Now that e-commerce is getting more and more mainstream the use of credit card is becoming quite common. It offers a lot of convenience but can become a source of major problem if not used sensibly. There are a lot of disgruntled credit card users who, after using their card on the internet, find out the hard way, that their card has been hacked and that someone has been making fraudulent use of it on the internet.

To avoid such a situation following are some guidelines for using the credit card on the internet that will make the hacking & illegal use of your card almost impossible.

1. Use the credit card only on sites which use a secure server. Some sites wrongly advertise this and mislead people into believing that they are secure.

2. The secure server sites are identified by a yellow padlock that automatically appears on the right lower portion of your screen (near the windows status bar). This lock appears as soon as the web page for entering the credit card information opens.

3. Verify it by placing your mouse pointer on the yellow lock. It should display "SSL secure, 128 Bit". This is one of the most secure encryption technologies available today andguarantees almost absolute protection of your card. (Very few sites are offering more than 400 Bits of SSL security, which is even better).

4. Some sites offer "SSL secure, 40 Bit", try not using your credit card on them as this technology although is secure but can be hacked by a determined & professional hacker.

5. If you double click on the yellow lock a new window will open giving the details of a "certificate" that has been issued to the site on which you are about to use your credit card. (certificates are issued by accredited bodies to various sites).

6. Make sure that the name of the site on the certificate is the same as the one on which you plan to use your credit card. Also, make sure that the expiry date of the certificate is still valid. Sometimes the certificate is issued in name of the parent company in which case the names can be different. Don't hurry, verify any concern before giving out your card details.

Other than the sites which meet the criteria that has been mentioned above, never give out your card details. Remember, once your card has been charged fraudulently, even the best of banks test your patience before reimbursing any money. If you follow these guidelines, the chances are that you will be safe from trouble.