Internet Banking & Linux :(
 

Has anybody experienced the problem with their linux browsers not compatible with their internet banking websites?

I use HSBC and have no problems with their online credit card access but their online banking access always reports the message that my browser is not compatible.

Try http://www.hsbc.com.au and click on the "Log on to Internet Banking" logo.

If anybody can get it to work, I would be amazed and thankful :)

To access internet banking, please use:
* Internet Explorer version 5.0 or above; or
o Netscape Communicator version 4.72 or above (version 6.x currently not supported)

---
There is a Mozilla plugin for faking browser identity, it will probably work when your browser tells them it's IE. In general, this sucks. Bank requires the most vulnerable browser. Hah.

It doesn't look professional. You can try Mozilla/Firefox identity change, also Konqueror and Opera can do it. It should work (I can seen no reason why not). Also, have you written an email with complains?

Thanks guys. Yes definately wrote an email and complained to HSBC!!

I'll try out your ideas.

I installed Opera and tried changing the identity to IE, but this did not work.

Any other ideas?

Change banks.

I've had problems with some of my banking sites....even my utility site. It seems they were surprised by firefox's popularity. I emailed them and complained and it seems that all the sites i use have been fixed. If you have a problem with a site, email them and tell them. I have netscape, firefox and konqueror (did i spell that right?) installed on my Linux box and when there is a problem i try all of them before getting really frustrated and then turn on the old laptop that still has windoze 98 running. If the laptop works, and all the others don't, i start sending out emails. Also, if you use firefox, you can inform mozilla of the site and they will launch their own complaints to the site, they seem to be up to the task.
Once in awhile, say Netscape, the most recent version, will work under windoze and not on linux. I once got a message that the 128 bit encryption was not enuf for the security at the site. Once again i sent emails, and it seems after a month or so now it works.
This tread caught my eye because my master card bank was just bought up ny HSBC, and in June I'll have to start paying my bills to that site. I'm wondering if I should start emailing now? Naaaa, I'll wait.....hopefully you're emails will have it fixed before i get there. LOL

Tom

Hey ... you are right ... a quick bug search for ebank.hsbc.com.au ...

Mozilla Bug #205631

For Tech Evangelism.

Hopefully there is some progress asap.

You might be ok as you are in the US and would not use hsbc.com.au.

SML, I notice that you live in Australia.

There are many other banks that Internet Banking does work on Linux. Try:
www.commbank.com.au
www.westpac.com.au
www.anz.com.au
etc

I hope this helps
--Ian

I have accounts with Commonweath Bank and Credi Union Australia, both work fine under linux without hassle :)

Yea, I know not all banks are a problem - but my bank is unfortunately. I hoped there could be a workaround? Looks like I will have to wait ... although it is still very strange that their credit card online system works fine but not the banking account online system.

I just received the response from HSBC:

QUOTE: -------------------------------------

Thank you for your email.
In response to your query, your feedback has been forwarded onto relevant
department.
There has not been a time given of when other software / browsers will be
supported at this stage, however relevant department is working on it at the
moment.
We thank you for your time and if you have any further enquiries, please email
us or call our 24 hour Direct Service Centre on 1300 308 008 or +61 2 9005 8187
from overseas.

Kind regards,

Gary Zhang
Customer Service Consultant
Direct Service Centre
HSBC Bank Australia Ltd
www.hsbc.com.au
______________________________________________

Could always install IE6 under Wine and see if it works.

this is one of the great things about freedom. if the company i am paying money to does not or is not willing to support anything other then Microsoft and IE, then after a few e-mails or snail mails I will just take my business some place else.

When you walk in to cancle an account most banks will go NUTS to try to keep you as a customer. Inform them politly that you gave them X amount of time to deal with their horrid security issue by mandating IE being used to access their online banking and they did nothing about this. you are taking your money some place else.

I normally give companies about 30 days. After 30 days if things have not changed and or do not look like they are going to change, i make the change for them. It really is that simple.

The Problem that won't go away
 

A few months ago, ScotiaBank (a Canadian bank) decided it would stop supporting linux. I only found this out when after years of happy access on linux with Firefox, I found it no longer accessible. There is no error message or alert, just a busy-wait indication that goes on and on until the browser times out. There was no announcements, no warnings, and no email or form to put a complaint into.

It is not a Firefox thing, as it it is accessible on Winders with the same version of Firefox. The site also burns Opera on linux (but fine on Winders). It is obvious that they are detecting the OS to block it since Firefox is going to report the same version regardless.

I have to wonder if any other banks that are deliberately detecting and rejecting linux users - especially if linux users could access them at some earlier date. I just hope this is not a trend in internet banking.

I don't particularly care in this case as I will vote with my money and go elsewhere (and be one of the 19 out of 20 people who can't be bothered explaining why, when confronted with companies without a clue).

From now on, if I decide to open an account anywhere, question 1 is going to be: Will I be able to do my banking on linux? No... Bye!

saw the site myself and it's so, you need IE or netscape. that's a bummer.
Sort of off topic, but my express site states, you need flash player to use it. Nothing has been updated as far as me having a more updated falsh or anything, but now I can access the site.
Maybe a lot complained and they fixed it.
but anyway, what I don't quite understand is why a lot of sites say "you need windows; Internet Explorer" and we linux users can EASILY use konqueror, firefox, (and others; but haven't tested any others), and acess them just fine (execpt for maybe flash issues)
They should say, "Windows; IE/ Linux distros (maybe a list), browsers: firefox, konqueror, etc"