1.   Current law prevents U.S. firms from exporting software that scrambles information beyond a low level of complexity.

2.   In addition, the company develops encryption technology that scrambles information transmitted from one destination to another over the Internet, thereby preventing intruders from reading the data.

3.   In public-key encryption, the sender of an electronic communication uses software that automatically scrambles the information by incorporating a publicly known numerical key.

4.   Most employ firewalls and encrypted code, which scrambles information.

5.   One way is to use browser software that encrypts or scrambles purchase information.

6.   The encryption programs allow callers to scramble information so that only the recipients can decode it.

7.   Sanford said Microsoft will scramble the information in the upcoming patched version using encryption technology.