Banking has never been easier. You can check balances, transfer money and even use your smartphone to bank. Online banking, even with the precautions taken by your financial institution can prove to be dangerous. CybercriminalsTo target banking information, you can create sophisticated and threatening malware. This is for one reason: It’s a money cow.

“It’s pretty shocking how many ways cybercriminals can jeopardize or access your financial records,”Ann Biddlecom is the Product Marketing Director at Kaspersky Lab, an international leader in Internet security solutions. “For instance, if your computer or programs are infected, you could be led to a fake website posing as a legitimate site, but it hijacks your passwords and account numbers without you knowing. Or they can install a program that records the information you enter on your bank’s website.”

Every day, more than 5,000 malicious websites are discovered. Some of these websites cleverly mimic legitimate financial service websites. Kaspersky Lab researchers discovered more than 23,000 malicious programs that were created to steal your money over a three month period in 2012. Research shows that 60% of online consumers shop and bank online. One-third of online shoppers also store their banking information on their computers. This means that there is a greater risk of their financial details being stolen.

Software such as Kaspersky Internet Security offers technology that can protect your data, including its Safe Money feature. This feature helps protect your financial transactions by verifying websites and restricting how other programs can access your data.

Use software like Kaspersky Internet Security. Follow these steps to make sure you are the only one with access to your bank information.

* Always decline automatic log-in for online banking sites. It is also important not to save your password for your bank’s online banking site on your browser.

* Always remember to log out and close your browser window on your smartphone or laptop when finished with your online session.

* If you receive an email from your bank asking for your account information, do not follow the link in the email. Enter the URL of your bank the way you normally would. Call your bank to verify.

* Visit www.kaspersky.comLearn more about Safe Money or protecting your personal data.