Tim - I think this is the same message my girlfriend got from her
bank.
What concerns me is the phrase you highlight: they "would like you
to use" the software. As far as I can see this is your bank marketing a piece of
software which they support (and for which they no doubt receive some
consideration). The implication to those unused to this sort of thing will
be that, in order to bank with this firm, you NEED to install the software.
As many of us will be very aware, with the installation of any anti-malware
program there is a risk of conflicts with other software, incompatibility with
older browser versions etc.
My bank is doing a lousy job at selling me an extra layer of security
it "would like me to use" for internet banking. They have failed to explain what
they mean and what the new service does. It is Trusteer's Rapport service
which is a browser plugin.
Apart from wondering about other plugins that might masquerade as this one
I have found the following paragraph on the Trusteer product description:
"Unauthorized
attempts to access the browser or its communication are automatically reported
to the Trusteer cloud-based fraud analysis service. The Trusteer team of fraud
analysts works 24x7 analyzing this information from customers all over the
world, in order to identify new attack patterns. Institutions registered for the
Trusteer service receive immediate reports and actionable alerts of new attacks,
and can learn of attacks as they happen, instead of days, weeks, and sometimes
months later."
Nowhere does it state whether
personal information is transmitted. I doubt that it is, but would be
interested in knowledge that members may have of this and similar services.
My first instinct is always to be sceptical of services that an
institution wishes me to install.
Also,
when you ask your users to deploy something, how well do you sell the idea to
them? And do you recognise that some methods of doing this raise user hackles
instead of acting as a salve to the users?
Tim Trent - Consultant
Tel: +44 (0)7710
126618
web: ComplianceAndPrivacy.com - where busy
executives go to find the news first
personal blog: timtrent.blogspot.com/ - news, views,
and opinions
personal website: Tim's Personal Website - more than anyone
needs to know
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