Is my application information safe on the Internet?

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Yes. Your application is safe on the Internet. FAFSA on the Web, in conjunction with the supported browser, uses Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol to establish a secure session between the browser and the FAFSA on the Web server. All information passed by you to the FAFSA on the Web server will be scrambled through a process called encryption

Three levels of encryption can be used with this site: 40-bit, 56-bit, and 128-bit encryption. To secure the privacy of your application, we recommend you use the domestic version of the browser (56-bit and 128-bit encryption), which has enhanced encryption features. Current laws and regulations allow only U.S. and Canadian citizens to use 128-bit encryption.

For added security, close the browser completely when you are finished using FAFSA on the Web. While online, the browser is using part of the computer's memory. If the browser is left open, it may be possible for someone to go back and use this memory to access your information. By closing the browser, the memory it used is cleared.

To close the browser in Windows 95, 98, NT, ME, XP, or 2000 select File from the menu bar and choose Exit. If your using Macintosh, select File and choose Quit.

You may also want to consider clearing the browser's temporary files. The browser's cache stores the contents of all the Web pages visited during a session.

To safeguard your information and prevent another user from viewing what was entered, you should clear the cache memory after completing the FAFSA. To clear the browser's cache, follow the instructions below:

Netscape 6.x, 7.x and 8.x users:

  1. Select Edit, then Preferences.
  2. Select Advanced from the Category listing.
  3. Select Cache.
  4. Select the Clear Disk Cache button.
  5. Select the Clear Memory Cache button.
  6. Select OK.

Internet Explorer 5.x & 6.x users:

  1. Select Tools, then Internet Options.
  2. Select the General tab at the top.
  3. Select the Clear History button.
  4. Select Yes to confirm.
  5. Select Delete Files.
  6. Select OK.
  7. Select OK to close the Internet Options screen.

AOL 5.0-7.0 and AOL Explorer 1.2 user

  1. Select System Information.
  2. Select the Utilities tab.
  3. Select Clear Browser Cache.

Mozilla Firefox 1.5
  1. Select Tools, then Clear Private Data.
  2. Select the Browsing History, Saved Form Information, Cache, and Authenticated Session options.
  3. Select the Clear Private Data Now button

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