The Internet is a global marketplace of information, including your own. To the retailer, buying habits are important and marketing companies in particular are employed to gather information.

It is important that you understand how your details are gathered and whether or not this is an infringement of your privacy.

What is a 'cookie'?
These are text files written to a person's computer that notify a business that the customer has visited the website before.

Is it necessary to fill out all the details in an online shopping form?
Before filling out all the fields in a 'customer registration' form, consider whether you really need to provide information such as age, occupation and income. Much of this information is not necessary and you should check the site's privacy policy first.

What is Opt-in and Opt-out?
If a person clicks to receive something, then it is opt-in. If they have to click, not to receive something, then this is opt-out.

Further information can be obtained from the fact sheet Online privacy.