Linda,

If the program does NOT have the ability to ENCRYPT the fax, then someone
_could_ intercept the message and obtain your credit card #.

BUT and that's a BIG but, the chances of that happening are soooo small.
Someone would have to know exactly when you will be sending that message
otherwise they would need to be monitoring  *ALL*  your outbound data for
days/weeks/months just on the off chance that they catch a message with
your credit card number in it.  IN ADDITION, consider that the internet is
a PACKET SWITCHING network -- which means that your message is chopped up
into many pieces (packets - packages) that are each sent (in many/most
cases) by a different route.  All the individual pieces do not "flow" down
the "highway" one behind the other in a nice logical progression.

The fact is, that without data encryption, any message can be intercepted
and read.  But the chances of that happening are very very very small.  It
is unfortunate, but television has created an atmosphere of paranoia
thanks to shows like "The Net" and even the IBM commercials about using
credit cards on the internet.  Add to that, rash statements made by people
who don't understand the actual process of sending messages,  and it can
sound like a very frightening and unsafe environment.

Jim Meagher
=====
Micro Solutions Consulting        Member of The HTML Writers Guild
http://www.ezy.net/~microsol     International Webmasters Association
410-543-8996                MS Site Builder Network - Level 2 member
=====
-----Original Message-----
From: aldridge <[log in to unmask]>


>In the same area that has been discussed I would like to know if sending
>your credit card number in a Fax over the web is safe

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