Hints and Tips for use of this Site


Browsers     1. BROWSERS
Security     2. SECURITY
Other Questions     3. OTHER COMMON QUESTIONS
Software Downloads     4. SOFTWARE DOWNLOADS


1. BROWSERS
 
Q. What version of browser do I need?
A. To make best use of this site you need a suitable browser (Microsoft Internet Explorer version 4.0 or higher).
The latest version of browser is available free from Microsoft (www.micosoft.com).Get a Browser

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Q. Security certificate Alert - invalid or expired certificate messages in IE4 & IE5
A.

When trying to use secure forms on the www.bosinvestment.co.uk site in internet explorer version 4 and older versions of 5 the following box, will probably appear suggesting that our security certificate is not valid - this is not true (see image below) Changes to the technology used by versign, the issuer of our website security certificate, mean that older versions of internet explorer are unable to read updated certificates.

If you are getting this security alert then we suggest you update your browser to version 5.5 or later to correct the problem. You can also view further information on the BT trustwise website or fix the problem if you do not wish to update your browser.


Q. IE 6 :Portfolio Management troubleshooting
A.

If you find that portfolio managment is not working in Internet Explorer 6 then you will need to change the browser settings to enable you to properly use Portfolio Management. These changes are worked through in this tutorial.


Q. What screen resolution should I use?
A. It is important that you view this site at a screen resolution of 800 x 600 or higher, preferably using small fonts. If you use a lower resolution you will encounter incomplete views of pages.

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2. SECURITY
 

  • Security Certificate Alert - invalid or expired certificate messages in IE4 & IE5

    		•
    Q. How secure is the system?
    A. This site makes use of SSL (Secure Sockets Layer). This ensures that your data is encrypted whilst it is being sent between your browser and our web server. Two levels of encryption are available (40 bit and 128 bit). This web site supports both.
    Use of 128 bit encryption is usually only allowed in the US. However, as a UK financial organisation we are permitted to use this level of security. More information is available from Verisign (www.verisign.com), the external security organisation who provide Bank of Scotland Investment Service's encryption key.
    UK versions of both Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape web browsers are available which support 128 bit encryption, without the need to install extra features. To ensure that you make use of the highest level of security you should consider using a browser that supports such encryption. These include:
    Microsoft Internet Explorer 4 or later (Get a Browser) or Netscape 4 or later.

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    Q. Why does the padlock at the bottom of the page disappear?
    A. Occasionally, when viewing a secure page using Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0, the padlock may disappear. This does not mean that the page is no longer being viewed in a secure mode. The padlock is purely cosmetic. To confirm that the page is still operating securely click on File, Properties on the menu to view the page details. Choose the Certificate button. This will show the security details and the level of SSL encryption being used.

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    Q. Why do I get a message saying the web page contains both secure and insecure items?
    A. You may see this message when accessing secure parts of the site. Although the message suggests that part of the page is insecure this is not the case. It is an error within Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0. If you use a later version of Internet Explorer e.g. version 4.01 with service pack 1 or higher,this message will not be displayed.

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    Q. Why am I unable to access secure areas of the website?
    A. If you use Microsoft Internet Explorer and you are unable to access secure areas of the website ("Online Services", "Request information pack" and "Feedback"), it maybe because you have the "Use TLS 1.0" option enabled in the Security settings for your browser.

    TLS stands for Transport Layer Security, and is a new security protocol being developed to supersede Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) which is the standard means for encrypting information transmitted across the internet. Bank of Scotland Investment Service's website uses SSL to protect secure areas of the website, but does not currently support TLS. This means that if the "Use TLS 1.0" option is enabled, secure pages will not be displayed. To prevent this happening, simply untick this option:
    • In Internet Explorer version 5 :
      Click the Tools menu, and then click Internet Options. On the Advanced tab, scroll to the Security section and untick the settings for TLS 1.0.
    • In Internet Explorer version 4 :
      Click the View menu, and then click Internet Options. On the Advanced tab, scroll to the Security section and untick the settings for TLS 1.0.

    Image of Internet Options box


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    Q. What are the implications if TLS is not enabled?
    A. The Bank of Scotland Investment Service website does not currently support TLS, but does use SSL which provides globally accepted levels of encryption. The secure areas of the website will therefore remain protected.

    Because the TLS protocol is still under development, it is not widely used at the moment. However, other websites may support TLS in addition to SSL in which case your browser will continue to display their secure pages using SSL. A very few sites may support TLS only and if the "Use TLS 1.0" option is not enabled, their secure pages will not be displayed. In this case re-enable TLS by clicking on the "Use TLS 1.0" option.

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    3. OTHER COMMON QUESTIONS
     
    Q. How do I return to the Home Page?
    A. You can return to the Homepage at any stage by clicking on the logo in the banner.

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    Q. Is there a number that I can call if I have a query regarding this site?
    A. If you need to speak to someone please call 0870 909 0945. .

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    Q. What other software do I need?
    A. Many of the files that are available for download require the Adobe Acrobat Reader plug-in. We recommend that you use the latest version of this product, which can be downloaded free of charge by clicking on the 'Get Acrobat Reader' graphic. If you still experience problems viewing pdfs through your browser then right click the pdf link and click on "Save Target As.." and save the pdf to your hard drive and open it from there.

    Image of Acrobat Reader logo - link to Acrobat download.

    The interactive functions within the Financial Planning Workshop use Macromedia Flash 5. To use these you will need to download an appropriate plug-in, if you have not already done so. We recommend that you use the latest version of this product, which can be downloaded free of charge by clicking on the 'Get Flash' graphic.

    Image of Flash logo - link to Macromedia download

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    4. SOFTWARE DOWNLOADS

    Browsers Other Software
    Get Internet Explorer Get Flash           Get Adobe Acrobat Reader