Call it the Internet strikes back. Almost as soon as financialservices giant HSBC rolled out “securekeys”– that generate temporary passwords for online banking customers aspart of a two-factor authentication upgrade – the Web exploded withopposition, as users expressed frustration and anger.

“ScraptheHSBCSecureKey,” a Facebook group, is a loud case in point. “What a completewaste of time, didn't ask for it,” posted Paul Kitching.

Alun Morris posted: “Online banking users: even if you are notwith HSBC, you're next. Stop compulsory security keys. I'll end uphaving to put five of them on my keyring if this carries on.”

On Twitter, meantime, anti HSBC posts also flourished.rkbake wrote: “I HATE HSBC's new stupid secure key. what a greatway to make internet banking more INCONVENIENT.”

The Internet row has grown so vituperative that even themainstream press has covered the online complaints of HSBCcustomers, now required to use the secure keys. Leading broadsheetThe Telegraph, for instance, on Saturday ran a story titled, “Facebook Campaign by Angry HSBC Customers OverNew Online Security Key.”

HSBC, for its part, told the UK publication Computing that it did not plan to back down from the rollout. Aspokesperson elaborated: “The HSBC Secure Key is simply theintroduction of a two-factor authentication process into ourInternet banking. It works by having one piece of information thatremains the same [a username, for example], and one that constantlychanges but is based on a unique set of information for each user[the secure-token generated PIN]. The code is not sequential, so itcan't be guessed, and expires after 30 seconds so can't begenerated and used at a later date.”

The spokesperson added, “We have a duty to strike the rightbalance between ease of use and the highest level of security ourcustomers demand of us.”