3 Ways to Tell if You’re on a Secure Webpage by Kelly Bergman

Protecting your sensitive personal information is important when shopping online at an eCommerce site. On any single webpage that asks for your most private information, you need to make sure it is secure. Being able to recognize what a “secure page” looks like will help you shop safe and prevent becoming a victim of identity theft.

Ways to tell you’re on a secure page:

• Check the URL: If you see that the URL (or website address) starts with “https://” instead of “http://” then you are on a secured page.

• Know your browser: Most browsers have ways of showing that a page is secure. Here are some examples:

FIREFOX: Click on the button with the favicon and name of the site. There you will see the verification information and the Lock icon. The color of the button may change with the certificate type.

INTERNET EXPLORER: For more details on the certificate, look at the Lock icon.

For more details on the page’s certificate, click the Lock icon in the navigation bar.

• Check the Certificate Vendor: Secure Socket Layer or SSL ensure that data is encrypted to keep the transmission of your data safe. Different vendors such as Verisign or SSL.com issue certifications verifying that a site has this SSL encryption. Sites pay for these safety measures and usually make the seals from these companies very visible.

The site you are visiting will not have these elements throughout the site. Just make sure that you look for these items when entering your sensitive personal information.

If you’re looking to start your own eCommerce site or need additional guidance, Cirrus ABS has the solution for you.