Glossary

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Merchant Account
A "bank account" established with a payment processor for the settlement of credit card transactions. Any merchant who wants to take credit card orders must establish a merchant account. Internet merchants need a "Card Not Present Merchant Account."

Network
The simplest form of network is two computers connected by a wire. Information in the form of encoded data is exchanged between computers via cables. The wire, the data format, the encoding method, even the connections are all part of a shared networking standard that allows the process to work.

Newsgroups
Also referred to as Usenets.  Ongoing discussion groups among user on the Internet who share interests.

“Non face-to-face” merchant account
An account that allows merchants to process credit cards in a non-retail environment.

Non-repudiation
The inability to deny having signed a transaction or file.

Notarization
Ensures the validity of binding business transactions by ensuring that the transaction really was signed by the user at a particular time.

Off-line logon
Allows users to function normally while not connected to the network.

Off-Line Transaction Processing
Capture of order and credit card information for later authorization and transaction processing through a traditional card swipe terminal or through a computer.

Online
Having access to the Internet or a network.

Order Confirmation
An email message notifying a customer that an order has been received and will be processed.

Order Management System
A system that accepts orders and initiates a process that results in the outbound shipment of a finished good.

Page Impression
A page impression occurs each time an Internet user displays a specified, tracked page.

Policy networking
Establishes limited trust relationships that match the business relationships between or within organizations. It ensures that confidentiality agreements stop at an end point that can be controlled.

Private key
The half of a key pair that is kept secret by the owner of the key pair. Private keys can sign or decrypt data.

Protocol
A set of rules that lets computers agree on how to communicate over a network.

Public key
The portion of a key pair that is available publicly.

Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)
The security system that provides the standards for establishing and maintaining a trusted network environment through the creation and distribution of keys and digital certificates.