Security of Your Credit Card

Secure web ordering is not only safe, but is actually safer for the consumer than any other ordering method. Here are some responses to the  most common internet credit card usage concerns.

"People might pick up my credit card number as it travels across the internet."

Actually, there is a much greater chance of someone copying your number when you use your card at a store or whenever you give your number over the telephone. "Tapping" info off the internet requires some serious hardware, specialized software, and a wealth of knowledge, whereas tapping voice communication on your phone can be done by a kid with a few dollars worth of parts from Radio Shack.

Furthermore, even if the credit card data packets were intercepted, they are locked in a virtually unbreakable code sequence using SSL (Secure Socket Layer) encryption. This means your number is scrambled on your own computer by your browser before it is sent out, and is unscrambled only at the destination computer. In theory, this encryption might be broken, but it would takes many thousands of computer-years to do so, and it never happens. It is far easier for thieves to get your card number in a hundred other ways. For example, do you have a lock on your mailbox where your statement is delivered? Do you ever give your card to a waiter who takes it away for a few minutes?

"You can charge me too much / twice."

Unauthorized charges could be made by anybody who has taken your number, such as shop clerks, mail order firms, gas station cashiers, waiters, and so forth. Even if you never give your card number over the internet, they could. What largely keeps them from doing this is the chargeback security built into the credit card system itself. For any credit card transaction, the burden of proof that the purchase ever took place is on the merchant and not on the customer. If you find an unauthorized charge to your credit card, you can always contact your credit card company and ask for a correction. The money is witheld, and the burden of proof is now on the merchant that you indeed made the purchase. (By the way, one part of our proof is the unique Ordering Code you provide from your Avid system.)

"You can sell my credit card number, or someone can steal it from you."

In fact, 3Prong never sees your entire credit card number.When you order, the number is sent directly to an online store and credit card processor named Kagi  (http://www.kagi.com), a long-standing e-commerce service provider with an excellent reputation.

The credit card form is on Kagi's secure server in California, which accepts the encrypted card information directly from you. The only credit card information provided by Kagi to 3Prong is a confirmation of the payment and the last 4 digits of the card number. Kagi is the only non-bank facility holding your card number. Since Kagi's only business is the processing card transactions when reselling for hundreds of online vendors, its reputation would be heavily damaged if it did not safeguard your card number completely.