Some things are better left unsaid, especially when it comes to Internet security.
Just ask the Securities and Exchange Commission, The Vanguard Group, and Charles Schwab Corp. In light of recent Internet attacks, Pensions & Investments tried to find out from them just how secure their websites were from hackers.
A spokesman for the SEC in Washington declined to comment. "There is obviously sensitivity here. We don't want to say anything (about security measures) in the press that people could get around."
At Vanguard, a spokesman also hesitated to comment. He said the company's computer systems use industry-standard firewalls and security software.
In response to the recent Internet hacking scenarios, the Valley Forge, Pa.-based spokesman said Vanguard has heightened the security of online activities and taken further precautions.
A Charles Schwab Corp., San Francisco, spokesman said he couldn't comment, and the company has a policy of not talking about its Internet security measures.
"We are taking these issues very seriously," he said.
