Database of passwords stored in the browser is not secure; citizens must be careful of online scams: Police

Letting the browser remember passwords is a convenient feature as you don't have to enter it the next time. But with that convenience comes a significant risk. Browsers and applications store passwords using the Windows Credential Manager. If the user accounts are not password-protected, then anyone with access to the keyboard can view (and download, in the case of Credential Manager) any and all bank details in a matter of moments. If the user's laptop or mobile device is ever lost or stolen, whoever ends up with possession of it could have access to any of the online accounts that the browser has stored the passwords for. Rather than have a web browser store your passwords, it is safer to disable this in the password settings.

Using online banking via public Wi-Fi, or using unsecured websites or using an unsecured network is also risky, they add. Banks use encryption to keep your details safe, but while some public Wi-Fi hotspots are encrypted, most aren't – and if the network isn't secure, there's an increased chance a hacker could eavesdrop on the data your device transmits and receives, potentially recording login details or other sensitive information. So it is better not to use open Wi-Fi, adds the advisory.