Effectively Identifying Secure Websites
The Internet has become an integral part of most American homes.
More than ¾ of the total population of United States are on the net.
It is commonly used for research, business, communication, etc.
However, for hackers and identity thieves, it’s a place of great opportunity.
Secure websites use encryption to transfer information over the internet.
A lot online users still give out their confidential information such as credit card numbers
to websites that are not secure.
Every internet user wants to be safe online.
However, many do not know how to protect themselves from illegal online activities,
making them easy targets for hackers and identity theives.
Here are some tips in identifying secure websites:
1. Confirm the web address – Check the address bar in your browser.
A secure website starts with “https://”.
Websites that are not secure usually start with just “http://”.
Note that the only difference is the “s”.
2. Look for the padlock –
A secure website will be identified with a locked yellow padlock at the lower right corner of the
screen on the status bar.
3. Read internet warnings carefully –
usually, before opening a website, there is a message in a small window informing
the user that the website may not be secure.
4. Be careful with hyperlinks – instead of clicking on a link in an email, type the web address in the address bar.
Some malicious internet users have the ability to create link that appears secure to deceive other users.
5. SSL secured Web Sites – Websites that are secured by SSL are safe.
They begin with “https” and contain the locked padlock icon.
SSL was developed by Netscape that stands for Secure Sockets layer.
It was introduced in 1994 and has since become a requirement for e-commerce.
It provides dependable connection between the server and its clients through encryption.
It basically prevents hackers from stealing client’s information.
Especially designed for transactions involving purchase or credit card information (ex. Paypal and E-bay).
It is possible to get infected by a virus by visiting a websites.
To increase level of security, it is advisable to install Virus protection
(ex. McAfee Online Virus Protection, Norton, etc.), Firewall, and anti-spyware software.
These can help the computer combat known viruses and spyware commonly found in the internet.
Pop up blocker may also help.
Also, as a general rule, sensitive information should not be given online unless the website is secure.
Knowing how to identify secure websites is one step closer to online security.
Intenet users must understand the possible risks they are taking when using non-secure websites.
Taking precautions to safeguard their computer as well as their personal information.
The internet community is growing rapidly and just like in the real world,
not everyone is decent and honest. Fortunately most people and websites are OK,
and if you use common sense you should be safe.
Symantec internet security threat report identifies more attacks now targeting e-Commerce, web applications.: An article from: Software Industry Report
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