Very confused about SSL, PHP
Okay...I have a website, and it's complete except for one thing- I have a form which will transmit credit card numbers and personal information, and I need to know how to use it securely. I'm using Ventures Online for my webhosting and I used Frontpage to create my website, I have no idea how to use html. The page with the order form is published to VO's secure server- now I just need to know how to use it!
See, I have to be able to send the results of the form somewhere where I can read it securely...and as I understand so far, there are a few options here:
1) E-mail, but for e-mail I need some kind of encryption program. I have no idea how that would work or how complicated it would be to install...or really anything about how it would work.
2) I thought I could send the results to a database, but I don't know how to use a database and someone told me that that wasn't a very safe or secure option. I was also told that I should look into getting a "third party" something-of-other, and that I need some kind of expert advice, but I don't have any money to do that.
3) ????? There must be another option here....how do big companies do this? Is there a simple option here? How does Barnes and noble or Amazon.com transfer all their credit cards safely from a form to their hands?
The proceeds of my website are going to go towards buying back the Rainforests of the world- it means a great deal to me, which is why I have managed to get this far with absolutely no internet literacy whatsoever. I don't understand any of this stuff...can anyone here lay this out for me, and tell me straight what I have to do without using bizzarre internet terms I've never heard before? Thanks in advance!
