On Sunday 09 March 2003 08:51 pm, Margot wrote: > Now that I've got the internet connection working, I'm trying to get > everything running through the Mandrake machine, aiming to abandon the > Win98 machine as soon as possible. > > Everything works OK so far, except one of my bank accounts. When I tried > to download the internet banking software, I couldn't. > > Here is a selection of the "technical support" from the internet banking > website: > "you must use Microsoft Windows 95, 98, 2000 or NT4 and Microsoft > Internet Explorer" > "you cannot use Netscape Navigator because it does not provide the same > security technology as Microsoft's Internet Explorer" > "we are hoping to enable Apple Macintosh owners to use the service shortly" > > No mention of Linux at all! > > Is there a way round this? > > Margot
When I used to be on the Opera windoze email list I must have heard about this same problem a thousand times. For some reason banks are some of the worst offenders when it comes to non standards complynt web pages. Most but not all of the banks that claim that their website will only work with microshaft products are just plain full of sh%#. A lot of them have websites setup to where a BS message is displayed anytime a browser other than internet exployter is detected. On some of them you can use a browser like Opera where you can set Opera to identify it self as internet exployter and everything will work just fine. Other banking websites probe deeper and look beyond the sinple browser ID and still will not work. In most of these instances about all the bank has to do is change 1 simple line of code for their websites to work with other browsers. There are actually a small small percentage of them that do rely on active x controls or some kind of microshaft crap. Bottom line is that a bank is supposed to be secure!!!! However your bank is telling you that you must use the most insecure browser around and have it working on a operating system that is 1 big security hole. This dont sound to me like good proceedure for a bank! If I was you I would give them a call Monday and inform them of this. I would try to speal to their webmaster or whatever fool is setting up their internet banking services. If I did not get positive results I would try to talk to someone a bit higher up the chain of command at the bank. Chances are that the management at the bank dont know a whole lot about computers and have no Idea about the security problems that they are imposing on themselvs and their customers. If I did not get positive results after this I would change banks and explain to one of the bank officers that if they are this lax with security that you do not trust them with your financhal affairs and will be taking your business elswhere and that you will be shure to inform friends and family about the security issues with their bank. If you would like lots of detailed info about this subject try serching the archives of the Opera , windoze , email list. One of the Opera employes Axel Siebert has gone into great detail on this subject quite a number of times. Good Luck -- Marc KM5KW Powered by Mandrake Linux 9.0 and Kmail. This is a 100%Windows and microsoft free computer For a superior OS, virus and crash resistant go to http://www.mandrake.com
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