E-Commerce words Glossary

S

Security

Measures taken to keep something protected or safe from viewing, destruction, or manipulation.

Security Certificate

A chunk of information (often stored as a text file) that is used by the SSL protocol to establish a secure connection. A Security Certificate contains information about whom it belongs to, who it was issued by, a unique serial number or other unique identification, valid dates, and an encrypted "fingerprint" that can be used to verify the contents of the certificate. In order for an SSL connection to be created both sides must have a valid Security Certificate (also called a "Digital ID").

Server

A computer or software program that provides services such as email and World-Wide Web access to clients on a network.

Session

In terms of the payment system, a session manages the exchange of money.

SET Secure Electronic Transaction

A standard electronic transmission security format developed by Visa/MasterCard which uses a combination of encryption, digital signatures, certificates and third-party validation for secure credit card transactions over the Internet.

Settlement

A process in which an electronic transaction (credit cards) is accepted for financial settlement between the acquiring and issuing banks. S-HTTP Secure HyperText Transfer Protocol - A secure version of HTTP, developed by Netscape, which provides general transaction security services over the Web.

SKU

This is referred to as a stock keeping unit which is a specific number designating one specific product.

Smart Card

A credit-card sized tamper resistant plastic card that contains a microprocessor that can store and process data.

Soft goods

Soft goods are products that can be distributed electronically. Examples of soft goods, also known as digital goods, include software, music files, images, or any other type of data that can be sent electronically from one computer to another.

Software

license A document that verifies a person has permission to use a software program.

SSL

A protocol first designed by Netscape Communications to enable encrypted, authenticated communications across the Internet. SSL is used mostly, but not exclusively, in communications between web browsers and web servers. URLs that begin with "https" indicate that an SSL connection will be used. SSL provides 3 important things: Privacy, Authentication, and Message Integrity. In an SSL connection each side of the connection must have a Security Certificate, which each side's software sends to the other. Each side then encrypts what it sends using information from both its own and the other side's Certificate, ensuring the authenticity of the message's origin, that only the intended recipient can de-crypt it, and that the data has not been tampered with. ecBuilder provides for an SSL connection between the shopper's browser and the merchants' web site.

Swiped Card

Credit card information that is electronically entered into a computerized system by swiping the credit card through a card reader or terminal.