Shopping online gives you access to about any store that has a website.  Many stores now have online ordering capabilities.  With increasing numbers of people buying things online there are more and more horror stories about credit card fraud, identity theft, etc.  The fact is that ordering online is safe, quick, and convenient, provided you know what you're doing.

How do I know it's safe?

Most online ordering sites are secure.  They use something called Secure Socket Layer, or SSL for short.  SSL works by using a public key to encrypt data that's transferred over the SSL connection.  Many studies have shown that even if someone was to get ahold of some of the encrypted information, it would take many years to crack the key code.  Using 128-bit encryption there are around two hundred trillion times more key combinations than the previous generation of  security.

How do people get credit card numbers?

Most often the data that is stolen is taken from the company's database of users and credit card numbers.  This is usually done by exploiting a previously unknown hole in the computer system's security.  Although you hear many horror stories about this, the danger of online ordering is no greater than giving out your credit card number over the phone.  You are giving your account number to a unknown person, frequently using a cordless phone,  neither of which are secure.

What can I do to protect myself?

Verify that it is a secure site
Look for signs of a secure site before submitting any credit card information.  There are two places you can find this. 

1. Look at the web page address.  Instead of reading 
   http://www.somewebsite.com, it should read:
   https://www.somesite.com.  The HTTPS indicates a secure connection.
   
   Internet Explorer

2. The other place you can check is in the bottom right corner of your screen for a padlock icon.  ( Figure 1 ).  
   
   Netscape

3. The other place you can check is in the bottom right corner of your screen for a padlock icon.  ( Figure 2 ). 

Pay by credit or charge card
If you pay by credit or charge card online, your transaction will be protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act. Under this law, consumers have the right to dispute charges under certain circumstances and temporarily withhold payment while the creditor is investigating them. In the event of unauthorized use of your credit or charge card, you are generally held liable only for the first $50 in charges. Some companies offer an online shopping guarantee that ensures you will not be held responsible for any unauthorized charges made online, and some cards may provide additional warranty, return and/or purchase protection benefits.

Keep a record
Be sure to print a copy of your purchase order and confirmation number for your records. Also, you should know that the federal Mail/Telephone Order Merchandise Rule covers online orders. This means that unless otherwise stated, merchandise must be delivered within 30 days; and if there are delays, the company must notify you.

Keep your password(s) private
Be creative when you establish a password, and never give it to anyone. Avoid using a telephone number, birth date, or a portion of your Social Security number. Instead, use a combination of numbers, letters, and symbols.

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