This article was published on February 10, 2022 and has not been updated since. It remains published for archival purposes, but its subject matter may be out of date.
Before you share any information online, it’s important to make sure your communication with the website is secure. Fortunately, there are two quick checks to help you be certain:
Look at the uniform resource locator (URL) of the website. A secure URL should begin with “https” rather than “http.” The “s” in “https” stands for secure, which indicates that the site is using a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) Certificate. This lets you know that all your communication and data is encrypted as it passes from your browser to the website’s server.
Look for a lock icon near your browser’s location field. The lock symbol and related URL containing “https” simply mean that the connection between your web browser and the website server is encrypted, which is important. It prevents others from eavesdropping or intercepting your communication between your browser and the website’s server. But don’t be fooled into thinking the website you’re going to is secure—it may not be.
Remember to look for “https” and the lock icon. If you don’t see those two indicators, your communication to the website is not secure. For more security tips, visit the UW–Madison Office of Cybersecurity website.
Is it secure and legit?
While making sure the sites you visit are secure is important, you should also always be sure that a site is legitimate before entering a username, password or any other personal information. Paying close attention to the site’s URL in your browser’s location field, for example, can help you be certain that you’re on a legitimate site rather than a look-alike impostor.
A secure website's URL should begin with “https” rather than “http”. The “s” at the end of “http” stands for secure and is using an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) connection. Your information will be encrypted before being sent to a server. Be sure to click on the “lock” icon to verify that a website is trustworthy.
A secure site has a padlock icon beside the website URL to show that it's encrypted with Secure Socket Layer encryption protocols (i.e. has SSL certification).
These signs communicate rules, regulations, and warnings that deter unauthorized access, prevent trespassing, and protect valuable assets. By clearly marking restricted areas, indicating surveillance, or outlining security protocols, they contribute to deterring potential threats and promoting compliance.
Here are eight ways you can avoid fake websites and other online scams and ensure that you're dealing with legitimate companies and safe online stores.
Use the free McAfee WebAdvisor to check for safe sites. ...
A secure URL always begins with “HTTPS” at the start instead of “HTTP”. The extra “S” in “HTTPS” stands for “secure”, which means that the website is using a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) Certificate.
HTTPS is HTTP with encryption and verification. The only difference between the two protocols is that HTTPS uses TLS (SSL) to encrypt normal HTTP requests and responses, and to digitally sign those requests and responses. As a result, HTTPS is far more secure than HTTP.
The padlock symbol on a web browser simply means that the data being sent between the web server and the user's computer is encrypted and cannot be read by others. But when we asked people what they thought it meant, we received an array of incorrect answers.
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