As many as one in five Norwegians have logged in using someone else's BankID, according to a survey conducted by Norstat on behalf of BankID. Usually, it goes well, since the vast majority do it with good intentions - for example, to help a relative with bill payment.
– It can also go very wrong. With BankID, you can practically take over a person's identity: You can apply for loans, make payments, mortgage a home, and access a range of health information," explains Ole Petter Aasen, who is a product manager at BankID.
If you suspect that someone else has used your BankID, you should contact your bank immediately, advises Aasen. They can quickly help you block your BankID.
Can have significant consequences
Over four million Norwegians use BankID, and most of them know that BankID is private. However, four percent believe that it is okay to share their password and code unit with others, according to a survey conducted by Norstat on behalf of BankID.
Sharing BankID with someone you trust usually goes well, but it can have unfortunate consequences. There are also several examples of attempted fraud with BankID, where strangers try to trick you into logging in to a fake website or ask you to provide your password.
With BankID, you can practically take over a person's identity: You can make payments, apply for loans, mortgage a home, and access a range of health information and public services.
Become an authorized representative or obtain authorization
If you want to help with bill payment, you should become an authorized representative. This will give you access to the bank account of the person you want to help, through your own online banking, explains Aasen.
The account owner can appoint one or more authorized representatives in their online banking, or the bank can send an authorized representative form by post.
Alternatively, you can sit together with the person you want to help. The person who owns the BankID can log in and enter their password without you seeing it, while you guide them, he explains.
As for other services, such as helsenorge.no, it is possible to obtain authorization for access on behalf of others.