William Penn Life, 2004 (39. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2004-06-01 / 6. szám
Moneywi$e ucts specific to your needs and interests. If you do not wish to participate in information sharing, however, you have the right to prevent your bank from sharing your private personal information with parties not affiliated with the bank, except in certain limited circumstances. Your bank should provide a clear method for you to "opt out" of this type of information sharing. You may have heard that some companies track your Web browsing habits while at their site, to understand your interests and then to market particular services or promotions. You may want to ask whether your bank tracks your browsing habits if these practices concern you. Also, your Web browser may enable you to block the ability of outside companies to track your browsing habits. Your bank and your internet service provider may have more information about how to protect your privacy online. Help Keep Your Transaction Secure The Internet is a public network. Therefore, it is important to learn how to safeguard your banking information, credit card numbers, Social Security Number and other personal data. « Look at your bank’s Web site for information about its security practices, or contact the bank directly. Also learn about and take advantage of security features. Some examples are:- Encryption is the process of scrambling private information to prevent unauthorized access. To show that your transmission is encrypted, some browsers display a small icon on your screen that looks like a "lock" or a "key" whenever you conduct secure transactions online. Avoid sending sensitive information, such as account numbers, through unsecured e-mail.- Passwords or personal identification numbers (PINs) should be used when accessing an account online. Your password should be unique to you and you should change it regu-Money Links For more information about online banking in general, write or call the following banking regulators or visit their Web sites: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 550 l7'hStreet, NW Washington, DC 20429 1-877-275-3342 www.fdic.gov Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System 20th & Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20551 1-202-452-3693 www.federalreserve.gov Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Customer Assistance Group 1301 McKinney Street, Suite 3710 Houston, Texas 77010-3031 1-800-613-6743 www.occ.treas.gov Office of Thrift Supervision 1700 G Street, NW Washington, DC 20552 1-202-906-6237 1-800-842-6929 www.ots.treas.gov larly. Do not use birthdates or other numbers or words that may be easy for others to guess. Always carefully control to whom you give your password. For example, if you use a financial company that requires your passwords in order to gather your financial data from various sources, make sure you learn about the company's privacy and security practices.- General security over your personal computer such as virus protection and physical access controls should be used and updated regularly. Contact your hardware and software suppliers or Internet service provider to ensure you have the latest in security updates. If you have a security concern about your online accounts, contact your bank to discuss possible problems and remedies. • Remember that nonfinancial Web sites that are linked to your bank’s site are not FDIC-insured. As an added convenience to their customers, some banks offer online links to merchants, retail stores, travel agents and other nonfinancial sites. An outside company's products and services are not insured by the FDIC, and your bank may not guarantee the products and services. As in everyday business, before you order a product or service online, make sure you are comfortable with the reputation of the company making the offer. Only then should you give out your credit card or debit card number. And never give the number unless you initiated the transaction. For More Help • For answers to your questions. Many regulations provide consumer protection for both traditional and online transactions. If you have any questions or concerns, first try to get answers from your bank. If you're still not satisfied, contact the appropriate federal regulator. For a brief overview of the regulations, log on to the FDIC's Consumer Rights Web page. If you'd like to review the regulations, you can look them up at www.federalreserve.gov/ regulations. • Where to file a complaint. If you know your bank's primary regulator, you may file your complaint online or via e-mail using one of the following methods. If you are not certain where to file your complaint, you may contact any of the agencies listed below and they will direct you to the appropriate office.- Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation: www2.fdic.gov/starsmail- Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (e-mail): customer.assistance® occ.treas.gov- Office of Thrift Supervision (email): consumer.complaint@ots.treas.gov- Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System: www.federalreseroe. gov/pubs/complaints. [ffpf] Willi» Pen Life, June 2004 5
