online security

For up to date information and general advice on staying safe online visit www.banksafeonline.org.uk or www.getsafeonline.org.uk who offer expert advice for everyone.

Online security - what we do

One of our highest priorities is to ensure your privacy and peace of mind by employing some of the most advanced online security measures in the industry. This section explains the measures we take to protect you and what you can do to protect yourself from online fraud.

Protecting you:

  • Our systems operate on 128-bit secure encryption.
  • Look for the yellow padlock symbol in your browser status bar.
  • Your login account will be locked out after three failed access attempts. You will need to call us to reset your account.
  • We will verify your identity before disclosing confidential information over the telephone or re-setting your password.

We do not guarantee the Site will be fault free and do not accept liability for any errors or omissions that occur.

 

Your Username and Password

Your username and password that you set up when purchasing the card must be used in order to access certain restricted parts of the Site. Your username and password are used by us to identify you. You are responsible for all transactions or communication carried out on the Site by anyone using your username and password. Any breach of security of a username and password should be notified to us immediately.

Protect yourself:

  • Never reveal your password to anyone or write it down.
  • Do not use a password that could be easily guessed by someone else.
  • Change your password immediately if you suspect someone else could know it.
  • Always log off of your Internet session when you have finished viewing your account.
  • Keep your PC updated with current anti-virus software and the latest browser versions.
  • Do not send us any confidential account information via email.
  • Treat emails you receive with caution. Remember we will never ask you to disclose your personal or account information to us by email.

Security Notice

All forms and online account pages, i.e. those pages that show your information, use 128-bit encryption. Encryption makes your information unreadable to anyone who might intercept it. In addition, a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is used to connect your browser to our secure servers.

The latest browsers (e.g. Internet Explorer 6, Netscape 6, Opera 5) support 128-bit encryption. Browsers older than this support lower levels of encryption (40-bit or 56-bit) but they still remain extremely secure.

You should note that ordinary e-mail is not secure.

Please do not send us any confidential information via email. We will only use e-mail to send you account information such as your account balance and transaction information or special offers if you have given your consent for us to do so. We will not use e-mail to send other confidential personal information to you. We cannot accept any responsibility for the unauthorised access by a third party and/or the corruption of data being sent by individuals to Bluecorner.

Secure Socket Layer (SSL)

A "Secure Socket Layer" is a commonly used method of managing the security of messages transmitted across the Internet and is used by us to connect your computer to our secure server. You can tell that SSL is in use if you are using Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator when a small padlock icon appears on your browser status bar. If you have problems getting to secure mode, install one of the latest browsers and try the site again.

Online security - what you can do

There are some simple things you can do to get the most protection for the least effort. By following these you will greatly increase your PC's protection, not just when you use our Internet banking services but when you use the Internet generally.

They are not all the measures you can take, but are an excellent start. They are equally applicable to business owners and to private individuals.

Update your operating system & browser on a regular basis

From time to time vulnerabilities are discovered in these programs. The publisher will then release a "patch" to correct this weakness. These weaknesses are regularly exploited by virus writers and hackers to gain unauthorised access to those PC's that have not been patched. To check for patches and updates you should visit the publisher's website, typically in their Download section.

Use and regularly update your anti-virus software

You may already be using anti-virus software but to be effective the software should be updated regularly with the latest virus definition files. (If you are unsure how to do this, you should refer to the programs Help function.)

It is also possible to obtain free anti-virus protection. A search for "free anti-virus" on a search engine will provide a list of the most popular.

Use a "personal firewall"

A firewall is another small program that helps protect your computer and its contents from outsiders on the Internet. When installed it stops unauthorised traffic to and from your PC.

Keep passwords private and don't use a common password for all your needs

Passwords are the key to your online account information. It is hard to juggle a multitude of different passwords and it is tempting to have the same password for everything. Doing this puts security at risk should anyone discover this single password. For this reason, you are strongly advised to have a unique password for any services as critical as your Internet banking.

When choosing a suitable password, you might consider the following:

  • Be different - Avoid using the same password for different services
  • Try not to be tempted to use passwords that can be easily guessed, e.g. children's names, pet's names, birth dates, telephone numbers
  • Never write them down - If you need to record them use a code system, e.g. transpose some of the letters.

Security tips:

  • Don't share computers
    Disable your computer's 'File and Printer Sharing' capabilities to help prevent unauthorised access. (Use your computer's Help function for instructions).
  • File extensions
    Most operating systems use file extensions. (e.g. a word document ends in .doc and a photo image might end in .jpg).
    By default some operating systems do not show these extensions. Whilst this presents cleaner looking file names, it also provides viruses with a means to hide. (Use your computer's Help function for further instructions).
  • Be wary of opening any unexpected emails with attachments
    A common way for a virus to spread is via email. Some viruses send copies of themselves to everyone in the infected PC's address book. This means it could appear to come from someone you know.
    Email attachments that contains a file ending .exe, .pif, .vbs are commonly used with viruses.
  • File Sharing
    File sharing is a growing activity on the internet and in simple terms allows you to access other people's files and them to access yours. Typically these are music files, but with most of these sites it is possible to pass any type of file from one computer to another. By allowing your computer to be accessed in this way it is possible for viruses, trojan horses (see glossary section) and other harmful software to infect your computer. We recommend that you avoid using file-sharing services.

Keep your Internet Banking session secure

You should ensure that you and your family are aware of potential pitfalls and know the best way to deal with them.

Logging in:

Ensure you enter your password(s) without being seen.

Logging off:

Remember to log off Internet Banking and close your browser when you have finished your online banking.

Internet Banking tips:

  • Your Internet Banking ID and password are your keys to accessing our online services. Only the right combination of these allows you access.
  • Always enter the web address or use a Favourite. Do not use a link as this could in theory take you to a phoney web site that may look exactly like ours.
  • Try to avoid using shared public PCs, such as those in Internet cafes, to access Internet banking.

Keep your emails secure

Generally, email that is sent or received through a regular email address (e.g. yourname@hotmail.com) is not secured or encrypted to protect the content. Therefore, any personal information you include in an email is at risk of being intercepted by unauthorised individuals. Do not send your Internet Banking ID and/or passwords by email to anyone - ever.

Email tips:

  • Never send sensitive information by email.
  • Don't answer any unexpected email requesting personal information.
  • Be wary of opening any unexpected emails with attachments. A common way for a virus to spread is via email. Some viruses send copies of themselves to everyone in the infected PC's address book. This means it could appear to come from someone you know.
    Never open an email attachment that contains a file ending .exe, .pif, .vbs as these are commonly used with viruses.
  • Review who you use as your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Apart from varying prices, ISP's now offer a range of services that include virus protection on incoming emails.

Protect yourself - even when you're offline:

Even when you are offline, there's much that you can do to protect yourself. This centres on keeping private information strictly private.

Top offline tips:

  • Keep your details safe. Don't be tempted to share your User IDs, password or any unique personal identifier / details with someone else.
    Nor should you supply personal information to anyone over the phone or to a website unless the source has been verified, or you initiated the call yourself. We would never ask for Internet passwords over the phone if we initiate the call.
    You should memorise your Passwords; do not record information in wallets or purses.
  • Review your bank and credit card statements for any unusual transactions or withdrawals and notify the bank immediately if you suspect any discrepancies.
  • Tell us of any changes in your personal details (e.g. address change).
  • Store bank details in a safe place e.g. statements, cheque books.
  • Credit and Bank cards
    If you plan to cancel a card (or it expires), immediately destroy the card by cutting it in two, through the account number and the magnetic strip.
  • Keep yourself and your property safe and protected to minimise your risk of theft. Be careful of any personal information you discard. If you can, destroy receipts, pre-approved credit card applications, bank statements and any bills that contain personal information.

Support

For more information on computer security visit some of the sites included below:

Anti-Virus Software: Popular sources for anti-virus protection software are:

Firewall Software : Common commercial examples can be obtained from:

Anti-Spam Software : Common commercial examples can be obtained from:

There are also no-cost anti-spam options available from an increasing number of Internet Service Providers.

Anti-Spam Software : Common commercial examples can be obtained from: