Reference number: CH000507
How do I know if an Internet web page is safe and secure?
Question:
How do I know if an Internet web page is safe and secure?
Answer:Verify data being sent is encrypted
When sending confidential data over the Internet such as your username, password, or credit card number it's important to verify that information is
sent securely. To verify this look for a small lock ( )
in the bottom right corner of portion of your browser
window or next to the address bar (as shown below) depending on your browser and its version. If visible this lock should also be in the locked position and not unlocked.
Internet Explorer 7 secure address bar
We also suggest that you look at the URL and make sure it begins with https as shown above.
When in the lock
position all data
you send will be encrypted, which helps
anyone from understanding the data if it's intercepted while being
sent. When no lock is visible or the lock is in the unlocked position
all information is being sent as plaintext and if
intercepted it could be easily read.
E-mail is not encrypted
The web site and you should not be transmitting confidential data over e-mail. This includes your user information such as passwords, credit card information, etc. E-mail is not encrypted and if intercepted by a third-party could be easily read.
Be aware of phishing scams
Make sure you're familiarized with phishing scams and techniques. Online banking sites, Paypal, EBay, Amazon, and other popular sites that require logins or store private data are popular targets. See our phishing dictionary definition for additional information.
Use a safe password
When using a password, especially with a site such as your bank site make sure the password you're using is a strong password.
Additional information:
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