Is it safe to use android emulators for banking

With no Android or Apple devices, I needed a way to do my banking through my PC. I installed Bluestacks emulator so that I could run my mobile banking apps.

Before getting on with it, I'm asking for advice from the forum members who may be expert on this subject. Is it safe to do banking with android emulators? Any things I should make sure I do or don't, to enhance the security of the emulator?

I'm not a gamers and wont be needing Bluestacks installed if unsafe for banking.

Lance1 said:

Why do you need android emulator?? You should be able to access your bank through a browser on your PC. The connections are encrypted and secure so no need to worry.

I use an online only Bank that offer certain feature only for iOS. As I do not wish to use smartphones I'll miss out using those feature. I'm still able to do my banking online though.
Thanks for your prompt reply.

Ps. <The connections are encrypted and secure so no need to worry>.
So I should be safe using an emulator?

- - - Updated - - -

After searching the net for a while on the subject of banking via an emulator, it seems that there are two major drawbacks.
Emulators seems to be easier target from hackers than a smartphone proper.
My Bank security may recognize I'm using an emulators and deny access as it seems emulators are considered high target risk from hackers.

This abort my relationships with Emulators.

Moving on...

Pulcinella said:

Thanks for the feedback.
I uninstalled the emulator and do not intend to give it a go again.
Considering that most people do have smartphones or VM to safely do what they need to do, I guess this thread become obsolete.

I remember once i needed an android emulator to replace a virtual machine , after i downloaded 10 of which i realized this :

1 - Few of them try to connect to remote ip addresses that are not registered to any body which means user activity is either being reported or logged by someone

2 - The setup executables if found on different sites might have different sizes despite same version , suggesting manipulation

3 - Each and every one of them report themselves to apps as "rooted" with very few that has the option to turn root off or on , apps still detect the device is rooted which is why most bank accounts wouldn't run on which

4 - There is a safe way and that is to use the Android Developers SDK emulator with a blank Android Stock Rom from Google which would report to all apps Un-rooted and may run banking apps , however this requires you to have quite understanding about Android as most of how you do things require working with consoles not graphical users interfaces and to note , its not easy .

nIGHTmAYOR said:

I remember once i needed an android emulator to replace a virtual machine , after i downloaded 10 of which i realized this :

1 - Few of them try to connect to remote ip addresses that are not registered to any body which means user activity is either being reported or logged by someone

2 - The setup executables if found on different sites might have different sizes despite same version , suggesting manipulation

3 - Each and every one of them report themselves to apps as "rooted" with very few that has the option to turn root off or on , apps still detect the device is rooted which is why most bank accounts wouldn't run on which

4 - There is a safe way and that is to use the Android Developers SDK emulator with a blank Android Stock Rom from Google which would report to all apps Un-rooted and may run banking apps , however this requires you to have quite understanding about Android as most of how you do things require working with consoles not graphical users interfaces and to note , its not easy .

Thanks for the information, much appreciate indeed.

In regard to paragraph 4- others may be able, but as far I'm concerned it is way above my pay grade.

Callender said:

Well I searched for ten minutes and couldn't find a single bank/ valid banking website that suggests using an android emulator to use their app. There's a lot of results on"how to" but not from a mainstream reputable site.

All the reputable sites ( as far my judgement goes) I visited yesterday, waiting for some input from forum members like yourself, all clearly do not recommend do banking via emulators. Games yes and only downloaded from safe sites like Google Play oy Apple. They say also that emulators could be used to test Apps. Banks is a no no, I should have kept the link where it was explain.

The Awesomeness be with you...

If you're running Windows, why run a banking phone app on an android emulator. Just access the bank from a web browser.