Not all websites can be accessed safely. In fact, some websites may contain malicious software (malware), which may damage your computer or steal your personal contact information or credit card number.

Phishing is another common type of web-based attack. Fraud attempts to trick you into providing them with your personal information. If you visit a suspicious website, you may be vulnerable to this attack.

Identity theft is a serious problem, so it is important to protect yourself when browsing the web. Online security threats may be a big problem for Internet users, especially when visiting new websites or following site links.

So, how to determine whether you are visiting a secure website or an unsafe website? You can use several different methods. This page discusses the key items to look for in the website so that you can stay online safely.

Key signs of website security

When you visit a website, some key indicators can help determine whether the website is secure. This section discusses how to check URLs for two specific flags for secure websites.

"Https:" in the web address

The "Https" in the website URL indicates that the website can be accessed safely. "S" stands for "security", which means that the website uses SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encryption to protect your information. The authenticated SSL certificate will tell your browser that the website is secure. This is especially important when shopping online or entering personal information into a website.

When you see "https" in the website, the website is using a protocol that encrypts information before it is sent from your computer to the website server. This helps prevent anyone from blocking and reading sensitive information when transmitting it.

Lock icon near browser URL field

The padlock icon near the browser URL field is another indicator that a web page can be safely accessed. This icon usually appears in the address bar, indicating that the site uses SSL encryption. The appearance of security tools and icons and warnings depends on your web browser.

Let's explore three major web browser security tools:

Safari。 In Safari browser on Mac, you just need to find the lock icon next to the website URL in the address bar. The lock icon will be locked or unlocked, depending on whether the site uses SSL encryption. If this is an unsafe website, Safari will generate a red text warning in the address bar to indicate "unsafe" or "unsafe website" when trying to enter information in the field for personal data or credit card number. Safari browser may also generate a security warning on the page, pointing out that "your connection is not private" or "your connection is not secure". Google Chrome. In Google Chrome, when you visit a website with an authenticated SSL certificate, you will see a gray lock icon on the left side of the website (green in previous versions of Chrome). Chrome also has other indicator icons, such as a lowercase "i" with a circle around it. Click this icon to read information about web site network security. Google Safe Browsing will use security tools to remind you when visiting unsafe websites. A red warning symbol may appear on the left side of the URL, which reads "Unsafe". You may also see a page security message indicating that the website is unsafe due to phishing or malware. Firefox. Like Chrome, Mozilla's Firefox browser will mark all unencrypted websites with unique tags. A padlock with a triangle warning sign indicates that the website is only partially encrypted, which may not prevent cyber criminals from eavesdropping. Padlocks with red lines indicate that the website is unsafe. If you click a field on the website, it will prompt you with a text warning that this connection is not secure.

Methods for in-depth inspection of website security

In general, "https" and the locked padlock icon are good signals that when you enter your personal data on the website, it is safe. But you can ensure that the security of the website meets the standard in other aspects. This section will explore five in-depth ways to check website security.

Website trust seal

When you browse the web, it is very important to trust the website you are visiting. One way to determine whether a website is trustworthy is to look for a seal of trust. A trust seal is a logo or badge that indicates that a website is safe and reliable. They usually appear on the home page or checkout page of the website.

There are many types of trust seals, but the most common ones include the Business Improvement Bureau (BBB) seal, Verizon security seal and McAfee security seal. These seals indicate that the third-party organization has verified that the website is safe and reliable.

Although trust seals can help determine whether a website is trustworthy, it is important to remember that they are not foolproof. Website owners can create false trust seals, so it is always important to conduct their own research to ensure website security before entering personal information.

Check privacy policy

Another way to determine whether a website can be safely accessed is to check the privacy policy. A privacy policy is a document that outlines how a website collects and uses personal information. It should also describe how the website protects your data from being accessed or shared by fraudsters, hackers or other unauthorized individuals.

If the website does not have a privacy policy, this is a red flag. You should not enter any personal information on the website. Even if the website does have a privacy policy, it is important to read it carefully so that you can understand how the website uses your personal data.

View third-party comments

It is important to do some preliminary research before visiting the new website, especially when you are shopping online or entering personal data such as address, credit card or phone number. One way to determine whether a website is secure is to check third-party comments. Several websites provide comments from other websites, so you should be able to find multiple comments from any given website.

Look for common themes when reading reviews. If most of the comments mention that a website is safe and easy to use, then it is likely that the website can indeed be accessed safely. However, if many negative comments mention problems with viruses or malware, you may want to avoid using the website.

View website design

You can also analyze the site design when deciding whether the site is safe to access. Look for spelling errors, grammatical errors, and any errors that occur. If a website seems to be hastily created or poorly designed, it is usually a danger signal, indicating that the website may not be safe.

Be especially careful of websites with many pop-up windows. These websites are usually spam websites or contain malware. Do not download anything from the website unless you are absolutely sure it is safe. These malicious websites rarely appear at the top of search engine results, so consider using search engines to find the content you want to find instead of redirecting you to links to unknown websites.