Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)

SSL provides sound privacy protection by encrypting the channel between the consumer and the merchant. Because the data sent over the channel is secure, SSL is sufficient security when doing business with merchants that you know and trust.

To find out if your transaction is secured by SSL, check for the unbroken key or closed lock symbol in the frame of your browser window. Or check the merchant's URL in the Address field of your browser; it should change from "http" to "https" when processing secure transactions. Microsoft's Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera and a host of other browser's use SSL.