Secure Shopping Information

The odds of a criminal stealing your credit card information are about the same as both you and the criminal winning different state lotteries AND getting struck by lightning on the same day!

Dinner at a restaurant, buying on the Internet -- we can purchase both with a credit card, but in which case is our credit card information safer? We don't think twice about using a credit card in a restaurant because it's something we do so often. On the other hand, shopping on the Internet is new to us so it seems much more mysterious and dangerous.

Here's why it's safe to shop at our site:

We use a secure Web server for all credit card transactions to help ensure that purchases you make from our Web site are protected. Many browsers, such as Netscape Navigator, Netscape Communicator, Internet Explorer, AT&T's WorldNet Service browser, and America Online's browser use a technology called "Secure Sockets Layer" and can take advantage of the special protection that our Web server offers. This means that your name, address, and credit card number are encrypted (coded) so outsiders cannot read them. This isn't the case in that restaurant or retail store where anyone can copy down your card number!

Secure Sockets Layer technology

Just how safe is this Secure Sockets Layer technology? If you are using a United States version of one of these browsers, then you are taking advantage of "128-bit encryption." This is as secure as Internet transactions can get. A "hacker" would have to try literally tens of billions of combinations to get to your information! If you aren't using a United States version of one of these browsers, you are still safeguarded by 40-bit encryption, which offers you and your private information excellent protection. This means that you have a much better chance of being struck by lightning today than having a criminal read your 40-bit encrypted credit card number. The odds with 128-bit encryption are about the same as both you and the criminal winning different state lotteries and getting struck by lightning on the same day!

To use Secure Sockets Layer technology, our Web server has what is called a "Server ID" or "Server Certificate" that was issued by VeriSign^TM, Inc., the world's leading provider of digital authentication services to companies such as America Online, Microsoft, and Netscape. This Server ID is unique to our Web server and allows us to identify ourselves to potential customers like yourself.

You will notice that when you check out of our store, your browser changes in appearance. Netscape Navigator displays a blue line at the top of the window and a key in the lower left corner. Microsoft Internet Explorer, AT&T's WorldNet Service browser, and Netscape Communicator display a closed padlock at the bottom of the window. These changes indicate that when you are checking out, VeriSign checked our Server ID and verified that we are qualified to accept credit card information online. If VeriSign had not been able to verify our Server ID, you would have been told not to check out of our store.

In addition to the special protection that we offer, you should also know that there just aren't that many people in the world who have the abilities to intercept Internet traffic containing credit card information. In addition, most credit card companies will not hold you accountable for unauthorized charges made to your credit card -- check your credit card company's policy for details.

Rest assured while you shop at TRIC

All in all, shopping/registering at TRIC's website and the Internet stores of other reputable businesses just isn't something that you should worry about. The chances of an unauthorized person finding and using your credit card information are very small. In the future, it's likely that we'll all be shopping on the Internet regularly and wondering what all of the initial fuss was about!  For more details about how online security works, please visit VeriSign. 

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