At some point in time you are going to be tempted to buy something from an online store, here are a few tips to help you make sure that the site you are using is secure and it is safe to pass your private information.

1. Use a secure browser — Your browser should comply with industry
security standards such as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) or Secure
Electronic Transaction (SET). These standards encrypt (scramble) the
purchase information you send over the Internet, ensuring the security
of your transaction. A safe site will show a symbol of an unbroken key,
a picture of a closed lock, or a Web address that begins with “https.”
(Look for the letter “s.”) In addition to locks and keys most browsers
also display a warning message before you send information to a site.
This dialog box should inform you whether you’re sending to a secure
or unsecure site. You may cancel at this point if you wish.
Another way to verify a secure site is with a “certificate.” Currently,
VeriSign, Inc. is a provider of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and
digital certificate solutions used by enterprises, Web sites, and consumers
to conduct secure communications and transactions over the
Internet and private networks. The company has formed strategic
partnerships with many companies. More information about the company
can be found at http://www.verisign.com. If you have questions
about the security of any site, do not send your information.

2. Keep your private information private — Do not provide personal
information unless you know who will receive the information. Keep
your passwords private, and use a combination of numbers, letters, and
symbols for your password instead of easy-to-find birth dates, phone
numbers, or addresses.

3. Keep a record of your purchase — Print a copy of your purchase
order and confirmation number for your records. The Federal Mail
or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule covers orders made via the
Internet.

4. Completing forms on the Internet — A form is an area in a Web page
where you can supply information that will be sent back to the Web
server. Forms are one part of Web browsing where you need to be
careful. Why are forms sometimes risky? When you fill in a form and
click the “submit” button, you send the information you supplied in the form to the server. If you are sending information that isn’t private
there is no reason to be concerned. However, some forms want more
from you, including such sensitive information as your name,
e-mail address, mailing address or telephone number, credit card
number, and Social Security number.
A form usually collects personal information when you are making a
purchase, or when joining an online organization. A growing number of
sites prompt you to “join” the site in order to view/use it. To join you
must supply information about yourself. If you’re concerned about
privacy, an easy way to protect yourself is to never fill out one of these
forms. If you are tempted to do so to purchase a product or join an
organization, ask yourself these questions:
• Is the information requested by the form really necessary?
• Do I trust the owners of this site with my information?
• Is the site secure?
• Does the site have a security/privacy policy?

We hope these hits help you to get the most out of your internet experience and Thanks for visiting Learntodance.com