. Include at least one capital letter, one numerals (0-9) and one special character (like @, #, $, etc). This makes the password very difficult to crack.

PCs at cyber cafes may be infested with viruses and Trojans that can capture and transmit your personal data to fraudsters. The easiest way to grab information is key logging software, which record all the keystrokes you typed, to be retrieved later for fraudulent usage. Beware of typing passwords on unknown PCs.

Some phishing emails or other spam may contain software that can record information on your Internet activities (spyware) or open a 'backdoor' to allow hackers access to your computer (Trojans). Installing anti-virus software and keeping it up to date will help detect and disable malicious software, while using anti-spam software will stop phishing emails from reaching you. It is also important, particularly for users with a broadband connection, to install a firewall. This will help keep the information on your computer secure while blocking communication from unwanted sources. Make sure you keep up- to-date and download the latest security patches for your browser. If you don't have any patches installed, visit your browser's website, for example users of Internet Explorer should go to the Microsoft website.

Before submitting your bank details or other sensitive information there are a couple of checks you can do to help ensure the site uses encryption to protect your personal data:

• If the address bar is visible, the URL should start with 'https://' ('s' for secured) rather that the usual 'http://'.
• If the address bar is not visible as in our Internet Banking website, look for a lock icon on the browser's status bar. You can check the level of encryption, expressed in bits, by hovering over the icon with your cursor.

Note that the fact that the website is using encryption doesn't necessarily mean that the website is legitimate. It only tells you that data is being sent in encrypted form.

If you are in any doubt, click on the lock icon at the bottom of the secured page. This opens up a new window, displaying the SSL certificate information. Ensure that there is no red cross mark preceding the title 'Certificate Information'. It should also be 'Issues to: https://www.axisbank.co.in

You can get more information by clicking on the other tabs in the certificate window. Following the above steps would help you in protect yourself. However, please remember, fraudsters are always trying to stay a step ahead. To ensure that you remain protected at all times

• Never let anyone know your PINS or passwords
• Do not write them down
• Do not use the same password for all your online accounts
• Avoid opening or replying to spam emails, as this will give the sender confirmation they have reached a live address.

Above all, use common sense when it concerns your personal information. It you feel something is out of place, then it probably is.