# Credit card security

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-card-security/235731>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [March 22, 2004, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-card-security/235731 "2004-03-22T18:25:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-card-security/235731/1 "2004-03-22T18:25:56Z")

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I don’t know if this has been covered in the 500 threads regarding the paid subscription service, but what kind of security is in place regarding the transfer of CC info here? I didn’t see any security/encryption guarantees on the sign-up page.  
Sorry if I’m being anal.

Happy

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**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-card-security/235731/2 "2004-03-22T18:35:09Z")

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Well, I’ve just gone through the process. I’m not up with encryption and all that, but the confirmation showed my details, but the credit card number masked by asterisks.

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**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-card-security/235731/3 "2004-03-22T18:40:38Z")

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> [@Ice Wolf](#):
>
> Well, I’ve just gone through the process. I’m not up with encryption and all that, but the confirmation showed my details, but the credit card number masked by asterisks.

What I’m surmising is this: the SDMB doesn’t need to keep CC numbers for any longer than it takes to confirm a subscription order. So the SDMB will not, in fact keep a repository of valid CC #s.

After all, AFAIK, subscriptions will not automatically renew and automatically be charged to our CCs. We’ll have to manually re-up next year, inputting the then-lost-to-the-SDMB CC information.

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**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-card-security/235731/4 "2004-03-22T20:52:38Z")

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It looks like all the CC stuff is being done through [verisign](https://www.verisign.com/index.html) who are as reputable as they come.

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**Author:** ![fortytwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f9ae1b/32.png) [@fortytwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fortytwo)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-card-security/235731/5 "2004-03-22T23:17:34Z")

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Is there a list of acceptable credit cards available? I’ve looked at some of the threads but can’t find one. I have a UK issued one but I’m not sure if it is usuable.

V

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**Author:** ![Big\_Norse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/big_norse/32/9954_2.png) [@Big\_Norse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Norse)\
**Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-card-security/235731/6 "2004-03-23T00:00:05Z")

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The pull down menu options on the sign up page show the usual: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover.