Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
you enter into forms so that you do not need to type the same infor
mation time after time whenever you use a site. This service can save
time and effort, particularly if you use the same site(s) frequently.
However, it also implies that others using your account have similar
access to your information. If this saved information includes your
creditcard number, than anyone gaining access to your computer
and account could charge materials to your credit card.
regular transaction?
When you enter your credit card into a Web form in anticipa
tion of services or goods, you run the same risks you might en
counter in using plastic directly—except that you have not had
physical contact with a salesperson or other company representa
tive. If the company does not really exist, if it goes out of business,
or if it engages in unethical business practices, you may be charged
and find it difficult to recover your money. Recovery of charges on
transactions over the Internet can be particularly difficult, because
you may have only a domain name as the address of the business in
volved. In practice, the business may involve only a Web page, and
a charge on your creditcard statement might refer to anywhere in
the world.
Recovery of online creditcard charges can be difficult, so your
best defense against such abuses is to be quite certain of the sites
where you do business. Some companies, such as amazon.com, have
wellestablished records of providing appropriate goods and ser
vices. Conducting business with lessestablished companies, how
ever, may carry a greater risk.
How can online companies abuse my credit-card
Once a company has your creditcard number, we expect the
company to protect that information. For the most part, legal re
quirements and ethical expectations apply similarly to both Internet
and plastic transactions, and demand that the information is kept
confidential. Internet transactions, however, are subject to the same
