Online merchants say it's safe enough, but plenty of shoppers disagree.
Various studies show that as many as 80 percent of people who make financial use of the Web don't trust it with their credit-card numbers. They might check the Net for prices and products. But for actual purchasing, they visit the store or pick up the phone. Credit-card issuers, hoping to calm these fears, are always on the lookout for new technologies that might make you feel safe. The latest is a system for creating disposable credit-card numbers.