Encryption for Social Security Numbers

[inthebag]

My company has a website which offers quotes of certain services for prospective customers. The problem is, my boss does not want to put a blank for people to enter their social security numbers because our site is not encrypted. First question: is there a way to do the encryption myself? Second question: Boss says the encryption costs $150 a year. (he might have meant a month) Is $150/year a reasonable charge?

Thanks!

[kevin]

I think you are confusing encryption with security certificates?

What does it matter if its encrypted if you can't be trusted?

You want a server that supports secure connections (https/SSL). You want a security certifcate so that users feel relatively safe sending sensitive information to your website. Its basically like a background check, they verify the information you give them about you and your company. $150 per/year sounds cheap, Verisign charges about $400 per year I think. Personally, I think they are not worth the money, but they are better than nothing I guess.

Security certificates:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=security+certificates&btnG=Google+Search

[inthebag]

Thank you!

[Josh]

It would probably be best to just use SSL, or similar.