PeteDotCom -> Networking -> Misc -> Internet Shopping -> Why internet shopping is safe When you purchase goods or services online with your credit card, the data is encrypted before it is sent back to the server that stores these data. When you purchase something at the gas station with your credit card, the data goes along the telephone line without any encryption, which could be intercepted by others who have the know-how. In the home With internet ready white goods, your fridge for example could order more milk for you when you have nearly finish it. Or your oven could order the ingredients for tonight's dinner. Or you could simply hop on the computer and purchase what ever supplies you need with out leaving the home. Research The internet also allows you to do research on the goods you desire. A Ford Motor Corp. research shows that a good portion of their customers these days do research of their vehicles on the internet before buying them.  In the workplace Purchase of goods and services on the internet is also done in the workplace. For example business like Microsoft that receive many thousands of orders for licenses each month to most of their processing on-line. What happens is the technology distributor receive orders from its clients, then goes online to Microsoft secure website, i.e https://, and enters the order and submit it to Microsoft.