Australian investors have been urged to double-check the ownership structure of their shares, with many having little understanding of who controls their money, their trades, or who can see their personal information.

The Covid-induced boom in investing has seen an army of investors plough their savings into exchange-traded funds (ETFs), pouring a record $4 billion dollars last month into the asset class.

Chris Brycki of Stockspot says more investors need to know who really owns their shares.Credit: Louie Douvis

Much of this is thanks to investing apps like Raiz, Stockspot, InvestSMART, SelfWealth, Stocklight, Spaceship and eToro, which can be a great starting point for investors wanting to try their hand at investing small amounts regularly.

But understanding who owns your shares is critical following a rise in cyberattacks on financial services, with trading platforms particularly vulnerable targets. Experts urge investors to read the fine print to understand who owns your shares.

In Australia, shares can be held either on a Holder Identification Number (HIN), where the investor is the registered owner of........

© The Sydney Morning Herald