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First Affirmative Finanical Network, LLC safeguards
information according to established security standards and procedures
in order to keep your information secure and confidential. In addition,
we continually assess new technology for protecting information
and have external vendors perform regular audits of our system. The
result is distributed
security, ensuring protection throughout
the process: on your computer, during the transmission
of information, and at First Affirmative's own computer systems.
Distributed security means that, rather than rely
on one security measure, First Affirmative Financial Network, LLC
uses many lines of defense to protect your account information,
including the following:
Encryption | Firewalls | Timed
Log Off | Virus Protection | Secure
Login
First Affirmaitve Financial Network, LLC takes
numerous steps to keep your accounts and personal information secure,
but you also play a role in maintaining the security of your account
information. Here are steps you can take:
Protect the
confidentiality of your Login Name and Password | Log
off | Use
a current version of your internet browser | Ensure
your information is secure
Encryption
First Affirmative uses Secured Socket
Layer (SSL) encryption for online transactions, and each session
uses a unique master key to encrypt messages. Encryption is a
communications process that scrambles private information to
prevent unauthorized access as information is being transmitted
between your browser and FAFN. Once you sign off, the master
key used for that session becomes useless, since it is only good
for one session. Before you are able to login to FAFN's
services, you must be using an internet browser that supports
128-bit encryption, the highest level of security available.
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Firewalls
First Affirmative's computer system does
not connect directly to the internet, as every system that interacts
with the internet is at risk of attack from hackers. We use firewall
technology to intercede between our computers and the internet.
A firewall blocks unauthorized interactive access
from individuals or other networks. In addition, we use
outside security experts to attempt unauthorized attacks, both
internally and externally, to ensure our systems are secure. We
also monitor our systems for unauthorized entries, and log any
such attempts.
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Timed Log Off
If you forget to log off or if your session
is inactive for several minutes, our site automatically logs
off your current session. Once the session has been automatically
terminated, no one will be able to access your secure information.
You will need to log back in with your Login Name and Password
to access your First Affirmative account information.
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Virus
Protection
We use sophisticated tools to detect and prevent computer viruses
from entering First Affirmative's computer systems.
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Secure Login
You access your First Affirmative account information by entering
your unique Login Name and Password, both of which are encrypted
as they pass over the internet and before they are received by
the web hosting system. When you enroll for our electronic services,
you select both the Login Name and Password, and we do not have
access to your password to further increase security.
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Client Security Steps
FAFN takes numerous
steps to keep your accounts and personal information secure,
but you also play a role in maintaining the security of your
information. Here's what you can do:
Protect the confidentiality
of your Login Name and Password.
Most of us who use the internet are overwhelmed
with the login names and passwords we need to track and protect.
However, you should take this responsibility very seriously. Identity
theft most often occurs when the victim leaves confidential information—such
as account statements or computer passwords—visible at their work
area at home or on the job. This sensitive information can then be
picked up by household employees, company guests or other passersby
and used to access your account information.
To stop this problem, always protect your
access information. Do not keep a list of login names and passwords—either electronically
or on paper—readily accessible on your desk. Ideally,
you
should memorize passwords and never write them down
or reveal them to anyone. If necessary, keep
an electronic list in a document protected with a master password
that you change often. Or, keep a paper list in a safe with a combination
you can remember without writing down.
Your First Affirmative
Password
Following is a list of features and issues that you should know about
your First Affirmative Password:
- Your Password is case sensitive.
- Your Password
must be a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 25 characters in
length.
- Your Password must contain at least
one letter and at least one number.
- Because your password
enables us to identify and authenticate your use of First
Affirmative Client or Adviser Access, as well as will
permit entry into the secure portion, you agree to keep your
Password confidential.
- You are responsible for what occurs
on the First Affirmative website under your Login Name and Password.
Tips to Creating and Using a Good Password
These tips may reduce the risk that
someone might obtain your Login Name and Password and abuse your
account.
- Make your password unique to you and change
it regularly.
- Never use a password
that would be easy for others who know you to guess; pet names
and real-word passwords are easy to guess or crack.
- Change your password regularly. It's important
to change your password regularly, which you can easily do when
you begin a session by clicking on Change Password.
- Memorize your password.
- Do not share your password with anyone. Sharing your password
with another is the same as giving that individual authority
to use your name in a transaction.
- Do not say your password out loud.
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Log off when you
are not using First Affirmative's services.
We recommend users log off before visiting other sites
or turning off their computers. We also suggest they do not visit other
sites when logged on to First Affirmative's site. Be particularly vigilant
if you are not at your own computer when you use our website. Be certain to
log off and quit the internet browser when using a computer other than your
own. If you forget to do so, the FAFN website automatically signs you off after
several minutes of inactivity.
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Use a current version
of your internet browser.
We recommend using a current version of
an industry standard internet browser, such as Internet Explorer,
FireFox (Netscape) and Safari. Doing so will not only give you
the best performance and appearance of all features of the First
Affirmative site, but it will also give you the highest level
of security. Before you are able to login to FAFN's services,
you must be using an internet browser that supports 128-bit encryption,
the highest level of security available and secure socket layer
(SSL) technology. In addition, we recommend the following to
maintain the security of your First Affirmative account:
- Take advantage of your browser's built-in
security features that browsers provide. Choosing certain security
settings and options will help protect the privacy of your accounts
and personal information.
- Always update your browser when new versions
are released. They often include new security features.
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Ensure your information is secure.
Sending sensitive information such as your social security number,
account number, or other personal data over the internet can
be dangerous if you can not validate the reputation of the company
you are doing business with and communicate over a "secure"
means of transmission. Before sending private information over
the internet, make sure you are using a "secured" connection.
When you sign into the
First Affirmative website, your Login Name and password are sent
over the internet from your computer to ours using a secure socket
layer (SSL). SSL encrypts your personal information
before it leaves your computer, ensuring that no one else can read
it. Once you have signed in, you can check that your FAFN session
is secure in two ways:
- Look for the small padlock icon usually located
in the lower right hand corner of your internet browser window.
A closed, or "locked," padlock indicates a secure connection.
- Look for the letters "https://" at
the beginning of the Web site address or URL in your Web browser.
The "s" after "http" means
"secure."
In addition, we suggest you
do not keep sensitive information on any of your hard drives.
If you do need to store such information, such as financial
data, keep it on password-protected removable media stored in
a secure location.
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