E-Savings

Adobe Acrobat Reader and Portable Document Files
This is a program which allows you to capture a document and then view it in its original format and appearance. To view a PDF file, you will need Acrobat Reader. The Reader is free and can be downloaded from Adobe using the link below.

Anti-Spyware Program
Anti-spyware programs are designed to protect your computer from spyware (see under 'S') and help ensure that your computer equipment and your personal details remain secure.

Anti-Virus Software
Anti-virus software is designed to detect known viruses (typically via email) and help prevent them from infecting your computer equipment.  New viruses can spread very quickly, so you should ensure that your anti-virus software is always running and is updated on a regular basis – we would recommend running your update service (where available) weekly.  Well known anti-virus protection brands are McAfee, Symantec (Norton) and Sophos. Anti Virus software is available from most PC Stores or to download from the Internet.

Broadband
A high-speed method of connecting to the Internet, faster than a traditional dial up modem. Although it costs no more to leave the Internet connection on, it isgood practice to switch off your computer equipment when not being used as this helps reduce the risk of any third party gaining unauthorised access to our computer.

Browsers
A browser is software that enables the user to view the internet. Popular web browsers are Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator and Mozzilla’s Firefox.

Cookies
Cookies are small files stored on a computer’s hard drive. Cookies can record previous activity on a given site and contain information about your preferences that enable customisation of a site for your use.

Encryption
Encryption converts your data into an encoded form before it's sent over the Internet, stopping unauthorised users from reading the data.

You know that your session is in a secure ‘encrypted' environment when you see https:// in the web address, and/or when you see the locked ‘padlock' symbol at the bottom right corner of your browser window.

Firewall
A firewall is a program that helps protect your computer equipment and its contents from unauthorised access whilst on the Internet or a network.

There are many effective programs to choose from. Well known brands include Zone Labs, Symantec (Norton), McAfee and Computer Associates.

Keystroke Capturing/Logging
Any details typed on a computer can be captured and stored either via a hardware device attached to the computer equipment or by software  hidden on the machine.

Keystroke logging is often used by fraudsters to capture personal and financial details including passwords. Some recent viruses are capable of installing such software without the user's knowledge.

The risk of encountering such keystroke logging is greater on PCs shared by a number of users, such as those in Internet cafes.

Running anti-spyware software may help reveal the presence of any such software on your PC. Users can download anti-spyware from the Internet (see A - Anti-Spyware).

PDF
Portable Document Format file, you will need Acrobat Reader to open this file. See download link under Adobe Acrobat.

Privacy Policies
Many organisations have a “Privacy Policy” to help provide customers with details on how the organisation keeps data private, how any data is shared and why it's collected. It is good practice to read the Privacy Policy of an organisation with which you may have an account or financial dealings.

Secure Sessions
When you log in to your E-Savings account you are said to be in a “secure session”.

Secure Socket Layer (“SSL”) technology is used within your secure session to encrypt information before it leaves your computer equipment.  Depending on your browser settings, a pop-up window may appear to notify you that you will be entering a secure page.

You will know that you are on a ‘secure' page when you see the ‘https://' before the web address. You will also see a closed padlock symbol in the lower right hand corner of your browser window.

Security Vulnerabilities
Security holes/bugs are faults, defects or programming errors. These may be exploited by unauthorised users to access computer networks or web servers from the Internet. As these vulnerabilities become known, software publishers develop ‘patches,' ‘fixes' or ‘updates' that you can download to fix the problems.

Session Time-out
This is an automatic disconnection, for security reasons, from any secure session after a period of inactivity. Disconnection may occur even if you are typing something into a page or data field. Disconnection may be triggered where there is  no communicationwith our servers,  the E-Savings account has this protection.

Spyware
These are hidden files that may reside on your computer equipment. These files often arrive as hidden components of “free” programs.  In their more extreme forms they can include key-stroke logging and virtual snooping on all your computer activity.

SSL
Secure Socket Layer (SSL) protocol provides a high level of security for Internet communications. SSL provides an encrypted communications session between your web browser and a web server. SSL helps to ensure that sensitive information (e.g. credit card numbers, account balances and other financial and personal data) sent over the Internet between your browser and a web server remains confidential during online transactions.

Virus
A computer program designed to replicate itself by copying itself into other programs stored in a computer. It may be benign but usually has a negative impact, such as slowing a PC or corrupting a computer's memory and files.

Viruses are now mainly spread by email and by file sharing services. New viruses are discovered on a daily basis therefore it is important to ensure your Virus Definition File in your Anti Virus software is continuously kept up to date.

Virus Definition File
This is a file used by anti-virus software to identify specific viruses, worms and Trojan horses. You should regularly download the latest version from your software supplier, or set your software to “auto-update”.