Buying On The Internet

Buying On The Internet

Buying On The Internet

Buying On The Internet by A.T.Rendon - © Copyright 1998 - All Rights Reserved Security is of major importance to almost everyone making a purchase, online. If I enter my credit card info will it be safe? The short answer is, yes.

Buying online is as safe as buying in the real world, be it ordering by mail, by phone or fax, or walking into a store or restaurant and handing a complete stranger your credit card to pay for your purchase.

We have heard of more problems arising from a devious and unscrupulous waiter that double bills your credit card to steal money from the restaurant and who is long gone by the time you get your billing statement.

Whether you are defrauded at your favorite restaurant or online by a faceless business entity, the same limits of loss as well as all consumer rights apply to your online purchases. In an article in today's Washington Post, entitled, "Web Firms Urged to Self-Regulate".

By Leslie Walker and Robert O'Harrow, Washington Post Staff Writers, Tuesday, December 1, 1998; Page D03, they quoted President Clinton as stating, "We must give consumers the same protection in our virtual malls that they now get at the shopping mall," he said. This is all part of an ongoing administration attitude of "hands off" the Internet so as not to regulate and kill an extraordinary new form of global commerce.

Whatever you buy online today, is as safe as any type of purchase, especially if you follow a few simple guidelines. Utilize one of the following methods in making a completely online purchase:

a.) encryption.

b.) SSL, secure socket layer.

c.) third party

Encryption allows the transfer of info, using a private key or a public key, that secures the info being transferred is scrambled enough so interception could yield nothing of value to potential thieves.

Keys are authenticated with Digital Certificates (IDs), which accompany transactions and are signed by a Certificate Authority (CA). A CA is a trusted third party responsible for issuing Digital Certificates. For a list visit at: http://certs.netscape.com/client.html

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), is a protocol developed by Netscape that allows secure transactions between browsers and Web servers on the Internet. Both Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer support SSL. SSL uses the public key method of encryption and is easily identified in older versions of the browsers by a solid key figure on the lower bar of your browser, as opposed to a normally broken key image.

The newer versions of the top two browsers now display a padlock symbol that appears locked when the transaction can be considered, secure. Look for the merchant who should provide a postal mailing address and a phone number where the company can be contacted.

DO NOT enter either your credit card info or your checking account info on a web page that is not secure. After making a purchase, call your credit card company and get your most current billing info and review the totals being charged so you have no unpleasant surprises. If you find a problem, report it immediately. You can also make use of third party services that ensure secure purchases online, such as:

CyberCash - http://www.cybercash.com CyberCash is the world leader in secure, convenient payment technologies and services, enabling e-commerce across the entire market spectrum from electronic retailing environments to the Internet.

First Virtual - http://www.firstvirtual.com/ Your customer can actually complete a debit or credit transaction with a simple click of the mouse, without ever leaving your e-mail message. So jump in and become a part of the growing trend on ever increasing purchases that are being made online. It is safe.

A.T.Rendon is an entrepreneur and published author/writerarticles that have appeared in Time magazine, as well as many other magazines, newsletters and newspapers. A.T.Rendon - atrendon@geocities.com Articles can be found at: http://consult.hypermart.net/articles.html HP No. 56 Black Ink Cartridge Hewlett Packard New Sale! HP 57 Tri-Color Ink Cartridge Hewlett Packard HP No. 78 Tri-Color Inkjet Print Car... Hewlett Packard Apple 15 GB iPod M9460LL/A Apple Computer Apple 20 GB iPod M9244LL/A Apple Computer Mac OS X 10.3 Panther Apple Apple 40 GB iPod M9245LL/A Apple Computer (Prices May Change) Privacy Information