1. How is my information transmitted safely
over the Internet?
Web browsers use standard security protocols like SSL, and S-HTTP to enable private
information to be transmitted safely over the Internet. When you visit a Web site with
the SSL protocol, a secure connection is created between your computer and the Web site
server you are visiting. Once this connection is established, you can transmit any amount
of information to the Web server safely. In contrast, the S-HTTP is designed to transmit
individual messages.
2. How can I tell if my browser session is secured?
For most Web browsers such as Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator,
a secure, encrypted session will be indicated by a closed padlock or an unbroken key icon
that appears in the lower left or right hand corner of the browser window. You may also
check the address bar of your browser. If the Web site address starts with "https://"
rather than the standard "http://" then the session is secured.
3. What is a Digital Certificate and how does it help to
ensure security?
Digital certificates are issued by
certification authorities to authenticate
a Web site or elements of Web sites. The certificate identifies the originator of the site,
or element, and verifies that it has not been tampered with. When your Web browser is
presented with a certificate, it will check to see if a legitimate certification authority
issued the certificate. If there is a match, your session will continue. Otherwise, your
browser will issue a warning and your safest action is to cancel your activity.
4. How can I ensure that I am communicating with RBC during
a secure session?
You can verify that you are communicating with RBC by examining the Web site certificate
during a secure session. The Web site certificate
will verify the identity of the specific Web site you are accessing as well as
validate that the site is secure and genuine. It also ensures that no other Web site
can assume the identity of the original secure site. Please refer to your Web browser's
documentation for instructions on how to view a certificate.
5. What is the difference between 40-bit encryption and
128-bit encryption?
40-bit and 128-bit refer to the size of the key used
to encrypt information. To use the lock and key analogy, the greater the number of keys,
the more difficult it is to find the correct key to fit into the lock that protects the
information. Therefore, the larger the size of the encryption level, the more difficult
it is to find the right key to unlock the information.
6. How can I tell if I am using a 40-bit or a 128-bit
encryption browser?
You can test the encryption level supported by your browser by running our
browser test.
Alternatively, you can manually check the encryption level your browser supports by
following the instructions provided in your browser's documentation.
7. What kind of browser do I need to access secure RBC Web
sites?
For added security, we recommend that you use a browser that supports at least 128-bit
encryption to access our secure Web sites. To conduct online financial transactions, we
require that your browser supports 128-bit encryption.
8. Can other people view my personal information when I am
using the Internet?
If a secure session is established and the information is encrypted during transmission,
then others will not be able to view your information. However, you should be aware that
some Web browsers will store information on your computer even after you are finished
conducting your online activities, this is called caching.
Therefore, you should close your browser once you are finished using the Internet,
particularly if you visit secure sites to conduct financial transactions, check account
balances or view any other information that you regard as private and confidential.
9. Are email transmissions secured?
Email sent over the Internet is generally not secure unless it is
encrypted. In reality, most email programs
currently do not have this capability. To send us an email securely, we recommend that
you do so by using the secure email function provided by some online services like
Online Banking.
10. What is a firewall and how does it
protect my information?
One of the security mechanisms we use to protect our systems and your information is
called a firewall. Our firewalls use a combination of industrial strength computer hardware
and software that is designed to securely separate the Internet from our Internal Web
servers, computer systems, networks and databases. During your secure online sessions with
RBC Web sites, firewalls prevent unauthorized Internet traffic from entering our Web servers,
systems and network.
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