MHP Home Page - Public Access Services

This page carries a discussion, but no demonstration.

If you have any comments, please E-mail them to me: <mhp@lightlink.com>

Max Parke

People will pour out the most intimate details of their social life - electronically - to a complete stranger on the Internet. But when it comes to their own electronic details, particularly their credit card and bank account numbers, PIN numbers (Personal Identification Numbers), social security (SSN) numbers and the like, they should be more circumspect. Consider:

HACKERS

are constantly looking for new conquests. Everything you send over the Internet can be intercepted, unless you take steps to prevent it. (For more information see below).

THE FLIM-FLAM:

FOR SALE:Small island, downstate New York,
all bridges included.  Price $24.00 firm.

Credit Card, Card #, Expiration:

The "Insecure Information" Alert

If you are using Netscape 1.1, you may receive a message box to warn you about this. You can:

SHOW THIS ALERT NEXT TIME: You can turn off this warning if you find it annoying (I do).
CONTINUE SUBMISSION: Go ahead, remembering whether or not to alert you again next time.
CANCEL SUBMISSION: If you'd rather not send the information.

Trends

As you well know, this area is changing fast and anything I publish on it would be instantly obsolete. However, there are some principles:

WARNING MESSAGES
Some Web browsers alert the user of this problem, and ask for permission to proceed. (see above).
IDENTIFICATION
Both parties verify the identity of the other.
ENCRYPTION
Messages are transmitted using "unbreakable" ciphers (e.g., PGP).
AUTHENTICATION
Encryption and authentication are combined to provide secure communications. Browser technology in this area is likely to advance rapidly.
ELECTRONIC CASH
If you know of an FTP site where I can download some from, please let me know.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: (more references welcomed)

www.eff.org The Electronic Frontier Foundation, Inc.,
"a non-profit civil liberties organization working in the public interest to protect privacy, free expression, and access to online resources and information."
www.fv.com
A look at just one commercial company that claims to solve the problem.