A user can perform secure transactions via an interactive television
ticker. While viewing an advertisement scrolling in the ticker, the user
can select that advertisement to initiate an on-line transaction. That
resulting transaction can be performed within the ticker. A visual
indicator (such as an icon) can be displayed in the ticker to indicate to
the viewer that the transaction is secure, so as to allow confidential
information to be safely exchanged. Security can be provided by way of a
security application integrated with software of the ticker or by way of
another security component with which the ticker software communicates.