Protect Yourself

Security of your credentials (Protect Yourself)

You apply to use our services online, we will set up security credentials for you. Your credentials give you access to Seasons United Online services, and you should take adequate steps to make sure that this online information remains secret. To safeguard these details you should:

• Memorise your passcode and memorable word, and remember to destroy your passcode letter once you have memorised your passcode
• Ensure that you do not tell anyone your passcode or memorable word, and ensure that they are kept secret by taking appropriate steps to prevent disclosure to a third party
• Never keep details of your passcode or memorable word with your membership number in the same place
• Avoid using the same passcode or memorable word on other websites

Logging out

If you have logged in to the secure area of the site and then choose to finish your session, you should always log out to prevent unauthorised access to your account.

Public computers

Be extra vigilant if using public computers, including internet cafés, or wireless hotspots, where there is an increased risk of your online details being compromised. It is recommended that you use computers which you directly control, or at least consider to be secure, to access Seasons United Online.

Do not select options to remember your details on a computer other people may use.

Completely close the browser, clearing private data, when you've used a computer that other people may use. See also:

Protect your computer

Anti-virus protection

Anti-virus software is used to prevent, detect and remove known viruses.
When you use anti-virus software, ensure that you carry out regular software updates to keep it as up to date as possible. If your anti-virus software has a virus scanner option, it is recommended that you schedule regular scans of your computer. If a virus is ever found, it is recommended that you follow the instructions provided by your anti-virus software.

Updates and patches

Software patches work to close a hole or weakness in your computer's software. Keep your operating system (e.g. Windows 7 or Apple OSX) and your web browser (e.g. Internet Explorer or Firefox) up to date by regularly checking the manufacturers' websites.

Personal Firewall

Personal firewall software works in the background to manage traffic to and from your computer according to its security policy.

It is recommended that in addition to using anti-virus software, you use a personal firewall. This will help to protect you from online threats by acting as a barrier between the public internet and your personal computer, provided that you carry out regular updates.

Downloads

There are many internet frauds that rely on people downloading software to their computer often without their knowledge or consent. Do not download any software onto your computer unless it is from a trusted source or site.

Be vigilant when downloading other software off the internet such as MP3s as malicious software is often 'hidden' amongst legitimate software.

What we're doing to protect you

Our website security

The security of your financial and personal information is very important to us and we take appropriate steps to protect you online. We use proven technology to ensure that our online services are provided in a safe and secure environment. This includes:

Secure Socket Layer

Our web based services use a technology known as Secure Socket Layer (SSL) which means that the information sent across the network is scrambled. To support this technology, you need an SSL-capable browser. A symbol on your browser, usually a lock or key, tells you if you are on a secure site.

If the symbol is unbroken or in the locked position then you are using a secure connection to the server.

Time-outs

Following a period of inactivity we apply a time-out to your session in case you forget to log out.