Unfortunately, certain self-interested sections of the Internet industry have induced a form of ignorance-based paranoia in the minds of the media. The media moguls then go out and write reams of scare stories to fill their newspapers and magazines (What better way to sell your security software?)

As part of this 'rant' please consider these questions:

Have you, or anyone you know, ever suffered from Internet credit card fraud?
Didn't think so. Lots of apocryphal stories abound in papers and on radio, but the reality is different.

What happens when you buy something in a shop?
Most people, myself included, will happily hand over the credit card to someone they've never met before, who may be working there as a 'Saturday' helper and who is unlikely to have been security checked. You will also quite happily give them your name and address, possibly for the guarantee. They are free to write down all the details, including security code, right in front of your eyes.

Have you ever thought what happens to that carbon paper?
The shop assistant will throw it away and anybody who rummages through the bins that night could get your card number, name and expiry date from the impression left behind.

What about restaurants?
The security issue here is worse than in shops. All the same applies about who you are giving the card to, but in nine times out of ten, they will also walk away from your table and totally disappear, with your card, for several minutes. How secure is that?

Finally, what about phone ordering?
Sounds secure, but isn't. Most of us will have had a crossed line at some time or other. Certainly you'll be aware of how often 'celebrity' phone conversations are overheard and reported in the papers. Anyone at a phone exchange can listen into a call at any time.

While we are not denying that some internet fraud has and can take place, it is extremely rare and is far outweighed by the fraud which takes place in 'real' life. Pretty much any criminally minded person could perpetrate the possible frauds detailed above, but how many have the ability to crack 128-bit encryption?

Apart from the encryption routines detailed here, Take That Ltd. have had to satisfy all the credit card companies that our security routines are robust, otherwise they wouldn't deal with us. Even then, they insist that we use a dedicated system for Internet orders, which is completely separate from our normal mail order transactions. All of that is after our own bank has gone through our processes with a fine tooth comb - simply because the words "credit card" and "Internet" scare the wits out of all of those in banking.