Security Centre

Your security is our priority, which is why we have a number of systems in place to ensure that your risk of being defrauded of all your money is reduced. This includes the following:

1. A two-phase logon system

You can only log on to the system if you have registered as a user with a personalised access account number and PIN. When logging on, the first screen requests your account number and PIN; the second screen requests certain randomly-generated characters of your selected alphanumeric password.

2. Virtual keypad PIN input

To avoid having your information being captured by keyloggers, enter the characters of your password and PIN with the on-screen virtual keypad, as opposed to typing them out using a keyboard.

3. SMS alerts of Internet Banking logon activity

To ensure that you are kept abreast of all activity on your Internet Banking, every time you logon you will receive an SMS alert, free of charge. In the event that you have not logged on to Internet Banking, you will be able to alert us by calling the Fraud Hotline immediately.

4. One-time verification passwords

When creating a new beneficiary, changing transfer limits, or other kinds of sensitive transactions, a special one-time password, called a Random Verification Number (RVN), will be sent to your cellphone. You must type this into the indicated field for verification. Just before the payment is made, another one-time password will be sent to your cellphone, called a Transaction Verification Number (TVN) to confirm the transaction. These passwords can only be used once, and dramatically decrease the risk of being defrauded.

5. Free antivirus software

All Absa Internet Banking and Cellphone Banking customers can download free antivirus software.

6. A personalised welcome message: Absa’s SurePhrase

Once you have set up your personalised welcome message, it will display each time you logon to Internet Banking. This validates that you are on the valid Internet Banking website as it cannot be duplicated by fraudsters due to the personal nature of the phrase.

7. Verisign Security Certificates to verify the encryption of the website

Verisign, a public key certificate issuer, has endorsed Absa’s Internet Banking site as a secure and encrypted transactional banking site, and has issued Absa with a certificate to that effect. The Lock and Key icon that appears that the top or the bottom of your browser is indicative of this and you can click this icon for more information on the security certificate.

8. Multiple firewalls to restrict access

Our Internet Banking makes use of multiple firewalls to ensure that only clients with valid access credentials can access the service.

9. Advanced Encryption Software

We use the most advanced internationally accepted standards of encryption technology. At present, this is 128-bit encryption built into the browsers; therefore, it is always in your best interest to update your browser to the latest released version.

10. Website timeout and automatic logout

If you have logged into Internet Banking and there is no activity in that session for a period of six minutes, you will be automatically logged out.

11. 3-password failure resulting in account suspension

If the incorrect PIN or password is entered three times consecutively, the Internet Banking service will be temporarily suspended and you will have to visit an Absa branch to reset your PIN and password.