Payment Security

Security is probably one of the most significant concerns for both the shopper and the retailer during an online transaction. In reality, an online transaction is probably more secure than a card transaction in a shop or conducted over the telephone or by fax, as the information transmitted online is strongly encrypted using complicated logarithm combinations.

The Protx payment system uses a combination of both established and innovative techniques to ensure the security and integrity of all sensitive data. Furthermore, our web servers are certified by Thawte, a public Certificate Authority, ensuring that both the shopper and retailer can have confidence that nobody can impersonate Protx to obtain confidential information.

Transaction Encryption
The transfer of the purchase details from our site to Protx are encapsulated using encrypted and digitally-signed protocol. This uses a combination of standard methods such as PGP, RSA and MD5 to ensure that the information passed is secure and tamper-proof via SSL.

Security for the Shopper
Any communication between the shopper and Protx is also encrypted to the maximum strength supported by the shopper's browser using 128 Bit SSL. Shoppers are also protected from fraudulent use of their card in a "card not present" environment, by their card issuers. The card issuers provide the right for shopper to dispute a transaction if the goods/services did not arrive or if the card was used fraudulently.

Data Storage
Data storage on Protx systems, and the communication between Protx and the worldwide banking networks, is regularly audited by the banking authorities to ensure a secure transaction environment. We also ensure that we stay up-to-date with the latest versions of any third-party code we use, and continually review our own proprietary code.

How secure is my payment?
We use Protx for our transactions. They use state of the art security tools and techniques, both proprietary and unique, to ensure that you and your shopper are protected against what is nowadays a virtually non-existent risk. Their systems also have inbuilt system redundancy and fault tolerance, to provide you with a virtually uninterrupted service 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Their systems have evolved over many years and throughout our history they have continuously sought and gained bank approval for their systems.

If the shopper keys in their card details at home or in the office, surely they are not encrypted until after they arrive at the Protx system?
Using industry standard SSL, and Protx’s unique encryption systems, this is not actually the case. When the shopper fills in the payment form and clicks the 'Submit' button, their details are not sent straight-away. What actually happens is that a secure link is set up between the shopper's browser and Protx’s and an encryption code is requested and received, which then wraps the order and transaction details before leaving the shopper's premises.