Ssl And Shopping Cart Questions

[kendra]

Hi there everyone. I just want to preface this question by saying I know abolutely NOTHING about computers, the internet, and web pages. I bought some web software and have been able to construct a site for myself to use and I'm shoppinh gor a web host. (Someone recommended this site to me.)

 

My questions are these:

1. I need to have a shopping cart (I see you offer software, free) so how user-friendlty is it and will the shopping cart pages look like the rest of my site. i.e. can I insert it into a template?

 

2. I've read the difference between SSL and shared SSL, but is the shared secured and encrypted? I already have a business (not web-based) and have a merchant account and credit card machine to process credit cards. I would like to know if there is a way that I can get a secured page that someone can enter a credit card number, I will recieve or retrieve that number and be able to manually put it into my machine and then I can dispose of that information? Or do I have to find an online merchant account? I know e-mail is not safe to transport of sensitive information, but is there another way for me to get sensitive info without someone being able to steal it?

 

3. I also saw something about a password page or something - is that secure? Can people put thier info into that?

 

I'm trying to avoid getting another merchant account just for my online business. Is it possible to get credit card information safely without doing that?

 

Thanks!

Kendra

ANY input is helpful!

[TCH-Rob]

Kendra,

 

I will give these a go.

 

1. I need to have a shopping cart (I see you offer software, free) so how user-friendlty is it and will the shopping cart pages look like the rest of my site. i.e. can I insert it into a template?

Although not horribly dificult, there is a little learning curve to them and I know with osCommerce you can integrate it to look like your site. I will say that it is advanced work to get it there, you cant just click a few buttons and BAM! perfect match.

 

2. I've read the difference between SSL and shared SSL, but is the shared secured and encrypted? I already have a business (not web-based) and have a merchant account and credit card machine to process credit cards. I would like to know if there is a way that I can get a secured page that someone can enter a credit card number, I will recieve or retrieve that number and be able to manually put it into my machine and then I can dispose of that information?

 

You can have a form on a secure (shared or no) page and have the information sent to you. NOTE - I do not like this option.

 

Or do I have to find an online merchant account?

I think this is the best option. Does your current merchant account offer web services?

 

I know e-mail is not safe to transport of sensitive information, but is there another way for me to get sensitive info without someone being able to steal it?

 

Nothing is fool proof, the safest option is to have it sent straight to the merchant company, anything else has great potential for theft if someone knew the method (saved in a database, emailed from a form) in which it was kept.

 

3. I also saw something about a password page or something - is that secure? Can people put thier info into that?

They enter a username and password to access a particular part of the site. Cant put cc info there

 

I'm trying to avoid getting another merchant account just for my online business. Is it possible to get credit card information safely without doing that?

 

I say not as safe, talk to your merchant about web services.