Security Statement

Our Commitment to You

Gateway Funding understands the importance of maintaining the security of your personal and account information. Our Information Security policy is comprehensive and proactive to ensure that the information you access is secure and confidential. We utilize cutting edge industry accepted security practices, including firewalls and encryption to protect your information from others.
Security Controls and Browser Requirements
Ensuring the security of your financial transactions is never a finite process for us. To this end, we employ the following means:

1. Browser Requirements

128-bit browser. This site requires the use of secure 128 bit high encryption browsers to access information and perform transactions. These secure browsers allow you to communicate with our Web site in a protected session by encrypting information that flows between you and the site.
Cookies. We occasionally use software "cookies" (tiny data files sent to and stored by the client computer's web-browser software) to enable more efficient use of our services, and to monitor statistical traffic information that helps us improve our Web site. An additional and extremely valuable service provided by cookies is that they can save many preferences which you have established for navigation, searching, and shopping in your favorite Web sites. After your computer has requested and received a cookie from an Internet server, the cookie simply allows you to visit Web site pages repeatedly without having to reintroduce yourself each time you return. No other user's computer on the Worldwide Web will have that same cookie, and only the Web site that issued that cookie can later retrieve it. A Web site can transmit one or (rarely) more cookies to the user's browser software, and each may serve a very different purpose.

Cookies from our server contain only information which:

  • A user volunteers, or
  • Guarantees the secure transmission of their data across the Internet, or
  • Can automatically disconnect a user's "log-in" session after a period of inactivity (in case you go to lunch but forget to "log off").

Some of our Web site services may not function correctly if the user's browser software cannot accept cookies. Recent versions of Web browsers can be customized so that a cookie is always accepted -- but only after the user is advised and consents.

Cookie Choices in Your NETSCAPE® Browser:
Beginning with version 4.0, Netscape Navigator gives users the power to control cookies. In version 4.0 and higher, you can activate your "Cookie Alert" by pulling down the Edit menu and selecting Preferences. Click “Advanced Settings” at the bottom of the dialog box, and choose from the following:

  • Accept all cookies.
  • Accept only cookies that get sent back to the originating server.
  • Disable cookies.

Another option is for Navigator to warn you before accepting a cookie. Every time there is an incoming cookie, a dialog box will ask if you want to accept it.

Additional Cookie Choices in Your MICROSOFT® Browser:
Beginning with version 4.0, Microsoft Internet Explorer gives users the power to control cookies. To enable cookies within Internet Explorer 4.0 and higher, select View/ Internet Options and go to the Advanced tab. Scroll down to the Security section and select "Always accept cookies." If the user wants to see each cookie that the browser receives, they should select "Prompt before accepting cookies" in the Advanced tab and a Security Alert dialog will appear before a cookie is accepted. Before choosing to have your Web browser warn you of all incoming cookies, keep in mind that some web pages may have more than 100 cookies and you will be notified of each one separately.

2. SSL Protocol

The SSL protocol provides for secure communications on the Internet. Essentially, SSL does three things:

SSL creates a secure communication channel by encrypting communication between the user and the server.

SSL authenticates that the server to which you are connected is indeed correct. You can be assured that you are actually communicating with us, and not a third party trying to intercept the transaction.

SSL conducts a cryptographic word count to ensure data integrity between the server and the user. The word count (or checksum) provides a count of the number of bytes in a document and ensures the exact number of bytes is transmitted and received. With SSL, even this check sum is encrypted so it cannot be modified. If a message is not received in its entirety, it is rejected and another copy of the message is sent automatically.

3. Secure symbol/https

To further verify that your session is secure, look for “https:” instead of “http:” in the URL address line, and a secure symbol (for example, closed padlock or key) on the status bar of your browser located on the lower part of the screen.

4. Timeout Feature

To provide additional protection, a timeout feature is used on selected parts of our Web site. This feature automatically logs you out of your account after an extended period of time. Re-establishing and authenticating your credentials for your online session helps to reduce unauthorized access to your accounts with us.

5. Firewalls

Finally, the Web site uses firewalls to protect our computer systems and your information. Firewalls can be thought of as a selective barrier that permits only specific types of traffic (transactions) through to our systems.

Steps You Can Take to Protect Your Privacy

While we at Gateway Funding continue to provide security controls to protect your information, we also encourage you, the customer, to take proactive steps in protecting your personal information. The following are some ways you can protect yourself and your accounts:

  1. Consider using a personal firewall to prevent hackers from invading your personal computer, especially if you are using DSL or a cable modem to access the Internet. 
  2. Install virus protection software and scan all downloaded software, as well as all diskettes, before use. Also, delete emails with attachments from unknown sources.
  3. Consider installing Spyware detection and prevention software. This software removes all unwanted cookies or elements installed on your computer without your permission that are used to track your surfing habits, to generate pop-ups and to gather information for marketing companies.
  4. When you are done with your transactions, always click on the Logoff button on the Web site to exit the application and prevent further access to your account. When using a public PC (such as in a library or school), always close the browser when you are finished.