Re: Citibank Spyware Tracking Your Online Banking now Mandatory

jamesemorrow_at_email.com
Date: 04/26/05 

Date: Mon, 25 Apr 2005 23:36:49 -0500

In article <VOcbe.4283$Nc.852@trnddc05>, DLipman~nospam~@Verizon.Net
says...
> From: <unet19@yahoo.com>
>
> | Citibank has started forcing customers to allow 3rd parties to track
> | and collect data on what you are doing when you are using online
> | banking. Before April, you had a choice to reject this intrusion. The
> | bank relies on the fact that most customers are not aware of this
> | tactic and don't know how to limit it by rejecting 3rd-party cookies.
> |
> | The only cookies that should be required are those from citibank.com -
> | not some sleazy data-collection outfit. This new requirement started
> | on XP systems (using Internet Explorer) - soon to spread to all systems
> | I'm sure. Also, there was no warning that the next day you will not be
> | able to pay your bills until you allowing this intrusion.
> |
> | The help-desk is useless. They read from a prepared list of steps to
> | check your browser settings and that's it. Most don't even seem to
> | know what a cookie is, let alone 3rd-party cookies. Even fewer know
> | about data-collection or spyware.
> |
> | Citibank's privacy statement says that they will share information
> | about you with other affiliated companies (one of which is a spyware
> | company called Bridgetrack which they do not mention.). But they have
> | this information without letting these companies gather it themselves
> | with their own cookies. Following you around while you are updating
> | secure financial information online is akin to having such companies
> | looking over your shoulder at the teller's window in the bank The
> | line needs to be drawn somewhere. This sort of voyeurism and invasion
> | of privacy should be illegal.
> |
> | Let Citibank know that you are aware of what's going on and that you
> | don't like it. If enough customers who have large deposits complain
> | and threaten to change banks, maybe this bank will return to the policy
> | of making such tracking optional like it is at other online banking
> | centers.
>
> Cookies are the LEAST of your problem and are NOT SpyWare !
>
> According to FTC regulations, all financial institutions are required to provide you a
> privacy statement and a methodology to "opt out" of solicitations. If you are worried, send
> CitiBank a formal, signed, letter stating that they are barred from sharing *any* personal
> data with third party companies and companies not directly involved with your CitiBank
> account(s). Also state that your data can NOT be shared for marketing purposes as well. I
> actually have been doing this for years. Long before the FTC mandated that financial
> institutions must provide a yearly privacy statement
>
>

Yes you can opt out. But you should not have to do so. Information is
being collected without your consent. The FTC required option is a bare
fig leaf of protection. Citibank again shows that it has no respect for
its clients.

Privacy Statement
http://www.citi.com/citigroup/privacy/index.htm

Disable HOSTS file before going to citi.com. Many HOSTS will prevent
your even getting there.It may not do any good but if you are logged on
as an online customer then go to this page;

Contact
http://www.citi.com/citigroup/contact/index.htm

Scroll down under Products and click "Online Banking."

Somewhere on this page you can send an email. It will be answered by
the same desk monkeys who answer questions on the telephone.

Citibank scored third in a survey of online banking sites. Now I know
we are in trouble.

Watchfire Scorecard Results
http://www.watchfire.com/news/releases/12-9-04.aspx 

-- 
James E. Morrow 
 Email to: jamesemorrow@email.com

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