It’s weird. I like the service I get from HSBC. I don’t bother them very much. I have friends who work there.
So why should they (the local branch) have a problem with me switching to a more secure and less crash-prone operating system/web browser?
When I took up my first intern/trainee job, one of the things I did was get an HSBC card. Not only did it look good, but it also meant that come payday, I would be one of the lucky people to get my hands on the cash first. The others would have to wait a day or two longer before their allowance was in their accounts. So I’m happy.
But I stopped using Internet Explorer and switched to Opera. Bad move. The Internet Banking facility doesn’t work for me. But thankfully Firefox came along and things were ok.
Fast forward to 2005: I’ve switched completely to Linux when it comes to surfing the net. This is because I’m paranoid about spyware/adware/zombie networks and frankly I haven’t the faintest of confidence in Internet Explorer’s security.
And then I try to access MY account via Internet Banking. No dice. Opera (even with “Identify as Internet Explorer” enabled) doesn’t work. Neither does Firefox.
I’m told that
To access internet banking, please use
- Internet Explorer version 5.0 or above; or
- Netscape Communicator version 4.72 or above (version 6.x currently not supported)
What gives?
So I inform the bank of the issue. This I do on September 12, 2005.
I get the following reply on September 15, 2005:
We refer to your mail of 12 September 2005.
Please be informed that we have taken your request to consideration and are looking at the possibilty of enabling Linux Users to login to our Internet Banking Service.
However we wish to inform you that we are not preventing any users of Linux from accessing the Internet Banking Facility.
Right.
It’s become common knowledge that Microsoft’s Windows OS and Internet Explorer browser aren’t exactly the most secure software in the world. Even if the developers manage to patch the security holes, the very fact that Windows/IE are so popular the world over make them ideal targets for hackers. This was common knowledge ages ago - that’s why alternate browsers have been able to make such an impact in the global internet community.
While I agree that there is no silver bullet for surfing on the web, I feel that institutions shouldn’t place restrictions on how people access the information they put on the web.
A little searching led me to this email at the Lanka Linux User Group(LKLUG) that seems to discuss the problems in the JavaScript code at the site that seems to restrict users. Note the date: July 19, 2005.
I’m not a coder, but according to the email, it seems that the web site doesn’t consider Linux as an operating system that the potential visitor might be using.
It’s been more than three months since the LKLUG have figured out what’s wrong with the web site’s code. So how come the problem hasn’t been fixed yet?
Ah well.
For anyone interested, there’s a workaround (thanks to Chamindra) . The simplest method (which I’m using now) is to download the User Agent Switcher and install it on Firefox.
UPDATE: As of late 2007, the HSBC site got revamped and now supports internet banking with many different browsers. I have so far had success with Firefox, Opera and Safari (on Windows).
November 4th, 2005 at 8:44 am
It starts at the grassroots mate! All those APIIT morons using .NET and everyone thinks oooooh Microsoft is the way to go. The sad thing is half these idiots wouldn’t be using Windows if not for local piracy.
I think HSBC should remedy this soon. After all, geeks are going to be the guys having cash in the next ten years.
November 4th, 2005 at 8:27 pm
agree with you both. thanks for the links.
does anyone know whether other local bank’s internet banking websites have similar problems?
hsbc -m$’s local bank
November 5th, 2005 at 6:31 pm
I spent a week trying to talk to them about it. Complained by email and phone. Sent them a list of weaknesses in Internet Explorer and advice issued by a bnakers journal on internet security that warned bankes against IE.
Managed to get them to open the service to Firefox and Opera (running off microsoft) but not on Linux.
Apparently they got the software lock, stock and barrel from their HK office and they are not allowed to touch it locally.
The irony is HSBC’s servers in the UK run on Linux and I have no difficulty accessing the HSBC UK & HK internet banking services off Linux.
Its only in Sri Lanka that we have a problem.
November 6th, 2005 at 11:44 pm
Well, I’m just glad that there’s a workaround for this. But considering HSBC provides access for Linux users elsewhere, there doesn’t seem to be much of an excuse for them.
Doesn’t this also mean that the HK office doesn’t provide access to Linux users?
July 13th, 2006 at 1:01 pm
I don’t think the local HSBC has the power to change this. You might as well complian to UK and / or keep making a fuss about it on your blog and they just might notice.
Here’s another option switch to Sampath Bank. Their system works fine with Firefox since it was designed for both Internet Explorer and Netscape from the start.
And since Sampath is “truely” a local bank, you can call the local IT team to find a solution.
January 13th, 2007 at 7:58 am
Thank very much for the solution to this.. What an odd thing for a bank to do and haven’t even fix this issue for such a long time.
July 17th, 2007 at 3:12 am
I am logging to HSBC SL site from New Zealand.I use Opera for my usual browsing but I have to use IE for that purpose.
They have not fix it even after two and half years of your complaint. The window I get as log on in opera is:
To access internet banking, please use:
Internet Explorer version 5.0 or above; or
Netscape Communicator version 4.72 or above (version 6.x currently not supported)
HSBC should be ashamedfor not changing with the pace of the world. Apparantly it is a global problem because it is same with the HSBC NZ. That is why I have choosen ANZ.
Above all, I doubt about the customer care of HSBC SL, because once I had a problem with the credit card and sent them a message through the internet bank; I got a threatening notice that my credit card would be cancelled as I am living overseas temporary;although I have informed them before leaving. I settled the card and decided never to step there.