A technician's warning Thursday on the Internet represents one of the most wide-ranging security breaches to hit online commerce. Exposure of confidential information has always tempered Web shopping enthusiasm. Online, a Seattle-area Internet service provider. He found the problem while examining operations on an online store hosted by his service. The last thing anyone wants to do is kill the golden goose of Internet commerce.
Full disclosure is the best policy.
If the site doesn't have a privacy statement or if it doesn't clearly spell out how they secure their data, then shop elsewhere. The Los Angeles Times reported Thursday that it managed to download more than 100 pages of credit card numbers, travel reservations, e-mail and other information from Internet sites. Now we know it is not as secure as we think it is. Computer programs that are vulnerable to Web browsers if improperly installed include those from Order Form, Seaside Enterprises, QuikStore, PDGSoft and Mercantec. The sites didn't follow their guidelines.