How to identify
them
What is the difference between a secure and an unsecure web site?
A secure web site uses encryption and authentication standards to protect the confidentiality of web transactions whereas an unsecured site does not. It does this by encrypting information like credit cards numbers and other private data so that no third party can read the original information.
When accessing a secure site, your browser pops up a message stating that it is entering a secure site. When leaving a secure site it pops up a message telling you that it is leaving a secure site. These messages can also appear within the secure areas of an otherwise unsecured site, where personal information is entered.
A secure web page has two important features that identify it as secure:
1) The web page address in the address bar of the browser will begin ‘https’ rather than 'http'.
2) At the bottom of the web page an icon is displayed that looks like a small pad lock.