How to Tell If a Web Site Is Secure
Sometimes it's difficult to determine if your Web transactions are secure. Make
sure you're using as many of the four methods listed below as possible. Each will
help you easily identify if you're secure online—even if you're visiting a
site that's not secured by VeriSign.
1. Look for the VeriSign Secured® Seal and the VeriSign Green Bar
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- Click on the seal. Review the verification information in the new window. Be sure
the site name listed on the verification page matches the address you intend to
visit. Also make sure that the URL of the verification page begins with https://seal.verisign.com.
- Now, if you're using a new high-security Web browser like
Microsoft® Internet Explorer® 7, you can quickly detect if a Web site is
using a VeriSign® Extended Validation (EV) Secure Sockets Layer
(SSL) Certificate. Here's how:
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- If you’re familiar with red-light/green-light intersections, you’ll understand the
basic concept. Green tells you it’s safe and the site is legitimate. Red tells you
to stop, usually because the site isn’t secure.
- A new field also appears to the right of the address bar, displaying the organization
that owns and operates the site, as well as the Certificate Authority (CA)—such
as VeriSign—that issued the certificate to that organization. These measures
ensure you that certified Web sites are secure and, most importantly, that they
are exactly what they claim to be.
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2. Use the Verify Before You Buy Search Box
Use the Verify Before You Buy search box found
below.
Use the search box to quickly verify that the site you’re transacting with has been
issued a valid VeriSign® (EV) SSL Certificate:
- Just copy and paste the URL you’re about to purchase from. Then click “Verify.”
- You can also verify a Web site by entering the home page’s URL. However, it’s definitely
safer to verify the page that is actually requesting your personal information.
- To further ensure your online safety and confirm that the Web site has properly
implemented its (EV) SSL Certificate, you should verify with at least one of the other
methods listed on this page, as well.
- For even more convenience, download the Verify Before You Buy widget to your desktop.
Go >>
Note: Verify Before You Buy is currently limited to generic top-level domain VeriSign
SSL Certificates. If the URL that you're investigating has a country code top-level
domain, such as .co.uk or .de, you should use alternate means of evaluating the
security of the Web site. Learn more >>
3. Use the Lock Icon
While in an HTTPS session:
- Click on the lock icon at the bottom of a Web page to review its (EV) SSL Certificate
information.
- Don’t see the lock icon? Make sure you follow the other recommended methods to verify
that you are on a secure site.
4. Verify Through Your Web Browser Properties
You can also verify the presence of an (EV) SSL Certificate by checking the properties
of a page in your Web browser:
- If you are using Internet Explorer, right-click anywhere on the page and choose
“Properties.” (You can also reach “Properties” by selecting the “File” menu at the
top of the browser window and scrolling down to ”Properties.”)
- On the Properties page, select “Certificates.” If an (EV) SSL Certificate is being used,
you’ll be able to review its information here.
- If you are using a different Web browser, consult its help function.