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Q10068 - FAQ: How can I tell if a web page is secure?

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.  This FAQ is intended to guide you to safer online shopping.


What exactly do we mean by "secure"?

Anytime you view a web site information is sent from your computer to the web server and from the web server to your computer.  The transmission of this information is normally sent in "plain text", meaning anyone would be able to read it should they see it.  Now consider this.  Each piece of information transmitted traverses many computers (servers) to reach its destination.

Try it! - Windows Users, to see just how many machines your information traverses, follow these steps:

1) On your computer, click Start, then Run
2) Type "cmd" and click "OK" (or press Enter)
3) Type this in exactly:  tracert www.ssl.com
4) Press Enter

Each listing in the window is a different computer/router/switch (a "node" in networking terms).  Each "node" represents a point at which any data you send might be recorded!  It is not uncommon to see 20-30 listings.

Big deal, right?  Consider this the next time you type in a password or your credit card number.  Ah!  Therein lies the problem.  The solution to this problem is to encrypt this data for transmission.  Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) was created for this very purpose.

SSL uses a complex system of key exchanges between your browser and the server you are communicating with in order to encrypt the data before transmitting it across the web.  A web page with an active SSL session is what we mean when we say a web page is "secure".

ALL WEB PAGES ASKING YOU FOR SENSITIVE INFORMATION SHOULD BE SECURED USING SSL!!!


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.

Try it! - Visit our home page (http://www.ssl.com).  Note the URL begins with the "http" meaning this page is not secure.  Click the link in the upper-right hand corner to "Log in".  Notice the change in the URL?  It now begins with "https", meaning the user name and password typed in will be encrypted before sent to our server.

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 (NOT in the web page display area!)  For example, Microsoft Internet Explorer displays the lock icon in the lower-right of the browser window:

MS Internet Explorer Lock

As another example, Mozilla's FireFox Web Browser displays the lock icon in the lower-left corner:

Mozilla FireFox Lock Icon

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.

Try it! - Visit our home page (http://www.ssl.com).  Click the link to "Log in" to initiate a secure session.  Note the lock icon display in YOUR browser.  Click the icon, or double-click (varies by browser), and examine the security information displayed about the web site.  If there is no display at the bottom of your browser try clicking "View" in the main menu and make sure "Status Bar" is checked.


Other Indicators of a Secured Web Page

Many SSL Certificate vendors (Verisign, GeoTrust, SSL.com, etc.) also provide a "site seal" to the owners of these web sites.  Common characteristics of these site seals include:

  • High Visibility - Online merchants want you to see these site seals.  They want you to know they have made every effort to make their site a safe shopping experience.  Therefore, the site seal is usually located where you, the customer, can easily see it.
  • Difficult to Duplicate - The site seals are designed to be difficult for thieves and scammers to duplicate.  Many times the site seal will have a date and time stamp on it.
  • Verification Functionality - The site seal should have some functionality whether by clicking on the seal or by hovering your mouse over the seal.  The functionality should display detailed information about the web site you are visiting.

These site seals should not necessarily be trusted on their own, but should serve as a reminder to "investigate further"...

1) Check for that "https" in the prefix of the web page address.

2) Click on that "lock icon" in the status bar of your browser.

If everything looks good, the company or individual(s) running that web site have provided you with a safe means of communicating your sensitive information.  The web page is "secure".

Browse Safely!

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Related External Links
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/using/articles/shopping.mspx
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/online/cybrsmrt.htm
http://www.safeonlineshopping.org/consumers.html
http://www.safeshopping.org/home.html
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Comments...
Answered everything I needed to know about how to tell if a website is secure. Approved: 9/24/2006
very good Approved: 5/28/2006
My IT person referenced a website for me to study about phishing and PayPal. My curiosity about SSL was raised, so I googled "SSL" and arrived at this very informative page. The exercises taught me material Ill always use from now on. I already feel safer browsing the internet because of what I learned here today! Thanks! Approved: 5/10/2006
good... Approved: 5/3/2006
im no internet junky but i know my way around but this really helped me to keep from being conned Approved: 4/2/2006
excellent! Approved: 4/2/2006
Consise yet detailed. The interactive aspects helped educate me. Now I can explain to my clients why they need SSL. Approved: 3/23/2006
We went onto a site that had the SSL logo but no lock or s after the http. And we parted with our card details thinking it was ok. Later we discovered all sorts of strange conditions set out in the terms. Call it a hunch, but we searched the logo and found your website. Now, thanks to you, we have cancelled our card for another one and probably saved ourselves a load of money. Thanks for the tips and information. Approved: 3/20/2006
good info but it would be nice to have a way to check a site to see if it actually is part of your ssl database. Approved: 3/18/2006
Clear text that covers alot of questions. Still some more explanation about the working of SSL would be great. Approved: 3/5/2006
it was easy and useful Approved: 3/4/2006
it helped me understand why I couldnt get into a particular website. Thanks Approved: 3/1/2006
The description was in laymans terms--understood by anyone who uses a computer. Approved: 2/21/2006
Excellent explanation. Approved: 1/25/2006
This article was easy to follow and provided an excellent summary of ssl Approved: 1/16/2006
easy to understand and follow,also some very valuable security info.was given. thank you. Approved: 1/4/2006
FAQs in this article helped me a lot in my search for security over web! Approved: 12/13/2005
Its good you come out with this data availability. MOre power. Approved: 11/25/2005
My local phone company finally set up online bill pay but I noticed the lack of the lock icon so I researched it a bit and found the www.ssl.com site. Needless to say I didnt enter any info and informed the phone company of their lack of online security. I always look for the lock icon when entering sensitive information but I was surprised when I didnt see it when signing up for the local phone company bill pay program (especially when they also offer high speed internet service too). Approved: 11/24/2005
its good because its breif, comprehensive, and direct to the point Approved: 11/15/2005
you clearly explained how to display the status bar with the secure lock icon as well as the online demonstration Approved: 11/3/2005
It has helped me to understand alot more about security on website, did not know the part about the lock and https. Thanks ssl.com Approved: 10/28/2005
This article about SSL has really helped me. Approved: 10/19/2005
cool Approved: 10/19/2005
it is very informative Approved: 10/16/2005
Very easy to understand for new users about https Approved: 10/14/2005
This is very good information for someone that does a lot of internet shopping. Keeps the conmans cons down. Approved: 10/1/2005
its good but more information about how the https (SSL) works and how the CAs play important role in this would be excellent. Approved: 9/8/2005
It always difficult for me to convince some of my friends to purchase things online, for themselves or for me (being that I dont have a credit card). But their constant complain that they dont trust it and that its not safe, and nothing I would tell them changed their minds. Until I found this article, bookmarked the page and have been sending the link to my stubborn friends and the ones who want a better understanding. The information is factual and really simple, breaking down the details in parts with examples. Excellent, excellent article. I rate this 11/10. Approved: 8/31/2005
I did not know much about ssl now i got the basic idea Ashish Sehra Approved: 8/27/2005
this has helped me alot thanks to ssl.com. Approved: 8/19/2005
This has very informative details regarding about SSL Approved: 8/2/2005
very precise and straight to the point Approved: 7/26/2005
the article is quite easy to understand.it is also helpful for a beginner of internet technologies.hoping for more... Thanks to ssl.com! Approved: 7/22/2005
Good, I found it interesting the number of hops necessary to resolve a url, certainly highlights the opportunities for packet sniffing and the need for encryption Approved: 7/11/2005
I came to know the security on websites only after reading this overview. Thanks to SSL.com. Approved: 7/5/2005
It was clear and I had no real understanding of the functionlity check before. Approved: 6/25/2005
Good for anyone. The secure way to browse. Approved: 6/21/2005
- Good primitive information. - More information should have been provided on site "certificates" Approved: 6/16/2005
This is informative. It clarifies detection of safe sites. However, any methods of testing the security of the transactions? Approved: 5/24/2005
This has helped me alot and for me being an Administrator in Internet Trade, Wow! That says it all!!!!! Approved: 5/11/2005
This is really informative on ssl & good, Thanks ... Approved: 4/29/2005
This article has given me some safety tips I can use when confidential information will be transmitted. Thanks Approved: 4/27/2005
Clarified ways to detect safe sites. Approved: 4/27/2005
Helped confirm safe to purchase Thank you Approved: 3/29/2005
good, easy to understand information but is it all still secure if I use a wireless??? Staff Response = Yes! Approved: 3/24/2005
very good think you just saved me putting my detals on a dodgy site Approved: 3/23/2005
Gives Clear picture. Thank you Approved: 3/10/2005
clear presice short, just what i wanted.thanks...vj Approved: 3/3/2005
Consise for beginners Dinesh Approved: 3/2/2005
Good overview but would have appreciated some more detail, such as the difference between a private SSL and a shared SSL that some shopping carts / payment gateways provide to those using their service Approved: 2/25/2005
because as an unsure user on the net it gives me the confidence one needs and has given me some remarkable information about the browser that i would never had known .thanks Approved: 2/21/2005
thanks to ssl, I have learned about internet security. thank you Approved: 2/20/2005
Very good article but needs more info on wireless and SSL Approved: 2/19/2005
Forthright information. Clear and concise. Thank You Approved: 2/4/2005
Good article, but I am curious if the current version of SSL has ever been cracked. This article should tell people if SSL has ever been comprimised. Approved: 1/31/2005
It provided the information I needed simply and informatively. Approved: 1/30/2005
This explanation is very easy to understand and not too technical. Approved: 1/27/2005
After an hour of following various Google leads, this was the first to quick tell and, more importantly, show what a secure site should be. Approved: 1/13/2005
It is basic, concise, and clear. It is also interactive. Thanks Approved: 1/11/2005
I checked out a kazaa lite site, www.klitesite.com, and was thinking of actually paying for a service there with my credit card, when i thought i would check that it was a legit site. It displayed the SSL.com logo, saying it was secured, but did not have the lock icon or https. Viewing this article quickly enabled me to find out exactly what to look for, and deduce that the site was not legit. Very concise, clear, and comprehensive article, also easy to get to (nice big link on your homepage!) thanks!. Approved: 12/25/2004
good brief description Approved: 12/14/2004
It´s very complete, however, I´ve seen some sites that have the ssl lock seal and do not have https and the lock seal when they ask for your credit card number. How come? Approved: 12/9/2004
I love clear information, thank you! Approved: 12/9/2004
Good information here but... More infrormation about SSL will be very much appreciated. Approved: 11/29/2004
Very good writing, clear, concise! Thank you! (I could not run "cmd" as you suggested, and I use the Start/Run function frequently. But this must be a problem with my computer, not your article! I have WIN 98) Cordially, Charles in Phoenix cronista@hotmail.com Approved: 11/29/2004
Article does not mention if this still applies if over a wireless network. Approved: 11/29/2004
very clear concise information provided in jargon free language. Approved: 11/26/2004
SSL made simple, one of the simplest traceroutes I have ever used. Ill be using this site more in future Approved: 11/25/2004
I was looking for more detailed information, but still this article has made a clear picture in my mind about web security !! Approved: 11/24/2004
it was quite easy to understand also good to know when your going on a site you dont normally use knowing its going to be safe Approved: 10/26/2004
It answers questions about secure and not secure sites, and reveals how dangerous it actually is when using online stores, and what to do to make sure if they are safe or not. Approved: 10/26/2004
Easy to understand, but need to give more info about SSL. Approved: 10/24/2004
It answers questions about secure and not secure sites, and reveals how dangerous it actually is when using online stores, and what to do to make sure if they are safe or not. Approved: 10/18/2004
Really easy to understand for beginners as well. Approved: 10/14/2004
Very good and succinct! Approved: 10/3/2004
I learned more about web security and ssl from this article than any other source I visited. Great article and easy to understand. Approved: 9/27/2004
Created on 8/26/2004.
Last Modified on 3/10/2006.
Last Modified by Administrator.
Rated 8 out of 10 based on 570 votes.
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