With increasing online fraud, internet users are becoming more vigilant. Most users try to avoid visiting and entering sensitive information on webpages whose URLs do not start with HTTPS, or do not have a green lock. The ‘S’ stands for ‘Secure’, meaning that the webpage is certified to encrypt all data transferred between the user and the site. This means that the user can rest assured that any information they enter on to the page, like passwords, bank details etc cannot be viewed by their ISP, network administrators, or any intruders. Since internet browsers have become extra cautious about malicious, fraudulent websites, website owners are moving towards getting security certificates from relevant authorities, which is not very difficult.
An HTTPS certificate ensures that the data entered cannot be stolen by a third party. However, the green lock is in no way an assurance of the authenticity or reliability of the website itself. The data entered by the user is vulnerable to theft and usage by the website. This means that if the website is fake and created to steal user data, it can still have a green lock.
Even though determining the credibility and safety of a website is difficult, careful browsing and web interaction can help users avoid any scams or data leaks. Be aware of the webpage you are accessing and enter any personal information only when you feel secure about the website’s data privacy policy. Some data security points to keep in consideration are:
- Read any messages, if any, displayed by your browser. Using a reliable scam and phishing detection tool can help you block such malicious websites from secretly stealing your data.
- Avoid registering or signing up on websites that you do not feel 100% secure about. In case you want to create an account or log in to such a website, read the user agreement carefully.
- Before entering any personal information, verify the domain name and purpose of the website to make sure that it is not a fake portal. Some scamming sites use domain names that are almost identical to reputed websites, and often misspell one letter to confuse the users.
This one is extremely important-
- Never enter details like your credit/debit card information, login passwords, email passwords and other sensitive data without verifying the domain and unless you are sure of the website’s authenticity.
- Before entering any personal/financial information check physical address of company also for additional security you may call on office numbers to clear your doubts.
With a little caution, users can protect their data and avoid falling prey to phishers, data thieves and other scammers. There are several reliable internet security tools at the users’ disposal that help keep their data safe and protect them from fraudulent websites and phishing pages.
