Info Link Informer - January 1999, Vol. Many people question the safety of shopping on the Internet using their credit card. Some fear using a credit card on the Internet is like posting it on a billboard. Most experts agree that concern over Internet shopping was once valid. In fact, many credit card companies now feel it is less risky to do business on the Internet than in regular retail stores.
Techniques exist that allow web browsers to encrypt and decode data exchanged over the Internet.
Encryption makes data indecipherable to those who receive it without first going through the necessary decryption process. As compelling as this sounds, note that web browsers are not always in secure mode. Special signals need to be exchanged between your computer and the merchant in order for your web browser to use its encrypting capabilities. But not all vendors use encryption, so it is up to the consumer to ensure that the vendor they are dealing with supports it. Often most of an on-line store will be insecure.