And, as the Internet grows, they could happen more often. Different levels of security can be set, based on where Web information comes from and how much it is trusted. Web browsers can also be set to create a signal if a user is about to take an action that poses a security risk. For example, if a credit card number is about to be sent to an insecure site, Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer will send a warning that the site is not secure. If the site claims to be secure but its security credentials are suspect, both browsers can send warnings that the site might have been tampered with or might be misrepresenting itself.
Privacy policies are important to look for when visiting a Web site.
They appear in various locations. That counts as a privacy policy. If a privacy policy can't be found, send an e-mail or written message to the site to ask about its policy. Trying to foster trust Since there are no government standards, a group of corporations and associations banded together last June to form The Online Privacy Alliance . They are trying to create an environment of trust and foster the protection of individuals' privacy online.