Online banking safety tips

Here are some simple tips that you can follow to ensure that your online banking experience is safe and hassle-free.
 

Keep your passwords, Personal Identification Number (PIN) and card numbers confidential

Don't share your CIBC Online Banking® password or bank machine Personal Identification Number (PIN) with anyone. Giving your password or PIN to another person or company places your finances and privacy at risk.

Change your password regularly and use a different password than you use for other websites. Make it difficult for others to guess your password by using a combination of letters and numbers in your password. If you think someone knows your password, change it right away.

Never share, disclose or provide your card number or password to another party or website other than CIBC. CIBC will never send you an email requesting this information.
 

Changing your password

Don't use a public computer (for example, in a library or internet café) to change your password. Don't save your card number or password on a public computer.

Choose a password that no one else can guess easily.

Password guidelines:

• New password must be 8 to 32 characters
• To create stronger passwords, try longer passwords that include a combination of uppercase, lowercase, numbers and special characters
• Passwords are case sensitive
• Current password must match the one on file
• Re-enter your new password (New password in both fields must match)

For Investor's Edge, Imperial Investor Service and Wood Gundy, use:

• Numbers only
• 6 to 12 characters

Don't use:

• A password you use for any other service
• Your name or a close relative's name
• Your birth date, telephone number or address or those of a close relative
• Your CIBC account number
• Your card number
   

Look for the lock icon

Before entering personal information on a website, look for the "lock" icon in your browser. A closed lock or padlock indicates that the website you're on is secure.
 

Use a firewall

When your computer is connected to the Internet, it’s vulnerable to attack. Although this is a problem for all types of Internet connections, DSL and cable modem connections are more vulnerable because they offer an "always on" capability. You can help protect your computer from attack by using a personal firewall. Personal firewalls can be software, hardware, or both, and create a barrier to attacks.

Microsoft Windows and Apple MacOS X both include automatically activated firewalls. If you’re not sure if your system has an activated firewall, go to the appropriate site below to learn more.

Microsoft Windows XP:Configure the Internet Connection Firewall
Apple MacOS X:Enable MacOS 10.4 firewall protection

Direct Deposit and CIBC Online Banking

You can arrange with your employer to have your salary deposited directly to your CIBC account so you can prevent lost or stolen cheques. With CIBC Online Banking, you can also set up recurring transfers and payments from your CIBC account so that your obligations are met automatically.
 

Shop with Verified by Visa

Verified by Visa protects your CIBC Visa Credit Card with a password. Once you set up your free Verified by Visa password, you'll be prompted for it when you use your CIBC Visa Credit Card to make purchases at participating online merchants.
 

Install security updates

Most personal computers use the Microsoft Windows and Apple MacOS operating systems. The makers of these systems regularly issue security updates to protect against new and emerging threats. You should download and install security updates regularly or configure your operating system to automatically check for new updates.

Windows: To download the latest Microsoft Windows updates, visit Windows
MacOS X: Choose "Software Update" from the Apple menu.

Look for privacy policies on other websites

CIBC websites provide links to other websites that aren't operated by CIBC or governed by CIBC's Privacy Policy or security standards. If you visit one of these websites, you should read their unique privacy and security policies before entering data on those sites.
 

Safe computing practices

With CIBC Online Banking, you can manage almost all of your everyday banking, anywhere you have Internet access, using your laptop or a trusted computer terminal.
 

Important tips:

• When you're travelling, always use a trusted computer whenever possible
• Never leave your computer unattended once you have signed on to CIBC Online Banking
• After completing your transactions, ensure that you sign out of CIBC Online Banking, clear your cache and close your browser
• If you are using an older version of Internet Explorer we recommend that you upgrade to Internet Explorer 8.
   

Online security

We want you to be confident when accessing your financial information online. CIBC uses multiple layers of protection to increase your security while using CIBC Online Banking or accessing your online investment accounts.
 

Secure online banking and investing

We offer you secure access to your banking and investment accounts. Once you have signed on, you can check your balances, transfer funds and pay bills online quickly and safely. We also monitor activity in banking and investment accounts to enhance your security and to protect your financial information. One of the security features you will notice in CIBC Online Banking and the online services of CIBC Investor's Edge, CIBC Imperial Investor Service, CIBC Wood Gundy and CIBC Private Investment Counsel is the date and time of your last sign on, which is displayed within key areas. The date and time displayed should match the last time you signed on.
 

Web browser encryption

Web browsers use encryption to communicate securely over the Internet. You must have a browser with 256-bit or higher encryption to use CIBC Online Banking or the online services of CIBC Investor's Edge, CIBC Imperial Investor Service, CIBC Wood Gundy or CIBC Private Investment Counsel. All of the browsers supported by CIBC Online Banking and these online services offer 256-bit or higher encryption. For more information on the browsers supported by CIBC online services, visit our browser requirements webpage.
 

Session timeout

To protect you further, your online session will end after a period of inactivity. If you wish to continue accessing your online banking or investment accounts, you will have to sign on again. You should always sign off when you are done and, if using a computer that isn't your own, you should clear your browser's cache and close the browser window.
 

Clear your browser's cache

If you use a public or shared computer to access CIBC Online Banking, it's vital that you sign off when you are finished. Once you have signed off, you should enhance your security by clearing the browser's cache. The cache maintains a copy of web pages that have been viewed recently.

Below are a list of steps on how to clear your browser's cache, or you can use your browser's Help section: