Protecting Transactions by Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)

To determine whether your credit card information is being guarded by SSL, look for a small picture of an unbroken key or closed lock in your browser window. Both the Netscape Navigator/Communicator and Microsoft Internet Explorer browsers use SSL.

Locating either of these pictures means that SSL technology is being used. If you don't see either one, or if you see a broken key or an open lock, then SSL technology is not being used to protect your transaction.

A simple way to determine if SSL is guarding your transaction is to check the URL of the site you are visiting. It should change from "http" to "https" when processing secure transactions.

For example, during the checkout process at Everyware, after you click the "Finalize Purchase" button, you will see the URL change from:

http://www.everywaresolutions.com

to

https://www.beanstream.com

The secure transaction page will then request your credit card information.

Remember, the extra "s" is for "secure site."