Rapport - Current Opinions??
 

In the past, the wise folk on here have advised us not to download Rapport - the software the Banks like you to have.
I am fed up with being pestered whenever I log on to manage my pennies.

What are folk's current views on Rapport?

Thanks

AO

still the same as before.

Wot Jock said.

He may be mad but he's not stupid.

Interestingly the bank I deal with (HSBC / First Direct) for both personal and business use has abandoned Rapport and provided security key cards instead.

Go figure.

SD

just had a quick surf for it to see if things have improved.


Actually they have got a lot worse.

The software now allows the bank to analyse your PC.

Its nasty stuff, basically legit snooping software which you have no idea what its looking at or who its sending information to.

And there are still loads of reports about it crashing machines.

Its also now getting targeted in its own right with malware.

I will continue to not touch it with a bargepole.

In fact, on the First Direct site, you can still log in for slightly restricted use without using your key card if you wish.

I've just opened an account with HSBC (after doing so with Lloyds who must be the most disastrously incompetent organisation I've ever dealt with).

Each time I log on to the HSBC site it ask me to download Rapport, so I don't see that they have abandoned it, but I do have a key card.

I believe they do two different things. Rapport detects phishing attempts via bogus websites, whereas the key card prevents, or attempts to do so, unauthorised access to your account.

I also bank with Natwest, who sometimes ask me to download Rapport. I have not done so.

Thanks, All.

I will continue to ignore/avoid it.

I have, and have detected no "known" problems, but maybe ignorance is bliss?

You obviously haven't banked with Santander yet then?

What Jim said re the Spanish bank. Caused me serious grief, they did. Never again!

Rapport: I don't know what it does or is supposed to do, but I was called in to "fix" a neighbour's PC a few weeks ago. Her son had been using it for "games", and had managed to import a large number of browser hijackers and other similar rubbish. But what was really gumming it up was Rapport - which hadn't protected her against the junk anyway.

Junk and Rapport removed (that took a whole afternoon) and all is well.

its meant to be able to stop anything coming in through you web browser.

But it screws around with your PC at API level.

The worrying thing about it is that it is meant to allow the bank to be able to push instructions to your PC and also it allows the bank to pull a status from it.

Because it embeds its self at quite a low level API it basically has legitimate access to everything. It also back ground updates so it can inject what ever it likes into your PC.

Despite Capetonian's opinion, at least Lloyds are not using Rapport (yet) so at least that is one thing in their favour.

P.P.

Mr Pilcher
 

Re Rapoort.

I wonder if: this/these act(s) is being violated by the said software, if installed.

The Hacking of Computers and the Criminal Law

CAT III

nope, you installed so your are authorising the bank to have full access to your PC.

Mad Jock
 

Yep I wondered about that too - i suspect that if the Bank's excercised a degree of coercion i.e. Use our PUP (potentially unwanted program) or we refuse you access to the service, then its open to question ? As to the possibility, as to if an offence has been committed.

I'm not a lawer but my instinct (if the software does "Analyse" your PC or others accessable on your home network) would be yes. Edit: Issues of informed concent apply too.

CAT III

That's why they have to resort to nagging to get you to install it.

If they made it a condition for service they would be on expensive dodgy ground legally.

They obviously think that nagging you everytime you log in and some bint that doesn't have clue about computer security lecturing you when you have an interview with the bank is acceptable.

But to be honest personally I feel that its similar to loan insurance if anything nasty happened they could be in trouble for false information.

I read all from this thread yesterday. How fortuitous. Today I`ve recieved an email from MBNA, a credit card I seldom use The following is a statement in their email: " Dear xxxx, We`ve teamed up with online security experts, Trusteer, to offer you Rapport security software, blah blah blah. Security software like Rapport can really help you in the fight against online fraud."
I had never heard of it before reading this thread, very pleased I did. :ok:

I downloaded Rapport some years ago, acting on a Bank's recommendation/request.

Within days I realised that the problems I was having were due entirely to this software.

With professional help (expensive) I finally managed to get rid of it and all the little bits it tried to leave behind.

Never, ever, again. I get these exhortations daily from most of the banks I now keep accounts with, and delete them promptly.

I wouldn't trust a bank under any circumstances, and especially not to instal software they are suggesting. If there are any certainties in life, one is that if a Bank wants you to do something, it is not for your benefit, but their's.

Some years ago I also downloaded Rapport on my bank's urging thinking that the bank would be less likely to argue if by some mischance my account was hacked. I have not been aware of any problems since then and it seemingly sleeps quietly on my computer apart from very occasionally springing into life and asking me if I really meant to log in to my eBay account or whatever (something I do every day...!). It then goes back to sleep.