How to identifythem
What is the difference between a secure and an unsecure web site?
A secure web site uses encryption and authentication standards to protect theconfidentiality of web transactions whereas an unsecured site does not. It doesthis by encrypting information like credit cards numbers and other private dataso that no third party can read the original information.
When accessing a secure site, your browser pops up a message stating that it isentering a secure site. When leaving a secure site it pops up a message tellingyou that it is leaving a secure site. These messages can also appear within thesecure areas of an otherwise unsecured site, where personal information isentered.
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 smallpad lock.