subject: Tips To Improve Online Security And Use Of Ssl Certificates [print this page] Consumers are a lot smarter these days when it comes to making purchases on the web. In the past, online merchants had a difficult time building trust with their customers because safety measures were not in place. Because of this risk factor consumers were leery in making purchase online. Today that has changed and online transactions are now commonplace on the web. However there are still some websites that are not secure or outright scams that are only looking to seek personal and financial information that they can use against you.
Online fraud is still prevalent but those websites and companies that are reputable and want to give a better image to online shopping use security features on their websites such as SSL Certificates and other site security measures. How secure are these websites, well, nothing is entirely foolproof but for the most part SSL Certificates validate a website and let you know that the merchant can be trusted. Always check with the online Better Business Bureau if you are uncertain about any business on the web.
Also, the padlock symbol that you may find in the lower right corner of your screen when you visit a site does not mean that the site is secure. You will want to check your web browser for the prefix https:// instead of the regular http:// prefix. The "s" at the end of the prefix lets you know that the site is a secure website. Some of the newer browsers let you know automatically if a site is secure by displaying the colour green in the address bar. If you see red in the address bar this means that the site is not secure or maybe fraudulent. Always be careful when giving out personal and financial or banking information on the web. Use only those sites that are trusted and secure. You can check their security certificate by clicking on the small padlock icon and seeing the name of the company and other information that lets you know if the certificate they hold is active or valid.
Whenever you shop on the web, look for sites that also use payment processors such as Paypal and BillMeLater. These are trusted companies that will provide you with a refund from a company if they do not deliver on their promises. They are companies that handle a lot of transactions for online businesses and have an established reputation in the payment processing industry.
Overall, if you find a website that does not offer any type of security or their security certificate is not valid, do not give out any personal or financial information to that site, it could be fraudulent. If you are ever in doubt about any online business or payment method, you should not proceed with the purchase. Taking these precautions will ensure that you remain safe online and that you do not become a victim of identity theft or credit card fraud. It is always better to be safe than sorry in the end.
by: Jamie Whittleton
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