Internet Roadside Café #6: Electronic Commerce and the Internet

We all know the problem with using your credit card to buy things over the Internet, right? Some 15-year-old kid who's royally miffed that Mom said ixnay on the Marilyn Manson concert tickets is going to decide (and I think we can all follow the teen logic here) that it's your damn fault, and after hacking your Visa card number he's going to charge a pair of Nike sneakers--which should pretty much max you out--right? Doubtful. In fact, most security experts would tell you that handing your card to a waiter in a restaurant is statistically more dangerous. The latest installment in the University of Washington's ongoing Internet Roadside Café series (see VL-9/96) explodes common myths about Internet security (ironically, merchants not consumers are at greater risk of having sensitive material "hacked"), explains the basics of current encryption systems, and briefly looks at the explosive growth of electronic or "e-commerce" on the web. In addition, viewers will receive a timely reminder on the importance of careful password selection (80% of security breaches are the result of passwords like "dancingbaby"). A solid primer for general netizens and heads-up for smaller companies preparing to do business on the web, this is highly recommended. Aud: J, H, C, P. (R. Pitman)