WSJ reported that banks are required to follow new federal online-security guidelines by December 31 of 2007. No wonder I'm finding out new ways literally everyday that makes online logon harder. More recent examples:

1) Eloan online savings bank requires verification of a pre-determined image at the password screen.
2) Citibank credit card site is collecting security question now.
3) Treasury Direct requires you to click an on-screen keyboard to enter your password.

No more. New federal online-security guidelines designed to foil Internet thieves from draining accounts require financial institutions to adopt new security procedures. In addition to passwords, such techniques include requiring consumers to register each personal computer they use for home banking and a face-identification quiz.

Financial institutions were supposed to have a working plan in place by Dec. 31, but many are still firming up their new security procedures and will spell them out in an email to customers soon. Some banks, including Bank of America Corp. and Wachovia Corp., already have put theirs into practice.

With nearly 90 million people banking online, banks and credit-card issuers are struggling to get more identifying information without unduly annoying their customers.