Natwest online banking extra security checker thingy? HELP

freddie_2

Has anyone been sent one?I dont know what its proper name is but I think you are supossedto insert your card to it during on line banking and it gives you an additional code to enter.I have a joint account and a single one as does my H but he didnt receive one.Can anyone shead any light on exactly what this is for, does it mean I need to take it with me on holiday etc in case I want to access online banking and need an additional code from it?Thanks for any help.

digerati

I don't have one but would suggest you read the leaflet that came with it for details on usage. It always a very BAD idea to do online banking from internet cafes when on holiday due to the risk of keystroke recorders. Mind you since NatWest never ask for the full password or PIN in the same order twice (they rotate the order) it does provide some security.

girltuesday_2

I've just been sent one. Bloody stupid idea. I do internet banking at work, at home, on my laptop when travelling, and occasionally on a friend or relative's computer if I'm staying with them for a few days. This means I have to carry the stupid gadget everywhere I go.

Short sighted idiocy on the part of Natwest - hardly a surprise though, as that seems to be their forte!

butch_dingle_2

surely they arent going to give these to everyone ? I travel all over the world and love how I can do my banking anywhere. this would be a total pain in the !!!!

doccer1967

i have one and tnh i am not too sure what it is for - I have logged it but I have never been asked to input th numbers - I guess if I was in an internet cafe thing then it may be useful...

doccer1967

caliston

The idea is it's a bit like a mini Chip and PIN terminal... the bank website provides a number which you type into the keypad, insert your card, enter your PIN and type the number on the display back into the website. The principle is the same as Chip and PIN - with C&P you need to actually steal the card to make a transaction[1], and the same goes here. Whereas before someone just needs to trick you into revealing your internet banking passwords, now they have to have the card as well. That means it should be harder for keylogger in an internet cafe to steal your details (but watch for someone looking over your shoulder when you type your PIN - they could just bash you on the head and run off with your card and PIN instead)

[1] In theory. Many of the card skimming attacks are based on copying the magnetic stripe (not the chip) and sending those details to places Chip and PIN isn't used. While Chip and PIN isn't perfect it /is/ much harder to copy a card than copying a magnetic stripe.

freddie_2

Thanks for help, I called Natwest today who said you only need to use it if you are sending a payment to someone for the first time or I think it was cancelling a direct debit (not too sure) but they said there was only 2 things that they would be needed for.I also asked why my H didnt get one and apparently they are only been sent out to people at the moment who use online banking a lot! But everyone and everybank will eventually get one.

socks_uk

My husband has been sent one from Royal Bank of Scotland and we were very suspicious about it. We thought it was a very elaborate scam! My husband has asked me to pop into RBS when I'm in town this afternoon and ask them if it's real.

We've not seen anything on the online banking website saying they are going to introduce them.