When we talk about security, we don't just mean protecting the transmissions between your computer and our systems. We do far more to help safeguard your information. And there are important things you should do as well.
Our security measures
We have an integrated system of industry best practices and technologically advanced safeguards that includes:
- SSL and encryption
- Firewall
- Monitoring
- Automatic logout
SSL and encryption.We use an industry-standard technology called Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) to encrypt the information flowing between your computer and our servers. Encryption works by scrambling words and numbers before they travel across the Internet so they can't be read or altered by anyone.
There are several levels of encryption - the higher the number, the more secure the communication. Browsers that support 128-bit encryption offer the best protection.
Firewall. A firewall is a combination of hardware and software deployed to control the information that can pass from the Internet into our internal systems and servers. Firewalls enforce a set of rules intended to bar intruders and viruses from gaining entry.
Monitoring. We continually monitor our systems for evidence of attempted break-ins. Our monitoring methods combine internal resources and security companies we pay to safeguard your information.
Automatic logout. The automatic logout is intended to protect your account information from passers-by if you're interrupted and leave your computer before logging out. Typically, you'll be logged out automatically 30 minutes after your last click in a secure session.
Security measures you can take
There are numerous actions you can take to increase your Internet security.
- Make sure your browser supports 128-bit encryption.
- Protect your user ID and password.
- Make sure you're on a secure page.
- Don't use unfamiliar computers to view your account.
- Log out and close your browser.
- Clear your cache.
Make sure your browser supports 128-bit encryption. To enter the secure areas of our site, your browser must support 128-bit encryption. When you log into a secure area, we test your browser automatically. If it doesn't support 128-bit encryption, we’ll let you know and provide links to help you upgrade your browser.
Protect your user ID and password. Security experts recommend a series of tactics to help protect your user ID and password.
Don't share your user ID or password with anyone. Be careful about writing them down or storing them where someone can find them.
Create a password that's hard to guess but easy to remember. Use a mix of numbers and letters (both upper and lower case). Don't use sequential numerals or letters (12345), repetitive numerals or letters (aaabbb), or personal information such as names, license plates, phone numbers and birthdates. Even dictionary words are considered weak protection.
Don't have your computer remember your user ID and password for future logins. Enter them yourself each time.
Change your password periodically. Some experts recommend changing it monthly.
Don't use unfamiliar computers to view your account. Computers and other electronic devices in hotels, airports, and the corner coffee shop are a convenience for checking email and other non-private matters. But, these computers are not always secure; it can be risky to transmit sensitive personal or business information on them.
Log out and close your browser. If you leave a computer without logging out and closing your browser, someone else could use the browser's back button to view information you entered.
Clear your cache. As an additional precaution after visiting any secure site, you may wish to delete any page images your browser stored to your hard drive to speed up your computer's performance during a transaction. These page images are called "cache." Your computer uses cache to make your experience faster by loading images from your hard drive rather than downloading them repeatedly from the website's server.
Security threats are ever changing
We use intensive testing procedures and other safeguards to verify that customer information is protected. But no security system is foolproof. Please be sure you're comfortable with our security measures before accessing your account online.
