RealAudio - MP3 - iTunes

Banks and financial firms are trying to add another layer of security on top of passwords for their online offerings. Bank of America, ING Direct and Vanguard are using a technology called "site-authentication images."

Customers choose an image -- a cat or a paint brush for example -- that they will see every time they log in. The image is supposed to help users determine whether the site is legitimate, or a fake designed to steal their money. Bank of America calls its
authentication system "SiteKey."

Analysts expect more banks to begin using similar technology, but a study from Harvard and M.I.T. suggests that users ignore the security images.