Updated: February 19, 2015
When we were young, we learned to do never talk to strangers and always be aware of our environment. Today, the same rules apply when we use the web. When signing for online services and, in turn, provide the same credit card and address information, it is important to remain aware of your Internet environment. The first step to protecting yourself online is to actively make the site where you enter personal information is secure. Here are ways to ensure:
1. Look at the address bar. Often, the first sign that the site you are using is secure can be found right in the top address bar of your screen.
- Many web browsers - including Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Internet Explorer - feature a color change on the left side of the address bar when the site is verified as secure. You will notice this when you do your banking online, by entering payment information and whenever you need to enter personal information such as your social security number in a reliable site.
- Also on the left side of the address bar, you probably noticed the HTTP or HTTPS abbreviation that is placed just before the URL. HTTP stands for "Hypertext Transfer Protocol" and is beautiful to see when you're just browsing the web. Conversely, if you are on a page where you enter a password, credit card number or other financial information, HTTPS should be written before the URL. The "S" stands for secure.
How secure Web page address should look like.
2. Check the URL. Currently, most Internet users should know better than to click on strange links in their email box. Shady links can be used to attack your computer and steal your personal information in hopes of scamming you. If in doubt, there are some ways to check the validity of a URL.
- forged URLs can often look like the real thing. Whenever possible, try typing URLs by hand.
- The Google Safe Browsing feature will let you know if a site is suspect and there is a hidden malware on the site. If you use Chrome or Firefox, there is a practical extension of the Google Safe Browsing you can download. If you use another browser, or do not feel like downloading anything, just type http://www.google.com/safebrowsing/diagnostic?site= menu address and enter the URL that you check after the equal sign.
How safe website should look like on Google Safe Browsing.
3. Do some light research. The site is a scam? After making sure that the link you use is secure and not hosting malware, there are two ways to make sure the site you enter sensitive information is not a scam designed to steal your personal information.
- Something as simple as entering the site in your Google search bar can be an important preventive measure against identity theft. If the site you are using is a scam, you will likely find many unfavorable results of research.
- Read reviews of the service you sign up for online. For example, NextAdvisor examines many online services so that consumers know exactly what they are getting into.
- Check BBB (Better Business Bureau) rating of the company and read all the previous complaints against them. If the company has a low rating as D or F, then it may be a scam and you should stay far, far away.
4. Consider getting help protect your computer and identity.
- In addition to protecting your computer against viruses, many suites of Internet security software also offer a feature that automatically checks the reliability of the sites you use. Going even further, BitDefender, for example, has a SafePay function that opens a browser window in an isolated environment where you can enter private information without worry.
- Service protection against identity theft as Identity Guard and PrivacyGuard combine Internet monitoring and security software credit report to help protect your everyday identity. These services alert you of any changes in your credit reports and whenever your social security number is used. Not to mention they come with free security software. All this can be done with an affordable monthly rate.
When you sign up for services on the web, it is dangerous to be passive. Period. Entering personal information into a dangerous website can be worse than leaving your wallet at the bus stop. So be aware of your surroundings, even on the screen in front of you.