Security while shopping and browsing the internet

People are often worried about privacy on the internet, as well as the safety of their credit card details when buying any products or services via websites.

on this page Browsing the internet and secure and non-secure web servers Non-secure websites Secure website CVV security number Our shopping cart company - Americart Credit cards accepted PayPal - if you don’t want to use a credit card for ordering Comments on on-line shopping security

The truth is that there are many shady and crooked people around, but people’s credit cards are more often fraudulently used when giving your credit card details when making a hotel reservation, than when shopping on the internet.

Websites with no contactable information – were the company do not supply contactable phone numbers or physical addresses must be viewed with great skepticism.

Most responsible merchant acquiring companies also insist that their clients (the sellers) are PCI DSS compliant, as protection for buyers.

Browsing the internet and secure and non-secure web servers

When viewing web pages these pages are "served" (presented) to you via a "non-secure" server, which is fine when simply browsing around.

Non-secure websites

 The address of a normal website will normally be:

http://www.company.com

The pages where you have the "Add to cart" or the "Go to checkout" will also be normal web pages.

Secure website

When you however start to buy – and at the point where you need to supply sensitive credit card information – like your credit card number – these pages must be on a “secure” server – and the address would then normally read:

https://www.company.com

Secure servers protect your information by encrypting the information when it is filled in by the client and the transaction is done. Encryption methods vary, but the most used way is to use Secure Socket Layer (SSL) and in our case – our SSL secured shopping cart uses a 256 bit encryption.

When you are on a secure website – where you input actual payment information – a lock symbol must also display in the browser.

CVV security number

CVV is an additional anti-fraud security feature to help verify that you are in possession of the credit card when placing an order.

	The CVV number for Visa and MasterCard is a three-digit number is printed on the signature panel on the back of the card immediately after the card's account number.
	The CVV number for American Express cards are the four-digit CVV number printed on the front of the card above the card account number.

Our shopping cart company - Americart

Our shopping cart company – Americart - www.cartserver.com also uses various systems to ensure that the shopping cart is protected from hacking and uses up to 256-bit Secure Sockets Layer encryption.

• McAfee Secure
• GoDaddy Secure Site
• VeriSign Secure Server Authenticity Certificate

Credit cards accepted

We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Diners Club credit cards – but do NOT accept debit cards of check account cards.

PayPal - if you don’t want to use a credit card for ordering

Should any of our American and other international clients prefer not to use their credit cards to order any items, they can also pay by using PayPal.

Our South African clients can pay directly by EFT into our ABSA account, which information is found on our "Contact Us" page.

Comments on on-line shopping security

"The truth is that sending a credit card number to an electronic merchant over the internet is probably the safest way to make such a transaction. There is more risk in giving credit card data by phone to a hotel." NEW YORK TIMES (11/13/95)