Check for two things before you type your personal information online:
- Make sure the address in the address bar at the top starts with “https:”, not just “http:”.
- This means that information sent from the website you are viewing is encrypted and won’t be easily read by others electronically.
- Note: most websites don’t present the “https” until you actually sign in but if you are signed in or about to sign in, it should be visible.
- Check the security certificate of the website.
- It’s real easy for me to create a website that just looks legit and collect personal information such as credit card numbers.
- If I’m a legitimate vendor such as amazon.com(below), I’ll pay a third party company, like VeriSign, to issue a security or validation certificate saying I am who I say I am. In Internet Explorer, you can check the certificate issued to the website you are viewing by clicking the padlock in the top right. If the pad lock doesn’t appear, there is no certificate and you should not trust the site. Shop somewhere else.
- Note: most websites don’t present the padlock until you actually sign in but if you are signed in or about to sign in, it should be visible.
EV Certificates in Safari
Safari supports Extended Validation (EV) Certificates, allowing you to easily identify legitimate websites and businesses. For sites that have an EV Certificate, Safari displays the site’s name in green on the right side of the address field. Just click the name to learn more about the website’s security credentials.A few more references and tips for secure online shopping:
- http://www.microsoft.com/protect/fraud/finances/shopping_us.aspx
- http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/five-tips/?p=322
Disclaimer: I haven’t helped you mitigate ALL risk of using the internet with this simple post. You are responsible for your own risks and any damages you receive through them. Be advised.