Make sure you have applied the latest security patches to your web browser and operating system, especially if you use Internet Explorer and Windows
With the growth of financial services on the Internet, criminals have focused on the Internet as a way to illegally obtain personal and financial information. Criminals attempt to obtain this information by expoiting flaws in operating systems and web browsers. As these flaws are detected and reported, the makers of operating systems and browsers create modifications to fix these flaws. These modifications are called "patches".
Because Windows is the most commonly used operating system and Internet Explorer is the most commonly used web browser, criminals who are attempting to steal personal and financial information focus most of their attacks on these Microsoft products. Unfortunately, both Windows and Internet Explorer may contain flaws that criminals can exploit in their attempts to steal your information.
In order to maximize the security of your Microsoft products, you should download and install security patches referred to as "Critical Updates" or "Security Updates". Follow all instructions for installing these updates carefully. In some cases, Microsoft recommends making a back-up copy of all or part of your system before installing a patch.
Microsoft assumes you are using the latest versions of Windows and Internet Explorer. Be sure you know which versions of Windows and Internet Explorer you are using before you download and install a patch. A patch developed for Windows 2000, for example, will not work on Windows XP. If you are using older versions of Microsoft products, such as Windows 98 or Internet Explorer 5.x, be sure to locate the patches for your specific products.
You can find patches for Windows on Microsoft's web site at <www.microsoft.com/windows/ . You can find patches for Internet Explorer at Microsoft's Internet Explorer home page, www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/ . Microsoft has also created a two sections of its web site specifically focused on security issues; you can find Microsoft's "Trustworthy Computing: Security" at www.microsoft.com/security/ , and you can find Microsoft's "Protect your PC" at www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/
If you use a Macintosh, you can find patches for Mac OS X on Apple's web site in the Service & Support area, http://www.apple.com/support/ .
Note: The Bank does not vouch for the effectiveness of any patch or update provided by Microsoft, Apple, or any other software vendor. The Bank is not responsible for any problems that result from installing patches or updates to your operating system, browser or other software products.