APC’s readers are talking about web browsers for banking and switching to Google Docs.

“When I attempted to use Tor browser, the Westpac system, after presuming that the log-on was an overseas ‘hack’, denied further access until I had re-set my password through the call centre and explained my actions. ”

In last month’s privacy feature, Nathan Taylor recommends the Epic Privacy Browser for banking (see APC 459, page 48).

My experience with Tor browser and Westpac suggests otherwise and it probably applies to Epic’s Encryptic Proxy setting too, although I have not tried it. I do like the browser, though, and have set it as default already — but not for banking with that EEP setting turned on.

When I attempted to use Tor browser, the Westpac system, after presuming that the log-on was an overseas ‘ hack’, denied further access until I had re-set my password through the call centre and explained my actions. My guess is that because Epic’s Encrypted Proxy gives the appearance of coming from an overseas server, most Australian bank systems will also make the same assumptions and deny further access. I am not disposed to testing it out though!

Ed replies: Thanks for the feedback Chris. Following your email, we’ve actually done a little testing with Epic Privacy Browser and Aussie banking websites and have, so far, not hit any obstacles in using them — the ones we tried did not ask for any additional security steps during the login process.

While your own mileage may of course vary (we should note that we weren’t able to test with all of the ‘ big five’ Aussie banks, so we can’t verify that they all work without a hitch), Epic Privacy Browser does seem safe to use for online banking within Australia — and, therefore, anything else that you think requires high security.