Anonymous shopping transactions on a network through information broker services

A method for initiating anonymous on-line transactions, comprising:

• providing an anonymous shopping toolbar having an anonymous credit card option for anonymously initiating an on-line transaction through an information broker computer;
• receiving an anonymous credit card request at the information broker computer, wherein the information broker computer receives the anonymous credit card request over a network connection that links the information broker computer to a client computer, and wherein the client computer communicates the anonymous credit card request to the information broker computer in response to a selection of the anonymous credit card option;
• generating an anonymous credit card number at the information broker computer in response to the anonymous credit card request, the anonymous credit card number having an expiration date corresponding to a month and a year in which the on-line transaction occurs;
• linking the anonymous credit card number to a real credit card account associated with the client computer;
• and
• sending the anonymous credit card number from the information broker computer to the client computer over the network connection that links the information broker computer to the client computer, wherein the client computer automatically communicates the anonymous credit card number to a merchant to initiate the on-line transaction.

A system for initiating anonymous on-line transactions, the system comprising an information broker computer having one or more processors configured to:

• provide an anonymous shopping toolbar having an anonymous credit card option for anonymously initiating an on-line transaction through the information broker computer;
• receive an anonymous credit card request over a network connection that links the information broker computer to a client computer, and wherein the client computer communicates the anonymous credit card request to the information broker computer in response to a selection of the anonymous credit card option;
• generate an anonymous credit card number in response to the anonymous credit card request, the anonymous credit card number having an expiration date corresponding to a month and a year in which the on-line transaction occurs;
• link the anonymous credit card number to a real credit card account associated with the client computer;
• and
• send the anonymous credit card number to the client computer over the network connection that links the information broker computer to the client computer, wherein the client computer automatically communicates the anonymous credit card number to a merchant to initiate the on-line transaction.