Security
Your transactions are safe. Howard Bank works with leading-edge technology partners to ensure that the most secure environment is made possible for our valued customers. We offer you worry-free Internet banking. You can be completely confident of the following security measures:
Secure Communications
Our system ensures that data-exchanged between your PC and our computers are encrypted with 128-bit encryption – the strongest encryption available. Encryption is accomplished through Secure Sockets Layers (SSL), which utilizes mathematical formulas to ‘encrypt’ or hide information from prying eyes on the Internet. Additionally, if SSL detects that data was added or deleted after you sent it to the bank, the connection will be severed in order to guard against any tampering. The most popular browsers have the SSL security feature included. How can you tell if your browser is secure? Please reference the table below.
Secure Environment
Our computer system does not connect directly to the Internet. It is isolated from the network via a ‘firewall.’ A firewall is a combination of software and hardware products that designate parameters, and control and limit the access that outside computers have to the banks’ internal networks and databases. You can feel secure knowing that our firewall protects your personal information from unauthorized access.
Secure Login
User IDs and passwords are isolated from the Internet by being stored on Howard Bank’s computer. This way, the passwords and IDs can never be accessed or downloaded by anyone on the Internet. The system also checks for invalid logins and automatically disallows a user after three invalid attempts. This prohibits the ‘hacker’ from gaining access to our system, thus protecting your accounts.
Your browser is an important part of the overall security measures designed
to protect your online banking transactions. Please refer to the table below
to make sure you are using a browser supported by Howard Bank. Our site is optimized
for best viewing with 16-bit color at 800X600 resolution. Our site works best
with a modem speed of 28.8 or higher. Beta versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer
or Netscape Navigator are not supported on any operating system. Please click
on any of the following links to download the latest version of Internet
Explorer or Netscape
Navigator.
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Operating System/Browser
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Encryption
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Access
|
|
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128 bit
|
Yes
|
|
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128 bit
|
Yes
|
|
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128 bit
|
Yes
|
|
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128 bit
|
Yes
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Your Password
You will be responsible for maintaining one of the most important security measures: your password. Please be sure to keep your password a secret. Memorize it, or write it down and keep it in a safe place. It is not recommended you carry your password in your purse or wallet. Make sure no one watches you enter your password and always close your browser when leaving the computer. Make sure you regularly scan your computer for viruses that could be used to capture password keystrokes. You ultimately hold the key to your password security.
Identity Theft
Identity theft is a growing problem and consumers need to take measures to protect themselves at all times. Awareness is one of the best deterrents against fraud. Criminals can steal your identity in many ways, and are inventing new avenues every day. Howard Bank takes real interest and responsibility in protecting our customers against fraud, and while we have many checks in place to detect deceitful activity, we both can only benefit from customers who are educated on the risks.
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