How to browse the Internet safely
Digital security
usually depends on the level of protection of:
- Your seller’s website
- Your Internet connection
- Your computer
- Your network device
In this article, I will emphasize especially on browser security features.
As a vigilant buyer,
it’s crucial to watch your behavior and your digital knowledge.
Don’t worry; you just must improve your education continuously for efficient use of the Internet.
Don’t worry; you just must improve your education continuously for efficient use of the Internet.
Here is an essential
checklist you must consider using your browser safely:
Does Your Seller’s Website Offer an Adequate Security Level?
The famous HTTPS
When you need to find and get access to a web page, you use a web browser. There are many useful browsers, like Google chrome, Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Safari, Opera. Each of them offers security features and design. You can install them and test them to see which one will fit your needs. Also, you can install two or more browsers in your computer.
All browsers come with
a large horizontal field (usually white and located at the top of your page),
where you can type the name (also called URL) of the website you visit.
Typically, a site always has the prefix HTTP://.
The secured sites,
with an “HTTPS://” prefix, are encrypted.
The encryption is a
method used in computer technology to convert a standard character to a
particular symbol. This way, a “man in the middle” cannot read the information
you are sending through the Internet.
It’s not necessary to
have the “s” suffix all the time. However, you need it, for example, while:
- You purchase online.
- You pay with your credit card.
- You use your private or financial information.
- You fill out an online form of a government or a bank.
- You use any other confidential information.
If you are in the
process of making an online transaction or entering your personal information
in your browser, make sure you have this “S” following the HTTP of your website
address, like in the example below:
https://www.digiconcern.com
Here is how it usually
works:
Your browser (like Chrome, Firefox, Edge) uses the HTTPS protocol to establish an encrypted connection (like a virtual tunnel) between your device and the web server of your online store.
The web server validates the request of
your browser (the page you want to display) to respond to your computer.
After the validation steps, your
browser starts displaying the page content transmitted by the store website.
HTTPS, how
it works
To know more about the
HTTPS protocol, you can type “how HTTP works” or “HTTP and HTTPS” in your
search engine.
The lock signs
A lock symbol is located before the name of the website, like in the example below:
This lock sign helps identify if a website is secure. It’s usually green or white, depending on the browser you use. However, if a website is not safe, you will see a different sign (the symbol may vary), showing the site is unsecured. Your antivirus tool can also give you an alert about a website’s security level.
The “S” Suffix
The “s” suffix indicates the information you enter into a website is encrypted, for example, when you are filling out a form to buy an item, when you enter your username and password, or when you pay with a credit card.
Mark is the author or the book :
Are you looking for more tips and security advice regarding Internet security, Internet privacy, Shopping protection and much more?
Please check my resources on this article:
https://digiconcern.blogspot.com/2018/09/digital-concerns-resources.html
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