Does Schwab have a security device

[ccw]

[Topic is now in Personal Finance (Not Investing) - brokerage security features question. mod mkc]

Hi,

I see one online article said schwab have a security device for loginning. However, I have just opened a new international account and there is no such device at all. Why?

Thanks

[nalor511]

Asking them would be a good first step

[dcabler]

Hi,

I see one online article said schwab have a security device for loginning. However, I have just opened a new international account and there is no such device at all. Why?

Thanks

Symantec VIP app on your phone. You have to enroll.
https://www.schwab.com/help/two-factor-authentication

Cheers.

[bradinsky]

What kind of security device? Are you referring to passwords, 2FA or my voice is my password at Schwab? Or possibly some sort of hardware?

[mrmass]

Likely talking about the actual physical fobs-I have one from ETrade when they used them. I'm not suggesting anyone buys these as I don't know if they work.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/195268170051

[bradinsky]

As a Charles Schwab client for years, I have never seen, or heard them mention anything about a security device. We use 2FA along with our password for online access & have a verbal pass phrase in place for any voice interaction with Schwab.

[bradinsky]

Likely talking about the actual physical fobs-I have one from ETrade when they used them. I'm not suggesting anyone buys these as I don't know if they work.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/195268170051

Interesting

[ResearchMed]

About 15 years ago, Schwab did have a little device. It was a little plastic fob, and IIRC, one would click it, it would provide a code, and then one would need to enter that code when logging into one's account.
I didn't use it for very long, and I have no idea if they still use them.

RM

[Alan S.]

About 15 years ago, Schwab did have a little device. It was a little plastic fob, and IIRC, one would click it, it would provide a code, and then one would need to enter that code when logging into one's account.
I didn't use it for very long, and I have no idea if they still use them.

RM

Still have one that I received 5 years ago. Still works, although I think the battery is running low.

[EricGold]

About 15 years ago, Schwab did have a little device.

I have it. Somewhat oddly, it is required for me to logon through my computer but not via the phone. I had to request it from Schwab, and if memory serves, it was only offered to clients with some threshold assets. I don't have any idea how international accounts are handled.

[sycamore]

TheFinanceBuff blog has a relevant article of general interest: Security Hardware for Vanguard, Fidelity, and Schwab Accounts (dated Dec, 2022).

However, I have just opened a new international account and there is no such device at all. Why?

I don't know. I agree with nalor511's comment that you should ask them.

[kabob]

About 15 years ago, Schwab did have a little device. It was a little plastic fob, and IIRC, one would click it, it would provide a code, and then one would need to enter that code when logging into one's account.
I didn't use it for very long, and I have no idea if they still use them.

Still have one that I received 5 years ago. Still works, although I think the battery is running low.

I have it. Somewhat oddly, it is required for me to logon through my computer but not via the phone. I had to request it from Schwab, and if memory serves, it was only offered to clients with some threshold assets. I don't have any idea how international accounts are handled.

Wow, That's nice, I like em, some corps have given em to me also , for remote logon access and physical access,
They're nice, quick and easy, work everywhere/all over the world, sure beats the 2FA hassel...

I have one from Etrade, a little plastic FOB, ET calls it a HardwareToken, and from your security profile you can activate/deactivate it as a security requirement. I usually don't activate it unless i'm traveling. It works well...

I have a Schwab Acct, am callin em tomorrow...

[kabob]

TheFinanceBuff blog has a relevant article of general interest: Security Hardware for Vanguard, Fidelity, and Schwab Accounts (dated Dec, 2022).

However, I have just opened a new international account and there is no such device at all. Why?

I don't know. I agree with nalor511's comment that you should ask them.

+1 - That you should ask them!
The first Rule of Security -> We don't talk about Security!

[jeffyscott]

About 15 years ago, Schwab did have a little device. It was a little plastic fob, and IIRC, one would click it, it would provide a code, and then one would need to enter that code when logging into one's account.
I didn't use it for very long, and I have no idea if they still use them.

RM

Still have one that I received 5 years ago. Still works, although I think the battery is running low.

Mine is similar age and I now have to press it many times to get a code. I'm assuming it's the battery (which can not be replaced). My spouse got one more recently that works, so I haven't asked for a new one yet.

Besides, I figure it's even more secure, as anyone else will probably give up after 2 or 3 presses.

[alexbogle]

About 15 years ago, Schwab did have a little device.

I have it. Somewhat oddly, it is required for me to logon through my computer but not via the phone. I had to request it from Schwab, and if memory serves, it was only offered to clients with some threshold assets. I don't have any idea how international accounts are handled.

I ordered it about 5 years ago and probably only had 10K in the account. They shipped it right out.

I don't use it anymore. I used a python script to store the TOTP secret in bitwarden instead.

[dual]

Schwab supports the Symantec hardware token and the authenticator app on your cell phone. I used my hardware token today.

Edit. I am in the United States and I do not know anything about international accounts. I also recommend the article at thefinancebuff website

[EricGold]

Schwab supports the Symantec hardware token and the authenticator app on your cell phone.

I think it is still true that some things cannot yet be done on the phone App, but they are few and far between. If I am going to use the authenticator app, I'l just use the Schwab App directly. So for me at least, the hardware token is my backup in case of a stolen, lost, dead or broken phone.

[beyou]

Likely talking about the actual physical fobs-I have one from ETrade when they used them. I'm not suggesting anyone buys these as I don't know if they work.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/195268170051

Not sure about this brand, but my employer used to use similar RSA brand tokens that looked and worked similar. They had an expiration date on the RSA hardware tokens.

[typical.investor]

[Topic is now in Personal Finance (Not Investing) - brokerage security features question. mod mkc]

Hi,

I see one online article said schwab have a security device for loginning. However, I have just opened a new international account and there is no such device at all. Why?

Thanks

Use the phone app.

I had the fob for 2FA on my Schwab international account for years before moving to the phone app. The battery was getting low and they gave me the option of which to use.

[et_phonehome_2]

I contacted Charles Schwab, the representative have no idea about the Symantec hardware token is.

[simas]

I contacted Charles Schwab, the representative have no idea about the Symantec hardware token is.

pretty old tech, anyone I know and know of just use authenticator apps on their cell phone (which themselves are corrected to biometric sign-on, etc).

also, buying some random device off e-bay for 'financial account security' is exactly the very opposite of what I would call 'secure'...

[typical.investor]

I contacted Charles Schwab, the representative have no idea about the Symantec hardware token is.

See https://www.schwab.com/resource/how-to- ... entication

[Alan S.]

I contacted Charles Schwab, the representative have no idea about the Symantec hardware token is.

Must not be fully trained. Call back and ask another Rep.

Having been using the Symantec Fob for years. Recently, the battery expired and I requested a new device, only the new one requires me to push the button around 8 times to get the code. Adds about 5 seconds.
Not sure if this is defective or intentional.

[JeanM]

I appreciate the importance of security, and I do use the 2FA products that are offered by the brokerages where I have accounts. But I would like to ask about the role of alerts.

At Vanguard, for example, in recent years I have signed on to their site to add a phone number, change my physical address, change my email address, transfer funds into and out of my account, added a new bank, and bought and sold ETFs. In every instance, I’ve received a digital notification of the event (or in case of an email change, two notifications, one to the old address and one to the new). I’ve also received snail mail confirmations of password and address changes.

If a hacker were able to access my account, is there some other thing he could do without me receiving a Vanguard notification?

[jeffyscott]

Having been using the Symantec Fob for years. Recently, the battery expired and I requested a new device, only the new one requires me to push the button around 8 times to get the code. Adds about 5 seconds.
Not sure if this is defective or intentional.

Our older one got like that after many years. I assumed it was because the battery was getting low. I haven't requested a new one yet, since we still have another one that works and the phone app.

buying some random device off e-bay for 'financial account security' is exactly the very opposite of what I would call 'secure'

I'm not sure where this comment is coming from, these are sent to customers by Schwab.

[simas]

buying some random device off e-bay for 'financial account security' is exactly the very opposite of what I would call 'secure'

I'm not sure where this comment is coming from, these are sent to customers by Schwab.

earlier in the thread people post actual e-bay links. PSA - please do NOT buy anything related to 'security device' from ebay, please. especially for any of your financial accounts.

[Trenchard]

I just got a pair of YubiKeys (main + backup) and I'm currently going through all of the sites where I have logins to see where I can use them. Schwab is not one of them. All Schwab seems to support is Symantec VIP Access, which I installed and am moderately happy with. The browser I use to access Schwab, and the Symantec app, run on the same PC. VIP Access is registered in a funny way (different from other authentication apps) and is apparently not compatible with any of the other 40 or so sites where I have logins.

[gavinsiu]

Fidelity now can use a regular TOTP. Do you know if Schwab will offer the same?

[Doctor Rhythm]

Have never been offered hardware 2FA in my 35 years as a Schwab client, nor would I want to use one.