Ever since the Internet became a tool that enabled companies to market services and or goods, there has been a stigma against purchasing any product over the Internet. This is due to press reports of the many "Scams". Now that the ebook is coming to the fore, many authors are placing their faith in a growing number of Internet publishers. Publishers such as Global Publishing Bureau Limited (http://www.gpb.surf1.com), Hollow Hills Publishing and not to forget Amazon. Companies such as these are taking the lead in promoting the work of new and existing authors from all over the world. The misinformation attached to the transmission of credit card details over the Internet needs to be dispelled, this is so the growing market in ePublishing can be developed alongside and in conjunction with the conventional publisher.

Professional and well regulated Internet publishing companies, as well as the merchant banks they employ make every effort to ensure that the credit card details and information sent to them is well protected.

The purchasing public and Internet users should be made aware that transactions made over the Internet are only secure when the transaction is made through a secure web page. The purchaser can check, before entering their details in to any computer attached to the Internet by looking for a little coloured padlock on the bottom right of the credit card payment page. The padlock indicates that the transaction is being processed through a secure server. Encryption and many other types of data protection achieve the required safeguards that will insure your information is protected.

Authors, who market their books through Internet Publishers, generally receive considerably higher royalty rates than authors who market their books through publishers that publish and distribute books via conventional means. Unfortunately, at present, the large market that is available to the author through the Internet cannot be realised; this is due to the fears and miss information that the tabloid press portrays about the Net.

I do not advocate that there is not a problem with some transmissions of personal and confidential information over the Internet. However, if the purchasing public were made aware of the fact that there is a safe, secure facility that reputable sites use, the chances are that confidence in this vast market may begin to develop.

Things to look for in a website that sell a product over the Internet.

1. Secure website trading. A padlock in the bottom right of the payment page. 2. The Link ink to the secure payment page should be prefixed with an 'S' i.e. shtml:// rather than just html:// 3. Is there information about the bank, who's facilities are used on the website? If the website is a reputable one, then there is generally a link to, or information about the Merchant Bank that the Web Company is in partnership with. 4. Do not be afraid to ask either the website owner or the merchant bank for more information about their facilities. If the information is slow in coming or does not come at all, do not make your purchase.

With the Internet 'BOOM' fizzling out to a muffled 'bang'! Now is a good time to place the bad press and misinformation to one side. Purchasing over the Internet can be safe as long as you take care and heed the danger signs.