As you browse your bank's mobile banking terms, you will probably read a disclaimer about keeping your information protected through encryption. The science of encryption operates like a key that unlocks the door to your sensitive information, says Andrew Hoog, chief investigative officer at viaForensics, a Chicago-based digital security company.
"The longer the key, the more difficult it is to break the protection," Hoog says.
A 40-bit encryption can provide a low level of information security, so Hoog advises account holders to make sure their banks offer a minimum 128-bit encryption to make picking that lock more challenging for thieves.