Living in the modern high-tech era is not as simple or secure as everyone believes. We spend hours upon hours each day on the internet, rarely considering our internet safety. We purchase products from various websites, watch movies, pay our bills, develop our businesses, and so on. And what is the one thing that is always and swiftly growing and modifying on the internet? – Information!

It is safe to say that information is power. The same may be true of any business data. Nowadays age, it’s critical to understand how to keep personal and corporate data secure from prying eyes. There are various ways to determine whether or not a website is secure, so let’s look at the simplest methods for determining whether or not a website is who they claim to be.

Double-check URLs 

URL is an acronym for Uniform Resource Locator. Even if it’s a website you use frequently to complete your tasks, it’s critical to double-check any URLs you want to access. Hovering your cursor over the website URL to check the exact address it will send you to is a simple way to do your own website safety test before clicking on a link. Every internet browser has a method of displaying the website to which you will be sent if you click on it. Also, double-check that the URLs you type in the address bar are spelt correctly. You might be easily misled into accessing a website that is a phishing scam, exposing sensitive personal or business information.

Check the address bar in your browser

The address bar in your browser should be the first thing you look at when you open a website. Why are we saying this? You may have noticed that the URLs of certain websites begin with HTTPS. HTTP is a basic protocol that is used to transfer data across your browser and the server of the website you are viewing. It is frequently used in e-commerce transactions, or, to put it another way, when we shop online or utilize online banking services.

During these transactions, the HTTP changes to HTTPS. What is the difference between these two? The letter “S” in HTTPS stands for Security. HTTPS is the secure version, thanks to the SSL Certificate used to protect all data that is exchanged between your browser and the website’s server. You will also notice a little padlock next to the address bar, indicating that an additional degree of protection has been applied to a specific website.

Use internet safety tools

Google Safety Checker is a very handy tool that allows you to quickly determine whether a website is legitimate or whether a certain URL is safe to open. You can find out if a website is safe or not in seconds by copying and pasting the URL.

You may also use the security features of your browser to protect yourself, your business, and all of the sensitive data. All browsers have built-in tools for blocking pop-ups, disabling flash content, preventing harmful downloads, and controlling which websites may access your webcam and microphone. Furthermore, all antivirus software includes website security checks. Most digital security companies create mechanisms that indicate users whether a website is safe.

Look for a privacy policy

Each website must include a privacy policy that explains how your data is collected, processed, and protected. Almost every website has one, as mandated by data privacy legislation. A privacy policy demonstrates that the website complies with the rules that regulate online security. Keep an eye out for one and properly read it before entering any sensitive information anyplace online.

Be wary of security seals

If you see a symbol that says “Secure” or “Verified,” it might be a trust seal. This implies that a website collaborates with a third-party security service provider. These symbols imply that a site has HTTPS security as well as additional safety measures such as the date of its most recent virus check.

It is important to validate the seal in order to determine its legitimacy. You may verify its legitimacy by clicking on the badge, which should take you to a verification website. This way, you can be assured that the site is indeed cooperating with the security service provider and is trustworthy.

Learn the obvious sign a website is fake

Occasionally a website appears so fraudulent that you can know right away without needing to evaluate the site’s reputation. A website that features a lot of on-site spam, such as flashing warnings, is most likely a fake website. Also, while opening a website, if lots of new pop-ups appear, exit the browser window immediately. You may also be redirected to a suspicious website, suggesting that it is a malicious redirect, and that the original website was most likely hacked. These pop-ups and malicious redirection have the potential to infiltrate your computer with a virus, resulting in the loss of business data.

Signs of website malware

Even though a website has an SSL certificate, a privacy policy, contact information, and a trust badge, it may still be unsafe if it contains malware. To determine whether a website is infected with malware, look for indicators of defacement, suspicious pop-ups, malvertising, phishing kits, or SEO spam. Some popular search engines monitor websites for malware and, if identified, display a warning on that site.

Unfortunately, not all websites are secure to use, and all data, including business data, is at risk. Using these guidelines, you or your employees may become your own internet scam checkers and secure your data. All you have to do is pursue a cautious approach and follow the recommendations listed above.