Privacy and Security » Web Security

Fiserv Investment Support Services Web Security Disclosure

The security of your financial information and activities is a serious concern for Fiserv Investment Support Services (Fiserv ISS). Members of the Fiserv ISS family are technologically sophisticated companies that use computers and unique software to conduct business. The companies have dedicated security experts to maintain its firewalls, anti-virus software, and other product measures to protect the integrity of client account information and securities records.

While the Internet is not a completely secure network, Fiserv ISS uses up-to-date measures to prevent unauthorized parties from having access to your private information on the Fiserv ISS websites. Fiserv ISS uses software that secures and encrypts all private information that is transmitted via the Internet. This means that only you are able to access your information. Your account information is also scrambled so that only you can read it.

The Fiserv ISS companies have taken several security precautions to ensure that your account data is available only to you or other authorized individuals. To give you additional security assurances, more information is available about:

» The Fiserv ISS Companies’ Online Security Technology
» Security Visual Reminders
» Your User ID and Passwords
» Closing Your Online Session
» Browser Requirements

Security Technology

Fiserv ISS currently employs a 128-bit Secure Socket Layer (SSL), the same security technology used to conduct most of today's web commerce such as online credit card purchases and online stock trading. Since data security is a moving target and security protocols are continuously evolving, Fiserv ISS will implement security features in the future that will maintain the highest levels of secure data transmission.

The SSL protocol provides secure communications on the Internet by doing three things:

This is accomplished by using a checksum count of the exact number of bytes transmitted and received. If a message is not received in its entirety, it is rejected and another copy of the encrypted data is transmitted. In this way, SSL verifies that the entire message sent is actually received.

Security Visual Reminder

There are two visual reminders of the security status of your connection at any given time. When you are in a secure state, the URL (web address) showing in your browser will begin with https (the "s" stands for "secure"). Normal unsecured transmissions show a URL beginning with http.
Individual browsers also give a second indication that secured transmissions are being sent and received. Typically, a solid key or a locked padlock icon in the lower left-hand corner of your browser window indicates a secured session is in progress, while an icon showing a broken key, an open lock, or no icon at all, indicates an unsecured mode.

Your User ID and Passwords

Access to the various Fiserv ISS family members’ sites is gained when you log on and are asked to provide your User ID and your private password. After you have successfully signed up for one of the site’s online account information systems, a system-generated password is mailed to you. When you first log on, you will be asked to enter a new password of your own choosing. Keep this password private (just as you protect PINs you use for other transactions, such as ATM withdrawals). You may change your password as often as you want and it is recommended that you change your password frequently.

Closing Your Online Session

Once you have gained access to your secured account information on one of the Fiserv ISS sites, you will have access until you close your browser. You will be logged off automatically after 15 minutes of non-use. Remember that anyone with physical access to your computer will have access to your account information if you have not closed your browser. Accessing another website will not close your browser - you must actually exit and close the browser. As a further security precaution, your session will expire and you'll need to log on to the secured account information portion of the site again if your browser is inactive for an extended period.

Browser Requirements

To access your account information on a particular Fiserv ISS site, you must use a browser capable of handling the level of security that Fiserv ISS provides.

To access your account information on a particular Fiserv ISS site, you must use a secure (SSL-enabled) browser. The latest versions of Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer meet this requirement and are the recommended browsers to use. The Fiserv ISS sites have been designed and tested to be compatible with at least version 4.0 of Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Your browser must also support 128-bit encryption. Most standard browser installations provide only 40-bit encryption, so you'll need to upgrade to the 128-bit. Visit the website of your browser software for instructions about how to verify the current encryption level and how to upgrade it. For Microsoft Internet Explorer (version 4.0 or later), this information is found under Help/About Internet Explorer.

You'll also find a direct link to the specific encryption level upgrade page on Microsoft's website.
Some Internet access providers (such as AOL) distribute customized browsers to their customers. The levels of security necessary to access online account information are not supported by some of these browsers, particularly older versions. This same problem occurs in operating systems issued prior to MS Windows 95 and Macintosh System 8. To make sure systems are compatible, you should be running the latest version system software available for your computer, along with the latest version of Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer instead of the browser provided by your Internet service provider.

If you are not sure about the browser version you are using, go to the Help menu at the top of the browser and choose "About" (Your Browser). The display will show you the version number of the browser you are using. If you do not see a version number, you are using an older version and should consider upgrading now if you want to use our online services.

If you are accessing one of the Fiserv ISS sites from behind a corporate firewall, you may experience difficulties with your browser hanging, or failing to complete loading a page. If this happens, ask your corporate system administrator to establish a Proxy for SSL.