ABSTRACT
Internet access continues to expand, with September 2001 estimates of 407.1 million Internet users worldwide1 and an estimated 165.2 million users in the United States alone.2 The explosive growth of Internet use for information access, file transfer, e-mail, collaborative work, banking, shopping, and performing countless other functions has brought about an escalation of concerns. The advantages of quick access to timely data and less restricted communications resulting from Internet connectivity have been accompanied by reduced consumer confidence in Internet-related business activities, the risks of financial loss, and legal liability from sources both external and internal to the organization.
