>>How about creating a web service on the machine housing your "internet enabled dbf" / MySQL table ?
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>Iy this is an overhead in comparison to making use of a remote mysql table. Both in complexity of programming and costs, as you get mysql database very cheap everywhere and I'd bet Chris webserver already offers to make use of a mysql database. Just make sure you can connect remotely. You may ask your provider to allow that or you'd need a script on the server side, if mysql only allows local connections.

It is more effort, but offers less info about your setup "into the wild". Just knowing that such a server exists may attract unwelcome visitors.