|
How can I tell if a web page is secure?
Anytime a web page asks you for sensitive information, you need to be able to identify if the page is secure or not. The ability to recognize a secure web connection is extremely important as online fraud cases have increased substantially from year to year.
How can I tell if a web page is secured?
There are two general indications of a secured web page:
1) Check the web page URL
Normally, when browsing the web, the URLs (web page addresses) begin with the letters "http". However, over a secure connection the address displayed should begin with "https" - note the "s" at the end.
2) Check for the "Lock" icon
There is a de facto standard among web browsers to display a "lock" icon somewhere in the window of the browser. For example, Microsoft Internet Explorer displays the lock icon in the lower-right of the browser window:
As another example, Mozilla's FireFox Web Browser displays the lock icon in the lower-right corner or right of the address bar:
THE LOCK ICON IS NOT JUST A PICTURE! Click (or double-click) on it to see details of the site's security. This is important to know because some fraudulent web sites are built with a bar at the bottom of the web page to imitate the lock icon of your browser!
Therefore it is necessary to test the functionality built into this lock icon.
Furthermore, it is very important to KNOW YOUR BROWSER! Check your browser's help file or contact the makers of your browser software if you are unsure how to use this functionality.
Interpal takes all reasonable efforts to ensure the security of all personal data.
|