Threats to your online privacy can materialize from the sites you visit as well as from malware that hijacks your computer. To avoid becoming a hacker's casualty, you can install protective software and watch for site-security signals that differentiate between safe and unsafe online destinations. Some of these security provisions flag trusted, tested sites with green check marks that appear in your search results. Others tie into the security precautions that business owners add to their websites.
Add-on Browser Protection
Some Internet service providers offer software packages you can add to your computer and Web browser to screen search results, distinguishing between safe and unsafe locations. Regardless of the search terms you use, the results you see on leading search sites display green check marks next to sites certified safe by a system that monitors website reputation. Conversely, unsafe site links appear in red. You can opt to purchase paid versions of these software packages regardless of which service provides your Internet connection.
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Antivirus Protection Software
Malware protection suites can include screening options for online use. The main difference between these software packages and online-screening applications lies in the scope of the coverage offered by the package. Internet protection software limits its coverage to online activity, whereas overall malware protection offers online coverage in addition to screening for other threats. Website owners can check the verification status of their online properties through major anti-malware companies and ask for a screening if the results come back negative or equivocal. Some of these verifications hinge on how and from which provider a website obtains its security certificate.
Site Security
When you make online purchases, log in to financial institutions' websites or interact with Internet properties that make any use of your personally identifiable information, you should expect to see a padlock graphic in your browser's location line in front of the Web address of your destination. The address should begin with "https" instead of "http." In these cases, browsers typically display the padlock in green, as well as at least part of the address. The lack of these security certifications or the presence of a red slash through the "https" signals some problem with the site you're trying to reach, ranging from an expired security certificate to an improperly configured server -- or a hacked website.
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Other Considerations
If a website you want to visit triggers security warnings, or appears without the markings that correlate with a safe destination to visit, heed the signs. Some warnings appear in the form of an alert page that opens after you click on a link in a set of search results. Following the time-tested principle that prefers an ounce of prevention over a pound of cure, take these warnings seriously -- even if they appear when you attempt to load a site you visit frequently and usually trust. Even big, seemingly well-protected sites can fall prey to hackers.
References
- Kaspersky Lab: Kaspersky Internet Security 2012: How to Configure Kaspersky URL Advisor From Kaspersky Internet Security 2012?
- Download.com: F-Secure Internet Security
- Search Engine People: SERP Optimization: How to Get a Green Checkmark in Google
- Ask Leo: I'm Not Seeing a Padlock With My HTTPS Site. Is It Safe?
- Norton by Symantec: What Is Norton Safe Search?
- MakeUseOf: Norton SafeWeb: Is This Website Safe?
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