Is It Safe to Buy Software Online?

It's an unfortunate fact that, in today's world, there are unscrupulous individuals that will go to nearly any length to steal another person's confidential information and use it for their own financial gain. This crime is known as "identity theft". This fact has made many people fearful of using their credit card online or of sending any personal information over the Internet. Are these fears justified? Is it really safe to buy software online? Read on and see for yourself.

Should I Use My Credit Card Online?

Just what is it that prevents people from entering their credit card information online? Well, some may think: "I don't want my credit card number just zipping across the telephone lines and over the Internet! What if a computer hacker jumps in and steals it?"

At first glance, this may seem like a justified concern. But, consider this: When you use your credit card at a department store or other business, they know instantly whether your account is maxed out, if your card has been reported lost or stolen, and other information. How does the cashier find all of this out? Because the card scanning device that they use sends your credit card number across the telephone lines and in many cases over the Internet! That is how they are able to receive this instant data about your credit card.

The next time you use your credit card at a store, take a look at the card scanning device. Often you will see a telephone line connected directly to it. Other times, several devices are connected to a central computer that communicates with the credit card company over the Internet.

The point is this: Every time you use your credit card, online or off, your number is being sent in some way to the credit card company, and information about it is being sent back. Statistically, using a credit card online has actually proven to be safer than using one at a "bricks-and-mortar"-type store. The reason is this: In most cases when ordering online, your information is sent directly to the credit card company. The merchant that you are doing business with never even sees it, and has no possibility of storing it. In an actual store, you must give the card to the cashier so that it can be scanned. After that, you have no knowledge of where the information goes or is kept.

So, as far as the question of whether using a credit card online is safe, the simple answer is: Yes! It is very safe. Of course, there are some things you must watch out for. Keep reading to learn more.

Should I Enter Personal Information Online?

We now know that it is just as safe, if not safer, to use credit cards online. But what about entering other sensitive, personal information, such as your date-of-birth, Social Security number, and so forth? Are there legitimate times when a company would need to know this information?

The answer to that question depends on what it is that you are trying to do online. If you are applying for a loan or a credit card, then, yes, they will most likely need to know this information. If you are simply making a purchase, though, there is probably no reason that you would ever need to enter such sensitive information as this. In such cases, you must use common sense. Ask yourself: If I were doing this at an actual place of business, would I be expected to give out this information?

Even when you are sure that the information you are entering is really necessary, there are still a few things you will want to pay attention to before clicking the "submit" button to send the information. Some good advice on this subject will be discussed in the final section of this article:

How Can I Make Sure That I Am Safe?

The first thing that you must always look for when entering any personal information online is this: Is the page I am looking at secure? A secure page is a web page that encodes all information that it sends and receives so that, even if a hacker would be able to break in and intercept the information, it would be nearly impossible to decode. (See our Soapbox article on secure servers for more information.)

Most pages that require personal information use something called "128-bit SSL encryption". (In case you are the curious type, "SSL" means "Secure Sockets Layer".) This is simply the technical term for sending an encoded message that is really, really hard to crack. It is estimated that, even with the most powerful of supercomputers, it would take nearly one hundred years to steal the credit card information from a piece of encrypted data. Since most credit cards expire every two to three years, there is virtually no chance that your information will ever be intercepted and used.

So, how do you know if you are looking at a secure page? Well, the first clue can be found in the address of the page. A standard, non-encrypted page will usually have an address that begins with "http://". A secure page, on the other hand, will typically start with "https://". (Did you notice the extra "s" in there? That stands for — you guessed it — secure!) The other clue will be found in your web browser (such as Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator). If the page you are viewing is secure, you will see a locked "padlock" symbol in the lower status bar, something like this:

This symbol looks slightly different in different browsers, but the idea is the same: If you see this symbol, you know that this page and everything on it is secure.

Here, in no particular order, are some additional tips to make your online shopping experience safe:
  • Make sure the website has a privacy policy. This is a legally-binding document that the company has written, explaining how they intend to use any personal information they collect through their website. Take a minute to read this policy, as the company must adhere to it or they will face legal consequences.
  • Take your time. Even though the web allows us to do everything faster, including shop, there is still value in taking your time to find the best deals and to make sure you really want the product you are considering. After all, we live in the Information Age, so do your homework on any product you plan to buy!
  • Keep all your records. After you make an online purchase, you will generally receive either a "thank-you" page or an email confirming your order. Print this page and keep it in a safe place in case there are any disputes later.
  • Never, EVER, send sensitive, personal information in an email message. Email messages can never be 100% secure, so be sure that you only enter personal information into a secure web page (see above) and only when it is necessary for the task at hand.
  • Don't reply to unsolicited email messages ("spam"). Companies that send spam emails are already violating the rules of 'Net etiquette, and the majority of deceptive online practices are based on spam emails. Avoid them completely.

For more information about online safety, fraud, and deceptive business practices, visit the Federal Trade Commission's website at www.ftc.gov, or call toll-free at (877) FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC is a government agency providing information and help to consumers for helping them spot, stop, and avoid problems with credit card and other types of fraud.

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