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Internet Security FAQs

Unauthorized use of Accounts
Will an unauthorized person be able to access my accounts with Citibank Online?

Cookies
What are Cookies? What is Citibank's policy regarding the use of Cookies?

Encryption
What is encryption?
How secure is encryption?
What level of encryption protection does Citibank Online support?

Security
How can I be sure that my information and account data are securely sent through Citibank Online?
How can I verify that the Citibank Online pages belong to Citibank?
I would like to refer to a paragraph on your User Agreement, how can I get a copy of it?
Can I exit Citibank Online by clicking the browser-closing button at top right?
What if my computer crashes or I get disconnected from the Internet in the middle of a transaction by accident?
How do I know whether the transactions made through Citibank Online have been completed?
Who can I contact if I run into some technical problems?



Unauthorized use of Accounts
Q Will an unauthorized person be able to access my accounts with Citibank Online?
A Only the signers on an account, using their Citibank ATM Card / Credit Card number and PIN, will be able to access the account. It's important to remember that your ATM Card is valuable and that you exercise care with it. Never lend your card to anyone and never accept advice from strangers while you are using it. Also, be sure to keep your PIN to yourself. This code is an important means of protection for you. Never write it down anywhere.
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Cookies
Q What are Cookies? What is Citibank's policy regarding the use of Cookies?
A A Cookie is a small piece of information that an Internet site sends to your browser to hold onto until it is time to read it. Computers other than those on the Internet can also send Cookies. Cookies can contain expiration dates and specific instructions on which web sites can read them.

Citibank uses Cookie technology as a means to store only the user profiles you create to connect to Citibank Online. This information is stored on your computer's hard drive and is encrypted to prevent an unauthorized party from accessing that information.Under no circumstances does Citibank store your Personal Identification Number (PIN) locally on your computer. Account Holders need to enter a PIN each time they attempt to connect to Citibank Online.

While cookies are not required to log into Citibank Online, Citibank recommends you modify your browser settings to accept cookies in order to save your user profile.
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Encryption
Q What is encryption?
A Encryption technology helps provide secure transmission of information along the Internet by encoding the transmitted data using a mathematical formula to scramble the data. Without a corresponding "decoder," the transmission would look like jumbled text and would be unusable.

Encryption technology can be used for a host of applications, including electronic commerce (sending credit card numbers for orders or transmitting account information), e-mail messages and sensitive documents.

Basic encryption involves the transmission of data from one party to another. The sender encodes the data by scrambling it, and then sends it on. The receiver must decode the data with the correct "decoder" in order to read and use it.
Q How secure is encryption?
A The effectiveness (or level of security) for encryption is measured in terms of how long the key is -- the longer the key, the longer it would take for someone without the correct "decoder" to break the code. This is measured in bits (e.g., 40-bit encryption, the level of encryption used with many browsers, versus 128-bit encryption, the level of encryption required to use Citibank Online).
128 bit-encrypted messages are over 309,485,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 times harder to break than 40-bit messages.
Q What level of encryption protection does Citibank Online support?
A All financial transactions are secured using 128-bit encryption, which is currently the strongest available for commercial use. In case your browser supports a lower level of encryption we suggest you upgrade your browser.
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Security
Q How can I be sure that my information and account data are securely sent through Citibank Online?
A

Citibank currently offers 3 levels of security to help safeguard your financial information:

Strong Encryption (128-bit):
All data sent to and from Citibank is "scrambled" and "reassembled" between Citibank and your personal computer to protect your personal and financial information. 128-bit encryption, the highest level of encryption commercially available, means there are 2128 possible combinations of "keys" but only one that will "unlock" the information.

Personal Identification Number (PIN):
Your PIN must be entered every time you sign on to Citibank Online. Remember; always keep your PIN confidential.

Automatic Time Out:
When there is no activity for 6 minutes, Citibank will terminate your secure Citibank Online session to help protect against unauthorized access.
Q How can I verify that the Citibank Online pages belong to Citibank?
A Digital Certificates provide the user with third Party (Certification Authority) evidence of the server's authenticity. This safeguards users from trusting unauthorized sites and allows the session to be encrypted. The customer will see a "closed lock" icon on the leftmost (Netscape) / rightmost (Internet Explorer) bottom corner of the Citibank Online Screen. Clicking on the image of lock or a key at the bottom of the browser window when you have reached the page that needs your ATM Card / Credit Card number and PIN input will allow the customer to see the VeriSign Certificate authenticating the site.
Q I would like to refer to a paragraph on your User Agreement, how can I get a copy of it?
  The Citibank Online Terms and Conditions are displayed after you sign on to Citibank Online. These Terms and Conditions are also available on this website.
Q Can I exit Citibank Online by clicking the browser-closing button at top right?
A You should click the "Sign-Off" button at screen top. This will ensure your session is properly signed off.
Q What if my computer crashes or I get disconnected from the Internet in the middle of a transaction by accident?
A Don't worry. While a reference number will be given in most completed transactions, you can also re-logon to check your account balances, or re-initialize the transaction, if needed. Should you have any doubts or questions, call our 24-hour CitiPhone Banking Service to check the status at (9714) 311-4000.
Q How do I know whether the transactions made through Citibank Online have been completed?
A A reference number is given at the end of each completed transaction. If you have any questions, feel free to call our 24-Hour CitiPhone Banking Service at (9714) 311-4000 to enquire about the transaction.
Q Who can I contact if I run into some technical problems?
A Contact your ISP if they are ISP related. Otherwise, call our 24-Hour CitiPhone Banking Service at (9714) 311-4000.
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