Re: E Commerce via Lynx

[Trevor Astrope <astrope e-corp net>]

Hi Janina,

I'm not sure why lynx-ssl didn't work on some of the sites you tested, but
I've found it to work well. Granted, I haven't tried using it for online
banking yet. I don't see why it wouldn't work though. Using lynx-ssl with
the SSLeay or OpenSSL libraries can yeild up to 192 bit encryption and
most bank's I'm familiar with use 128 bit encryption. But perhaps the
SSLeay or OpenSSL libraries you used weren't compiled with the encryption
methods the banks require. Or maybe there are other conflicting
technologies or the sites check the browser's USER_AGENT string for
netscape or IE and reject all other browsers as being insecure...

Btw, I am the one who compiled binary and source rpm packages for linux,
but they currently only work with SSLeay and you need to compile the
source rpm in order to generate a binary package that works with glibc
2.1. I'd like to release new packages that use the new OpenSSL libraries
and that are compiled for red hat 6.0 sometime soon.

On Wed, 7 Jul 1999, Janina Sajka wrote:

> Hi:
> 
> in less than a month's time, the Access Board, a U.S. Federal agency, will
> release its proposed regulations for implementing Sec. 508. This new
> Federal law will require that Federal electronic and information
> technology be accessible, unless doing so would impose an undue burden.
> 
> Never mind the legal stuff, though. There's an aspect of this that
> troubles me, and folks on this list may well be able to help. The issue is
> whether or not the Sec. 508 regulations will say anything about access to
> secure web services such as banking information and the buying and selling
> of goods and services online.
> 
> I myself have had trouble trying to buy things on the Internet using Lynx
> 2.8 with encryption. At the time we tested this at AFB, we thought we had
> the latest encryption modules and the latest Lynx. We were still
> unsuccessful with many secured sites.
> 
> Some weeks ago, secured browsing was discussed on this list. I seem to
> recall that someone here was even offering a precompiled Lynx with
> encryption. Here's my question to any and all of you who've tried using
> character-based browsers to access such things as your bank statement, or
> ebay, or buy.com, or any of the many online sites that sell things and
> take credit cards online. Does it work? Are there specific urls you can
> supply that do not work?
> 
> I will be grateful for all feedback about this. You may write privately,
> if this seems more appropriate. Thanks in advance for your help. I will
> share any issues identified with Access Board staff, but will not share
> names or other personal info.
> 
> 
> 				Janina Sajka, Director
> 				Information Systems Research & Development
> 				American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)
> 
> janina afb net
> 
> 
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Regards,

Trevor Astrope
astrope e-corp net