TradeKing(TM) Offers Online Traders Unprecedented Line of Defense Against Hackers, Phishers & Other Scams

BOCA RATON, Fla., Feb. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- To help keep clients protected from hackers, phishers and other online predators, online discount broker TradeKing (www.tradeking.com) today announced it has launched a new line of security that is unprecedented in the brokerage industry. Beginning immediately, TradeKing clients will experience a new log-in process featuring "multi-factor authentication" that will act in essence as a five layer shield against online criminals.

"TradeKing's goal is to provide clients with the very best online trading experience available anywhere, and a large part of that is having the highest possible level of security applied to their online accounts," said Don Montanaro, CEO of TradeKing. "We are proud to be the first broker-dealer to install these security features and believe we are making clients assets significantly safer as a result. Our clients deserve nothing less."

TradeKing's multi-factor authentication process uses a combination of features that work in concert to create a significant barrier to illegal activity. It consists of five key elements:

    1. An On-Screen Keypad:  This anti-phishing measure thwarts "keyloggers"
       by avoiding the use of the keyboard altogether for password entry.
       Thus, keylogging devices which capture keystrokes will not record an
       individual's password.
    2. A Secure Image/Watermark/Site ID: These are names for the same thing;
       an image selected by the user and placed next to the onscreen keypad.
       If a user does not see or does not recognize the image they should not
       enter their password.
    3. Three Secret Questions: A customer will be required to choose three
       questions from a pool of twelve. Once the question is selected the
       customer will then type in the answer to the question. The questions
       will be displayed as images to prevent illegal screen-scraping tactics.
    4. One Account-based Question: All account-holders will be presented with
       a question about their account profile information.
    5. Device Authentication: This feature is used to "tag" customers'
       preferred computers or devices. This allows for the possibility for
       simple authentication on known devices. The customer's primary device
       can be "cookied" so that they can access their account without using
       multi-factor authentication.

"It should take clients only a minute or two to set up their new, more secure log-in," said Rick Little, director of product management for TradeKing. "Once it has been set, then it's business as usual, but with an added level of comfort. We believe our approach will quickly become the industry standard for log-in security."

About TradeKing

Recently rated the top discount broker for the second consecutive year by SmartMoney Magazine ("Best Discount Broker" by SmartMoney 8/1/07, based: on Customer Service; Mutual Funds; Trading Tools; Research; Banking Amenities) (1), TradeKing, at http://www.tradeking.com is a nationally licensed online broker dealer offering simple, low flat fees (Please see https://www.tradeking.com/PrivateView/services/Services/commissions.tmpl for more details on trade commissions for low priced stock, bonds, mutual funds and other securities).

The TradeKing Web- based platform features powerful online equity, options and fixed-income trading tools including real-time portfolio information, advanced order entry, customized charting and alerts, free research and integrated news, stock, option and mutual fund screeners, volatility charts, a pricing probability calculator, enhanced option chains and interactive educational information.

TradeKing also features innovative community networking capabilities to help connect like-minded traders for enhanced strategy development and information sharing. TradeKing provides self-directed investors with discount brokerage services, and does not make recommendations or offer investment, financial, legal or tax advice. Online trading system response and access times may vary due to market conditions, system performance, and other factors. Non-U.S. residents may be subject to country-specific restrictions. Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. Please read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options available at http://content.tradeking.com/wiki/display/tkservice/Characteristics+and+Risks. Member FINRA/SIPC.

(1) SmartMoney is a joint publishing venture of Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

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