Personal e-Banking Security

Overview

To ensure online protection and provide you safe and secure e-Banking services, we have implemented the following online security measures. 

In the meantime, you can also help safeguard your account information and data privacy. Please read the FAQs on Privacy and Security and visit Security Information Centre for more information.

Online Security Measures

Log on

Overview

When you log on to Personal e-Banking with a new browser, we need to verify if it's really you. You'll need to enter a one-time SMS verification code or a one-time security code to confirm your identity.

This security measure protects your Personal e-Banking against unauthorised log-ons.

You need to choose whether to "Trust this browser". Once you trust a browser, you can log on via the same browser by entering the password or one-time security code only. No additional verification is needed.

Please note you may need to verify and trust your browser again if there are changes to your device or browser, such as a software update or if your cookies are cleared. This is for your account security.

Overview

The Mobile Security Key / Physical Security Device employs two-factor authentication to ensure data privacy and protect particularly high-risk transactions in Personal e-Banking. The Mobile Security Key is a digital version of the Security Device within Hang Seng Mobile App. You can generate one-time security codes for verification purposes when you perform designated transactions with either your Mobile Security Key or Physical Security Device.

Effective from 1 July 2022, we no longer issue a Physical Security Device to Personal e-Banking customers (except for those with accessibility needs). Customers may download Hang Seng Mobile App and switch to Mobile Security Key for more convenient banking services.

Transaction Signing

For added online protection when you perform any high-risk transactions, you are required to enter transaction-specific information into the Mobile Security Key / Physical Security Device to generate a unique security code that will authorise the respective instruction in Personal e-Banking. This additional transaction verification function further prevents fraudulent attacks and ensures high-risk transaction will be made only for the account you specify.

Mobile Security Key

Learn more about Mobile Security Key

Physical Security Device

What can you do with the Security Device

  • Transfer to Non-registered accounts / payees (including small value limit)
  • Pay bills to e-Merchants
  • Enroll to e-Bills
  • Set up Direct Debit Authorisation
  • Raise daily transfer and bill payment limits
  • Register new payees
  • Register Cross-Border View & Transfer services
  • Trade securities and other investment products
  • Request for ATM card replacement
  • Reset card PIN or new Phone PIN
  • Report Card lost and card replacement
  • Update personal particulars
  • Reset Personal e-Banking password
  • Replace Physical Security Device

PIN-protected

To safeguard your Physical Security Device from easy access by third parties in case of loss, it's PIN-protected. Set your PIN before using it for the first time, and you'll need to use this PIN to unlock the device each time you use it.

If you have any questions, such as how to set up or replace your Security Device, please visit Frequently Asked Questions.

Overview

You will receive a notification when you complete any of the following transaction in Hang Seng Mobile App or Personal e-Banking:

  • Activate small value fund transfer
  • Transfer to non-registered third-party accounts
  • Make bill payments to payees under "e-merchants" category
  • Raise daily transfer and bill payment limits
  • Register new payees
  • Set up or cancel recurring transfer / standing instruction
  • Set up or amend Direct Debit Authorisation to designated beneficiaries
  • Register for Personal e-Banking
  • Activate or reset Mobile Security Key
  • Reset Personal e-Banking password
  • Enable Biometric Authentication
  • Change the overseas withdrawal limit of cards
  • Reset card PIN or Phone Banking PIN
  • Bind card with contactless mobile payment app
  • Securities buy / sell order confirmation
  • Change of personal particulars
  • Change the notification channel for receiving important transaction alerts

Before conducting the above transactions, please make sure your mobile number and/or email address in our record is correct. To review or update your contact details, log on to Hang Seng Mobile App and tap left menu > "Settings & Security" > "Account & personal particulars" > "Update personal particulars", or log on to Personal e-Banking and click "Settings" > "Personal Particulars".

Please note that SMS messages for notifications can't be forwarded, even if you've subscribed to an "SMS Forwarding" service offered by telecommunications providers in Hong Kong.

Malware

In response to recent malware attacks targeting Android devices, we've added a new function to detect suspicious apps installed on your device. Apps downloaded from non-official app stores or websites may allow hackers to gain control of your device. Hang Seng Mobile App will be unavailable until you delete or turn off Accessibility for these apps.

When you open the latest version of our app, we'll check the source and permissions of apps installed on your device. If we detect any suspicious apps, you'll see a screen showing the name of those app before logging on.

If you see the blocked logon screen, you need to complete one of the following actions before you can log onto Hang Seng Mobile App:

  • Tap the button on screen to go to device Settings and turn off accessibility for suspicious apps
  • Search for "accessibility" on your device settings and turn the function off for suspicious apps
  • Delete the suspicious apps from your device
  • Restore your device to factory settings

No, you don't have to delete or install Hang Seng Mobile App again. To continue using our app, please turn off Accessibility function for apps shown in the blocked logon screen.

Suspicious apps are those downloaded from unofficial sources, which are not verified officially. Excessive permissions refer to apps that request extra accessibly access to sensitive information or device functionalities.

We recommend the following:

  1. Delete the app(s) shown on the blocked logon screen;
  2. Log onto Hang Seng Mobile App to ensure it works normally;
  3. Download the app(s) you deleted from an official app store (e.g. Google Play Store, Samsung Galaxy Store, Huawei Store).

If you can't find the mentioned app in the accessibility application list, it is possible that the malware may be disguised as another app. In this case, we recommend turning off the accessibility function for all apps on your device as a precautionary measure. This will help ensure the security of your device while using Hang Seng Mobile banking.

Please consider deleting the identified app or reset your device to factory settings.

Google Play Store, Samsung Galaxy Store, Xiaomi Mi GetApps, Huawei AppGallery, Amazon Appstore, OPPO App Market, VIVO App Store, MeiZu App Store, OnePlus App Gallery, HONOR App Gallery, etc.

Your privacy matters to us. We only use this tool to detect malware activity and security threats. We don't collect additional personal data from your device.

Accessibility settings such as text-to-speech enhances user interface and makes it easier for users with disabilities to use a mobile device. However, fraudsters are using these settings to control devices remotely to steal sensitive information.

Our anti-malware tool flags apps downloaded from sources other than official app stores. Some well-known apps come from non-official sources, so they carry potential security risks.

The impact may vary for each app. You can enable the accessibility settings again after using Hang Seng Mobile App, or consider downloading the app from official app stores.

Debugging options

Devices with debugging options enabled could pose a security risk. To protect your account, we've temporarily suspended your access to Hang Seng Mobile App on the device.

You can restore access by disabling the debugging options. Just go to the settings page on your device, search for "Developer" and it'll take you to the relevant page.

You need to close and reopen the app. If you've already disabled the debugging options, you'll be able to use the app.

Enabling debugging options require granting extensive permissions, which might allow others to access your device without authorisation or modify system settings.

Virtual space

This message appears because we detected that your Hang Seng Mobile App was installed via a third-party app, such as a virtual space or cloning tool, which may pose potential security risks. Therefore, you can't use the Hang Seng Mobile App now to protect your account and personal information.

To restore access, please uninstall Hang Seng Mobile App from any third-party applications first. Then, download the latest version of Hang Seng Mobile App directly from the Google Play Store or our official website.

To better protect your account, Hang Seng Mobile App needs to run in a secure environment. Using third-party apps may pose security risks to your account and personal information.

Overview

You can keep track of your banking activities such as log-on and transaction via Hang Seng Mobile App by going to "Settings & Security" > "Your Recent Activities".

Records will be kept up to 90 days (max. 3,000 records), helping you to stay updated with your account and prevent unauthorised access.

FAQ

To better protect your account, we'll record some particular online banking activities for your easy reference. This includes:

Types

Banking activities

Log-on
  • Log on to Personal e-Banking via the following channels:
    - Hang Seng Mobile app
    - Hang Seng Invest Express Mobile App
    - Hang Seng Bank Website
Security and app settings

  • Register Personal e-Banking
  • Activate Mobile Security Key
  • Activate biometric authentication
  • Recover username
  • Reset "6-digit PIN" 
  • Reset Personal e-Banking password
Change of contact details
  • Change the following contact details:
    - Phone / mobile number
    - Email address
    - Residential / office address
    - Correspondence address
  • Enable high-risk / "card-not-present" transaction related Push Notification
Transfer and Pay
  • Transfer to non-registered local payee
  • Transfer to new overseas payee
  • Pay bill
Transfer limit and payee settings
  • Add payee
  • Raise bill payment limit
  • Raise individual payee daily transfer limit
  • Raise registered payee daily transfer limit
  • Raise non-registered payee daily transfer limit
  • Raise small value daily transfer limit
  • Raise mainland & overseas daily transfer limit
  • Set up a direct debit instruction
  • Link an account in Pull Money
Cards settings
  • Activate card
  • Block / unblock card
  • Set card-not-present transaction & limit
  • Add card to mobile wallet
  • Set local ATM withdrawal limit for debit card
  • Set monthly spending limit for debit card
  • Set overseas ATM withdrawal limit

We will only keep a record of some particular online banking activities, and credit card transactions are not included.

You can go to "Credit Cards" at the bottom menu of Hang Seng Mobile App, and check the relevant records under "Recent transaction(s)"

If you noticed any suspicious banking activities, please contact us via "Settings & Security" > "Report suspicious transactions" to temporarily suspend your Personal e-Banking account.

In some cases, such as account limitations or system upgrades, the instructions that shown as submitted may not be completed. You can learn more about the status of the instructions in the following ways:

  • For transfers and payments, you'll see a record on "Account Overview" page under "Account Services" if the transaction is successful
  • For adding card to mobile wallet, you may check if your card is successfully added by tapping "Credit Cards" at the bottom menu
  • For debit card activation or block / unblock debit card, you may check if your card is successfully activated or blocked / unblocked on "My Debit / ATM Cards" under "Cards" page

 

The location is based on the IP address we detected when you logged on. If you're using any VPN services, it may change your IP address, which makes the log-on location shown in the record different from your actual location. Similarly, if you're using a data SIM with roaming enabled, the log-on location may reflect the location of the data SIM, rather than your actual location.

The browser you're using may ride on an open-source technology called Chromium, which is the same technology that powers Google Chrome. In this case, the browser you logged on with will be shown as Chrome.

Other online security measures

You will notice the bank's URL address begins with “https” when you have established a secure session with Hang Seng Personal e-Banking. Most desktop browsers will display a padlock icon either in the address bar or near the top of the browser to indicate you are accessing genuine Personal e-Banking services.

If a session is unattended or inactive for a certain period, it will be terminated automatically to prevent unauthorised access to your bank account.

Useful information