HSBC to issue security tokens to its customers

jwh1009

Email response I received from HSBC with response to a request to "opt-out" of Secure Key. Basically they say "like it or lump it"




Thank you for your recent message regarding Internet Banking and in particular our new Secure Key.

I am sorry to hear that you do not want to be part of this rolling programme. Whilst I appreciate that this will alter the way you access Internet Banking in the future, I wanted to explain some of the rationale behind this very necessary change.

HSBC takes the security of its internet customers very seriously. In the face of increased online threats, we feel it appropriate to upgrade our service and improve the protection we offer against cyber attacks. These attacks have become increasingly sophisticated and more credible. Our customers have also demanded better protection.

Secure Key brings an additional level of protection to our online customers. Once registered, it is uniquely linked to you and must be used each time to allow access. This means that even if a third party manages to obtain your log on details, perhaps through malicious key logging software, they will not be able to access your accounts or information without the Secure Key.

Should you ever need access to your accounts and do not have your Secure Key with you, kindly contact our Customer Telephone Services at 08457 404 404 (UK), +44 1226 261 010 (International) where my colleague will be happy to assist you. They are open daily between 8am and 10pm 7 days a week.

I regret to inform you that I am unable to remove you from this upgrade process. Please be aware that if you choose to opt-out you will no longer be able to use Personal Internet Banking.

If you still wish to de-register from Internet Banking either:

*Call us on 08456 013464 (or +44 1226 261118 from overseas)
*Visit any UK branch.

In the unlikely event that your Secure Key breaks or is lost, we will arrange an immediate replacement by post. This should normally be received within 5 working days from the date of order. Alternatively, you can pick one up at any HSBC UK branch.

Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any further queries.


Kind regards
MF Chang
HSBC Internet Banking Customer Support

Toreador

Well I've now received mine. Contrary to what they promised, it's not credit-card sized, it takes up the space of 3 cards and doesn't fit in my CC holder.
So after 30 years, I'm closing my HSBC account.
Now all I need to do is find a bank that's going to treat me like an adult.

muchus

Well just to add my two penneth worth, I got mine last week.
Fits in my wallet no problems, which I always carry with me. So no issues there.
And if it adds an extra layer of security to prevent fraud, so be it.

To all those peeps saying they've never had a problem before and moaning about the new system, look what happened to PS3 online. I'm sure they have some of the brainiest people in the world working for them, and they still got took offline for a month.

T-Jones

My Secure Key arrived today and have activated. Although I understand the need for extra fraud protection in a digital age, as a working mum - I don't need anything more to carry around with me! This means the inconvenience of only being able to do my online banking at home, but so be it. It will likely be broken or covered in porridge by the time I left the house anyhow.

What frustrates me this seems quite an expensive method to add security, (how many people have these new keys? They must cost a few bob to produce/replace/maintain/post.....) not to mention annoying for the user when there are already multiple questions to answer to log in.

Finally, the equation for fraud has outweighed the cost of rolling out this program, HSBC would not have any interest if it is for their customer protection - but for their profits.

TrashyBook

I find the HSBC Secure Key incredibly annoying. Like many on this thread, I access internet banking from various locations, and don't want to have to lug this thing around with me everywhere I go.

For new payees, or transferring money over a certain amount, I have no argument. But for simply logging on and checking balances, or transferring between my own accounts, it's disproportionately bothersome.

My solution so far is to use telephone banking instead (though I appreciate there is the call cost to consider). If enough of us do this, maybe they'll get fed up of so many "what's my balance?" calls that they'll reconsider the fine detail.

And I'm just waiting for one of the CS reps to ask me why I'm not using internet banking....!

I guess I have one thing to be thankful for - at least I don't have to have one of the larger format ones, provided for customers with eyesight problems - they're 16cm (>6 ") square, so definitely not wallet/purse sized!

adindas

I have used this one with Barclay which is very annoying ...

I am glad I have not got one with my HSBC a/c until today ..

I found the one such as from LLOYD S tsb, Halifax or Santander work better e.g. to send the code via designated mobile number ...

TrashyBook wrote: »

I find the HSBC Secure Key incredibly annoying. Like many on this thread, I access internet banking from various locations, and don't want to have to lug this thing around with me everywhere I go.

For new payees, or transferring money over a certain amount, I have no argument. But for simply logging on and checking balances, or transferring between my own accounts, it's disproportionately bothersome.

My solution so far is to use telephone banking instead (though I appreciate there is the call cost to consider).

System

I hate this stupid thing, I'm closing my HSBC account because of it (I'm not carrying that stupid thing around with me just in case I need to check my account on my phone, which I tend to do a lot)

[Deleted User]

probably would close my account because of this

Lith

vinh1000 wrote: »

probably would close my account because of this

But you prefer a big card reader tho? 0_o

casper_g

I find the secure key annoying, as I used to appreciate the convenience of using IB from home/work/my phone etc. I don't want to carry a device around. Has anyone tried asking if it's possible to have more than one secure key, so I could e.g. keep one at work and one in the car