The world's local bank
At HSBC, the security of your information is paramount. Our systems and security procedures are designed to keep your personal and financial data confidential at all times. You also have a significant role to play in the security of your information and should adopt the following practices to help keep your personal and financial information protected from unauthorized use:
Keep Your Internet Banking Session Secure:
Your Logon Information
For Personal Internet Banking:
Your Internet banking logon information ('Personal Access Number') is your access to your accounts online. Keep your logon information confidential.
For Business Internet Banking:
Your Internet Banking logon information ('User Name') is your access to your organization’s accounts online. Keep your logon information confidential. Your user name should be something you can easily remember but not easily guessed by someone else. Avoid using family names, birth dates, telephone numbers or words that could easily be guessed. Longer user names are more secure and more difficult to guess. We suggest you mix letters and numbers to provide additional complexity.
Your Password
Your password is the key to your online account information. Protect and change your password on a regular basis — every 30-60 days is a good guideline. Create a password that is unique to you and that cannot be easily guessed by someone else. It should contain a combination of both letters and numbers. Do not associate your password with anything such as names, birth dates, telephone numbers, or other familiar words. Memorize your password and never write it down or reveal it to anyone.
Note: No one at HSBC will ever ask you for your password. Never give out personal information to anyone on the telephone or from a website unless you have verified the credibility of the source or have initiated the call to a trusted source. Reputable companies won’t ask you for your password or Personal Identification Number(s) (PIN) through email or over the telephone. HSBC will never ask you for your password or PIN and you should contact the bank if you receive unusual telephone inquiries regarding your accounts or unusual online requests for account information.
Your Personal Identification Question and Response
For Personal Internet Banking only
Your personal identification question and response adds additional protection to your online account information. When you logon to Internet Banking, your personal identification question is presented. Your personal identification response should be unique and known to yourself only. Memorize your personal identification question and response, never write them down or reveal them to anyone.
Note: No one at HSBC will ever ask you for your personal identification question and response. Contact the bank if you receive unusual telephone inquiries regarding your accounts or unusual online requests for account information.
Logoff and Browser
Always remember to logoff from Internet Banking and close your browser when you have finished your online banking session. This helps to prevent others from being able to view your information at a later time.
Please contact us immediately if you suspect any unusual account activity.
New Security Advice on Caching
After browsing an Internet Banking application, your browser may store sensitive information that you viewed while online. This information is typically kept on your hard drive and is referred to as “the cache”. After logging off and closing your browser, some of this data may remain on your computer’s hard drive.
This data may consist of:
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Web pages
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Images
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Files viewed, such as Adobe® Acrobat® PDF, or Microsoft® Word
It is strongly recommended that you take steps to prevent this data from falling into the wrong hands by taking the following steps to protect yourself:
Advice for Microsoft® Internet Explorer Users
By default, Microsoft® Internet Explorer uses the computer’s hard disk to keep a copy of all recently viewed pages, images and files. Even when viewing a site over SSL, much of your sensitive data remains on your computer’s hard drive after closing the browser. You should take the following precautions every time you visit HSBC after viewing your personal information:
1) Click on the “Tools… Internet Options “ menu item.
2) On the General tab, press the “Delete Files…“ button.
3) Check the box that says, “Delete all offline content” and press the OK button.
Please contact us if you require further assistance.
Advice for Mozilla Firefox Users
By default, Firefox does not cache any data on your hard drive when you are browsing a site that is SSL-enabled. At HSBC, any sensitive data you are viewing will always be protected by SSL. Hence, Firefox users need to take no further action on this matter.
Advice for Netscape® Navigator Users
If you are using an up to date version of Netscape® Navigator (7.2 or higher), it will not cache any data on your hard drive when you are browsing a site that is SSL-enabled. Here at HSBC, any sensitive data you are viewing will always be protected by SSL. Hence, Netscape users need to take no action on this matter.If you are using an older version of Netscape® Navigator, it is strongly recommended to update to the latest version.
Personal Internet Banking: 1-877-621-8811.
Business Internet Banking: 1-866-808-HSBC (1-866-808-4722).
Adopt Best Practices Online:
Do not share your Internet Banking Personal Access Number (Personal Internet Banking) or User Name (Business Internet Banking) and password with anyone. Keep your Personal Identification Question and Response (Personal Internet Banking) private and secure.
Change your password and your personal identification question and response (Personal Internet Banking) on a regular basis - every 30-60 days is a suggested minimum.
Avoid accessing your online banking information at Internet or Cyber cafes, libraries or other public sites that have Internet access.
Never input personal information on a website form or application that does not display the "https://" before a website address or a “padlock” symbol in the lower right hand corner of the webpage. Commonly, these security symbols indicate that the site is secured by encryption technology and the information you enter is protected.
Always logoff and close your browser after every online banking session and shut down your computer when not in use.
Protect Your Computer:
Install firewall software on your home and networked computers to prevent unauthorized individuals from gaining access to your computer system to use files, obtain personal information or to destroy computer data. This is especially important on computers that use a broadband connection to access the Internet (Cable modems or DSL). Since your Internet connection is on when your computer is on, the risk for malicious activity to your computer increases. Two popular sources for firewall software are McAfee and Computer Associates.
Run an anti-virus program on your computer frequently to prevent computer viruses or worms from entering your computer system. Purchase programs that automatically upgrade your virus protection on a regular basis.
Don't share access to your computer with strangers. Disable the 'File and Printer Sharing' capabilities on your computer to prevent anyone on the Internet from browsing or deleting your computer files. Check your computer's User Guide for instructions specific to your setup, or go online to the manufacturer for instructions.
Regularly check the website of your computer's operating system (i.e. Microsoft Windows)for software "patches" and "updates" to your system or browser to ensure your computer system has the latest security upgrades installed.
Learn about computer infections and be aware of the latest computer viruses, worms, Trojan Horses and other malicious programs designed to damage your computer or steal your personal information.
Don't open email or email attachments from unknown sources. Scan email through your anti-virus software first.
