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BankUnited currently uses some of the most sophisticated commercially available technologies available to provide you with a banking experience that is as secure as it is convenient. While our associates work hard to stay on the cutting edge of Internet technology and network security, maintaining Internet security is a cooperative effort, and we need your assistance. We have prepared this brief question and answer guide to help address some common concerns about Internet security. If you other questions or concerns, we encourage you to contact the BankUnited Customer Service toll free at 1-877-779-BANK (2265). What can I do to keep my Internet Banking experience as secure as possible? There are two important aspects of Internet security - the technology you use and the practices that you follow to protect your important information, such as passwords, both online and offline. The best technology that you can use to protect your private data on the Internet is the most recent version of a Web browser that supports 128-bit encryption technology. Currently, the most recent versions of Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer are available for free download via the Internet and support this technology. What is encryption and what does it have to do with Internet Banking at BankUnited? Encryption is the encoding of information for transmission back and forth between the sender and the recipient. This technology allows you and BankUnited to transmit data to each other through the Internet by encoding the data using a mathematical formula that scrambles the data. A key that is built into your browser that is required to decode the transmitted data. The security level of the entire process is determined based upon the length of the key used to decode the data. There are many different key lengths. The most common commercially encountered on the Internet are domestic grade (128-bit) and international grade (40-bit). International grade encryption means there are 240 possible keys that could fit into the lock that holds your account information. That means there are many billions (1,000,000,000) of possible keys. 128-bit encryption means that there are 288 times as many key combinations than there are for 40-bit encryption. According to Netscape 128-bit encryption is 309,485,009,821,345,068,724,781,056 times more powerful than 40-bit encryption. That means a computer would require a lot more processing power than for 40-bit encryption to find the correct key. How can I tell what type of encryption my browser supports? Click Here: encryption check . *This link will open a new browser window and open a web page that is not controlled or hosted by BankUnited, and therefore the results can not in any way be guaranteed by BankUnited. If my current browser does not support 128-bit encryption, how do I upgrade? Both Microsoft and Netscape offer free downloads of the most current version of their browsers for customers in the United States. United States Government regulations prohibit the export of this technology without its permission. For this reason, customers outside the United States may not download the strongly encrypted browser. Customers living in the United States should use these links, and follow the instructions on the Microsoft or Netscape web sites. Note that it is only necessary to acquire one browser although you may download both if you want to do it. Download the latest browsers:
What if I live outside the United States, or I do not want to download the 128-bit browser? Because BankUnited believes strongly in your security, we design our electronic delivery systems with the most advanced technology possible. It is possible that without the most strongly encrypted browser, some of our online products and services may not be available to you. We follow these principles for your protection and encourage you to do the same. For our good customers who live outside the United States, we sincerely regret that government regulations prohibit us from serving you with products that require your use of a strongly encrypted browser. What type of procedures should I follow to protect myself? Many of the most effective ways to prevent security problems may seem like common sense. Most importantly, you should always protect your password and user ID. You should NEVER disclose them to anyone - including BankUnited associates. No representative from BankUnited will ever call you and ask you for your password or user ID. You should memorize your ID and password. Avoid writing them down and leaving them next to your computer or on another data file where someone else could find them. If you have reason to suspect that your password has been compromised, you should either immediately change it or contact BankUnited for assistance. Always remember to exit from your BankUnited Internet Banking session before you walk away from your computer, even for a short time, especially if others share your computer or have access to it. If you forget to exit from your session and maintain a connection to the Internet, an unauthorized individual may be able to use your computer to conduct transactions without your permission. You should avoid downloading software from unknown or untrustworthy sources, whether from the Internet or e-mail. Installing software from unknown sources increases the probability of installing malicious code or accepting computer viruses. Some of these hostile programs can enable unauthorized third parties to access your computer thought the Internet and gather data without your permission and knowledge. In addition to avoiding downloading unfamiliar software, we recommend that you install anti-virus software and keep the virus data files current. You can find an extensive explanation about viruses at the web sites of several software manufacturers who distribute anti-virus software, such as Network Associates and Norton. This seems pretty scary. I am not sure I understand all of the risks here. Should I be worried about using the Internet to do my banking? We don't believe you should be worried. We DO believe that you should be careful and use good judgment and proper security practices to protect yourself. By being aware of the issues, you can better take control of your money and your online security. What if I want to know more? The Internet is a great source of current and detailed information on the data security and the Internet itself. Some specific sites you may wish to consider are listed below. Please keep in mind that these sites are not owned or controlled by BankUnited, and BankUnited cannot be responsible for the accuracy or completeness of the information contained on them. We simply direct you to them as resources as one way to keep informed. Of course, if you have specific questions or concerns, you can always call our Customer Service toll free at 1-877-779-BANK (2265). You may also refer to the BankUnited Internet Banking Service Agreement. Web Links: |
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