A system, apparatus, and methods for conducting secure online monetary transactions are disclosed. In one embodiment, a networked purchasing system includes a media broker, a physical medium producer for manufacturing branded media, one or more merchants, one or more distributors, a consumer networked computer, a financial institution. A media broker further includes a transaction server and a consumer account database. Branded media is, for example, a prepaid compact disk (CD) gift card activated at the point of sale for conducting online monetary transactions. The branded media provides a secure and anonymous alternative to credit cards for conducting online monetary transactions.