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 The
Internet has become a global marketplace for goods and services. For
e-commerce to prosper, shoppers must feel safe when transmitting credit card
and other financial information. Because data traveling over the network
passes through many computers along the way, the opportunity exists
for someone to intercept confidential information. Hackers also break into
computers to steal stored data, though no one really how often this actually happens.
How might this affect you? Let's say you want to buy merchandise from an online store. If you provide your credit card number, how do you know it will travel safely from your computer to its final destination? With the tremendous potential for doing business online, there's a lot of time and money being spent trying to make data protection secure. How It WorksData is secured with a technology called encryption. Encryption software scrambles the data with a secret code so that no one can make sense of it while it's being transmitted. When the data reaches its destination, the same software unscrambles the information. When you see a small lock icon at the bottom of your web browser or next to the address bar, it indicates that your data is encrypted during transmission.
Hackers thrive on outsmarting computer security systems. Some regard breaking into computers as a harmless hobby. Should you worry about this? If you access the Internet through a dial-up account, the chances of someone breaking into your computer are slim. If you use a broadband or wireless Internet connection, sensitive data can be intercepted during transmission. Online ShoppingWhen dealing with online merchants, the best security is common sense. Anyone can establish a professional looking online store these days, so make sure you deal with reputable companies. How can you tell? The answers to these questions provides clues:
All online financial transactions should be secure. Many online stores have what's known as a secure check-out page. You may see a notice to that effect posted on the site. Alternately, you may see a lock icon on your web browser, indicating that the site uses security technology. Also, check the address of the web page in the address bar of your browser; it should begin with https. The letter "s" indicates that the page is secure.
 If you are uncomfortable transmitting sensitive information, many sites provide a phone number you can call to give your credit card number, although there is no guarantee that's secure either. According to the National Consumers League, most Internet fraud involves sending checks or money orders to merchants. The organization recommends paying by credit card, because fraudulent charges can be disputed with your bank. The risks involved in transacting business on the Internet are no greater than those in any other arena in which we do business. While it is relatively safe to conduct business on the Internet right now, there are many companies working to develop and improve the technology required to make the Web even more secure.
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