10 important security tips

Every operating system contains weaknesses that could affect the security of your system. Software producers therefore offer regular updates or patches to close potential security loopholes.

• To make sure your system is always fully protected, always use the latest version of your operating system.
• Never install programs from unknown sources: they could contain viruses.

Links to security updates:

• Windows
• Mac OS
• Linux

Anti-virus software protects the data on your system from viruses, Trojans horses and worms that can infect your computer via the Internet, e-mail, CD-ROM, DVD, USB stick, diskette or other interface.

Even the best anti-virus programs do not offer full protection unless they are regularly updated (Live Update).

A firewall monitors all the incoming and outgoing data traffic between your system and the Internet. These programmes prevent your system communicating with the Internet without your knowledge, e.g. by allowing a virus to reveal a password or another computer to hack into yours.

The best firewall does not offer protection unless it is active.

Links to various firewall providers:

• Norton Personal Firewall
• McAffee Firewall
• Zone Alarm

Our E-Services offer the maximum level of security. For this reason the login procedure has three levels of protection: User ID, personal password and a token number for the ActivCard. To log in to the E-Services of Bank Sarasin & Co. Ltd always use the Internet address www.sarasin.ch and then click on Login E-Services. Always type in the website address manually, and never use a link.

• Keep your login information (user ID, personal password and ActivCard) in a safe place, and never leave it lying around.
• The first time you log in, you will be asked to change your password. Make sure you change your password regularly after this.
• Never let anyone look over your shoulder when logging in.
• Never disclose your login information (User ID, personal password and ActivCard) to anyone else (phishing).
• Sarasin/Zweiplus will never contact you directly and ask for your personal login information or account data.

Simply having encryption on an Internet link does not necessarily mean you are communicating with the right server. Check you are on the right server by double clicking the padlock icon , and seeing whether the certificate says www.sarasin.ch.

e password is one of three items required to log in. It is a string of characters selected by the user and known only to him and the system.

• Your password must be at least 8 characters long, a mixture of numbers and letters and contain a mix of upper/lower case letters or special symbols.
• Change your password regularly.
• Do not use personal details, such as names and dates of birth, or any words found in a dictionary.
• Never write down your password or store it on your PC.
• Sarasin will never ask you for your personal password by telephone, e-mail or other means.

While you are logged in to our E-Services never open another Internet page or e-mail at the same time. We also advise you not to access this service when using an unknown system (such as a PC in an Internet café).

Malware (a combination of malicious and software) refers to computer programs that perform (harmful) functions which the user does not want. These programmes usually run covertly in the background and are only noticed by the user when the damage has already been done. Malware is divided into the following categories: Viruses, worms Trojan horses, backdoors and spyware.

• Do not open any e-mails that you are not expecting and whose sender you don’t know.
• Do not click on any links in e-mails which are supposed to connect you to the login page of your E-Services.
• Be careful with e-mail attachments as well.
• Delete any e-mails immediately and make sure you clear your mail waste bin afterwards.

To make sure you really do log out of your E-Services session on our server, always use the <Logout> function to exit.

After you log out from our E-Services always clear the browser cache of your Internet software.

Instructions to download:

• Internet Explorer 6x
• Internet Explorer 7x
• Firefox 2.x
• Firefox 3.x
• Safari