Hackers launch cyber banking attacks

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - National U.S banks are warning you to be on the lookout for changes in your bank account. Earlier this week, several national banks sent customers emails explaining they were handling large scale attacks to their online networks.

Where your money used to be handled by hand, it can now be handled at your fingertips. From smart phones apps to online accounts your money is more easily accessible than ever before.
    
But with all new changes to banking, comes new ways for criminals to get your money. Just this week PNC national bank and several others announced that they've noticed a large scale attempt to hack their on line banking servers.
   
With what computer safety experts call a DDOS attack or distributed denial of services attack. 

"Basically hackers target a particular server and basically send traffic right to that server, so what that does is basically clogs up the pipes,” Rose Hulman’s Nadine Shillingford Wondem explained.
    
The attack can make it impossible for you to access your accounts and then they access your account.
    
So what can you do to keep your money safe?

We sat down with Rose Hulman's Nadine Shillingford Wondem, to find out. She's a cyber security expert.

"The banks themselves will have security procedures in place to prevent your account from being accessed," she said.
    
But here are some things you can do:

• -Make sure any site you give information on is an “HTTPS” URL and not a regular HTTP.    
• -If you're banking from your phone make sure you are aware of the software on all of your apps; some can be malicious.    
• -But above all else don't share personal banking information over the phone or email.

    
Banking has come a long way, but even now money can be slipped your hand to a hack in an instant.