Internet Banking software "Rapport"

[verytalldave]

My bank is offering a free download of a specialist password protection software called "rapport".
I read somewhere that........
A. Providing your existing AV programs are good, then its unnecessary......
and...
B. Installation of this program slows your machine down - noticeably.

Currently I am using an old clockwork PC running XP with only 512m RAM. My existing AV programs are GOOD.
Its fine as it is, maybe not a screamer, but its performance is quite acceptable to me.
If I do download this "rapport" software it will slow my machine down tooooo much? However - I dont want to compromise my online safety.
Advice please guys.................

[wemorgan]

I use Rapport on my basic Dell Mini 10 which has 1GB RAM and a 1.6GHz Atom processor. I didn't notice any significant slow down.

But I think if you always type the bank URL manually do you need Rapport?

[Chattonmill]

I take it that you are with Natwest?
I have Rapport on my machine and it doesn't seem to slow anything down.
My reasoning was that if the account was compromised and you didn't have it, could they be awkward about it?

[grober]

some FAQ's from their site. FAQ | Trusteer

You could always switch it off when you are just browsing rather than internet banking?

[jasonyw]

Your AVG slow you down, get rid of it and use Microsoft essential security provided you got a valid copy of their operating system.

[Sp!ke]

Originally Posted by jasonyw

Your AVG slow you down, get rid of it and use Microsoft essential security provided you got a valid copy of their operating system.

This makes me laugh.

If microsoft had any ability to protect their OS from viruses, it would be built in to the OS surely?

[jasonyw]

What so funny? There will be a big release this week

Microsoft planning major security update - 05 Feb 2010 - Computing

[Geoff2]

AFAIK Natwest Raport only turns itself on, on certain sites. Normally it is grey in the adress bar and green when on say the Natwest site. I have had no problems on any of my PC's

[grober]

Originally Posted by Geoff2

AFAIK Natwest Raport only turns itself on, on certain sites. Normally it is grey in the adress bar and green when on say the Natwest site. I have had no problems on any of my PC's

My understanding is that it has also some form of reporting/communicating software which gathers info on all sites you visit to update a central intelligence data base on counterfeit sites. I would imagine this runs all the time??

this from the RAPPORT SITE
Rapport's processes are always active even when my browser is closed - why?

Platforms: Windows, Mac

There are several reasons for that:

1. Rapport protects browser files against unauthorized modification and does this even when the browser is closed

2. Rapport looks for software and configuration updates even when the browser is closed

3. Rapport protects itself against unauthorized removal and has to be active all the time for that

4. When launching the browser Rapport needs to perform a few actions to protect this process and these actions must start before the browser

PLUS
The Rapport service includes a lightweight browser security plug-in, as well as cloud-based analysis and reporting services.
AND
Unauthorized attempts to access the browser or its communication are automatically reported to the Trusteer cloud-based fraud analysis service. The Trusteer team of fraud analysts works 24x7 analyzing this information from customers all over the world, in order to identify new attack patterns. Institutions registered for the Trusteer service receive immediate reports and actionable alerts of new attacks, and can learn of attacks as they happen, instead of days, weeks, and sometimes months later.

Don't get me wrong it seems to be a good product but unless you can switch it off completely it will impose an additional load on your computer processing and communication protocols. A fast new machine will not even notice this but an older slow machine might?

[crammy69]

I use it on my Netbook (1GB RAM and a 1.6GHz Atom processor) and I also use AVG, and havent noticed any particular performance problems.

[gary350]

There is a lot of info on this subject on the moneysavingexpert 'Rapport' Security - MoneySavingExpert.com Forums

gary

[verytalldave]

Originally Posted by Chattonmill

I take it that you are with Natwest?
I have Rapport on my machine and it doesn't seem to slow anything down.
My reasoning was that if the account was compromised and you didn't have it, could they be awkward about it?

No, I am with HSBC.

Perhaps I will give it a try..........see if it affects my speed.

Thanks VERY much to all those above.......................

[Nik_Endeavour]

Originally Posted by Sp!ke

This makes me laugh.

If microsoft had any ability to protect their OS from viruses, it would be built in to the OS surely?

Ahemm, EU Anti-Trust violation ALERT. US Federal injuction ALERT. Remember the pallavre with bundling internet explorer. I think they have made it impossible for MS to bundle anything useful in their OS. Watch out for the makers of calculators, text editors, picture viewers to line up for a piece of the pie.

To answer the original posters question, I haven't notice anything getting slower and I only installed it because Natwest said so and if anything happen they could not hide behind the "but you didn't install Rapport sir, as we told you to do".

[crammy69]

Originally Posted by Nik_Endeavour

I only installed it because Natwest said so and if anything happen they could not hide behind the "but you didn't install Rapport sir, as we told you to do".

Same here

[robert.saunders]

Originally Posted by crammy69

Same here

And same reason for me - also, I'm with HSBC, and incidentally not noticed any performance issue at all on the pc