Or, worse, they take credit card numbers or other personal financial information and use it for their own fraudulent purposes. Companies, too, must be responsible, he adds. The consumer ends up trusting the retailer, so a lot of the burden falls on the retailers to create a secure environment where somebody can do business and be sure all data stays secure. Retailers participating in the programs have agreed to outside oversight and compliance review for their privacy policies. Ken Hunter, president of BBBOnLine, a subsidiary of the Better Business Bureau, notes that as an added bonus, consumers can be assured participating retailers must deal promptly and properly with customer complaints or risk losing their seal.
Many computers come with secure browsers already installed.
If you need an upgrade, you can download free software so your browser sends encrypted or scrambled information securely over the internet. One way to tell is that a closed padlock or key appears in the lower corner of your browser. Make sure the retailer has a clear policy on returns and refunds - and a number to call if you've got problems. Legitimate sites need your name, address and, probably, an e-mail address or telephone number. But they don't need your Social Security number or bank account numbers or other similar information.