The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for preventing the
use of data transmitted by a computer to a web site by a program
operating on the computer. Initially, a first association between a set
of labels and a first set of codes is created. The set of labels contains
information to be displayed on the computer, while each code in the first
set of codes is associated with a particular label. An encryption key is
then linked with the first association. The set of labels, the first set
of codes, and the first encryption key is then sent to the computer. Some
time later, codes from the first set of codes and the first encryption
key are received back from the computer. The codes returned from the
computer are then matched to labels from the set of labels using the
first encryption key. Afterwards, subsequent associations between the set
of labels and other sets of codes are created. These associations are
different than the association between the set of labels and the first
set of codes. Additional encryption keys are also created to identify the
subsequent associations. The present invention also relates to a method
and a computer program product for determine the meaning of a code that
describes a user's selection of an item on a web page. In this mode of
operation, the information that defines the web page is first analyzed.
Then, an association between the codes and labels presented on the web
page is created. Afterwards, the code describing an item selected by a
user is captured. Finally, the label associated with the code is
identified by referencing the association between the codes and labels.