Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)
A protocol known as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is a component of PECU e-Branch that provides secure financial transactions, protecting information by preventing other computers along the route of the transmissions from eavesdropping by encrypting all data being transmitted between your computer and PECU e-Branch. Data encryption means to convert computer data to an encoded, unreadable format by means of a key and can only be decoded and reconverted to a readable format by an authorized recipient holding the matching key. In a SSL environment, all communication between PECU e-Branch and member's personal computers with SSL-enabled browsers are private and authenticated.
Intermediate computers would see each packet of information as a meaningless jumble of bytes. The sending end encrypts, or encodes the data with one key before it is transmitted. The receiving end decrypts, or decodes the data with another key. The two-key cryptography scheme was developed by a team of mathematicians at MIT and is currently patented by RSA Data Security, Inc.
PECU members who live in the United States can use browsers that support 128-bit keys. Cracking a 128-bit key would involve trying all 2128 combinations, which would require eons.
PECU members who live abroad are currently restricted by the U.S. government to using browsers that support 40-bit keys. Cracking a 40-bit key would involve trying all 240 combinations, which are over one trillion combinations. A 40-bit key is less secure than a 128-bit key, but does provide an adequate level of security for member financial services.
In other words, it might be worth a hacker's effort to try to crack a 40-bit key if the data were related to national security, but it would really not be worth their effort to attempt to crack a 40-bit key for one person's account number. Again, PECU members who live in the United States can enjoy the benefit of military-grade security.
Important . . . your browser must be Secure Sockets Layer 3.0 (SSL 3.0) compatible. PECU e-Branch now supports Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6.0 or higher and Netscape Navigator version 7.0 or higher satisfying the SSL 3.0 requirement. Older versions of these browsers and other browsers may function but are not supported by PECU e-Branch.
