How Safe is it to use my
credit card ?
We use the SWREG
(Atlantic Coast) secure server to handle
payments. You can pay using any of the methods
listed in the box at the right.
SWREG use secure e-commerce servers using
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) to communicate
with your browser. As long as your browser
shows that you have a secure connection
(see below) then it is highly unlikely that
anyone will get access to your credit card
details. Intercepting useful credit card
information over the Net is not easy to
do. It is far easier for people to steal
credit card numbers by other means, for
example, shop assistants or waiters, who
can copy the details and use them dishonestly.
You might also remember, that most banks
either cover all the charges that result
from unauthorized use of your credit card
or may limit your liability to just $50.
How the process works
When you go to an online store and submit
an order form with a credit card number,
the information is transmitted from your
computer via local telephone lines to your
Internet Service Provider (ISP) and then
over the Internet. The order may go to an
intermediary or directly to the merchant's
server. Companies vary as to when they process
your credit card details. Some do immediately,
while others wait until the product has
been shipped.
If you plan to shop on the Internet with
a credit card, a secure ordering system
is a must.
Both Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet
Explorer use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)
to encrypt your data before sending it over
the Net. SSL scrambles your personal data
- look for an unbroken key or lock to appear
in the bottom of your browser window. This
technology provides a secure connection
that keeps data private during transmission
over the Internet. However, this technology
does not authenticate the parties at either
end of the transaction.
Visa International and MasterCard International,
with support from many of the world's top
financial institutions, are presently working
to develop a more advanced encryption process
called Secure Electronic Transaction (SET).
SET involves a system of digital certificates
provided by card issuers, and encryption.
SET enables the identity of both merchant
and cardholder to be authenticated and also
ensures that neither the merchant or cardholder's
bank sees the purchaser's credit card number.
How do you tell if the Internet connections
are secure?
Many web sites use Secure Sockets Layer
(SSL) technology to encrypt the credit card
information that you send over the Internet.
These sites usually inform you they are
using this technology. Or, check if the
web address on the page that asks for your
credit card information begins with "https:"
instead of "http:"; if so, this
technology is in place.
Other ways to tell whether a web site uses
security software:
- Your browser displays the icon of a
locked padlock at the bottom of the screen
(Netscape Navigator™; - versions 4.0 and
higher)
- You see the icon of an unbroken key
at the bottom of the screen (earlier versions
of Netscape Navigator™)
- You see the icon of a lock on the status
bar (Microsoft Internet Explorer®).
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