Online Safety
How to Tell if a Website is Safe Before You Enter Your Info
Fake websites look just like real ones. These simple checks help you tell the difference and protect your personal information.
Simplified from original source
Originally published by How-To Geek
Look for the padlock icon
Before entering any personal information, look at the address bar at the top of your browser. You should see a padlock icon (🔒) to the left of the web address. This means the connection is encrypted.
Tip: If you see "Not Secure" or a broken padlock, don't enter any personal or financial information on that page.
Check the web address carefully
Look at the address in the bar at the top — it starts with "https://". Check that the company name is spelled correctly. Fake sites use addresses like "amaz0n.com" (zero instead of O) or "paypa1.com."
Look for contact information
Real businesses have a physical address, phone number, and email on their website. Scroll to the bottom of the page (the "footer"). If there's no contact information at all, be very cautious.
Watch out for deals that seem too good
If a site is selling brand-name items for 80% off or promising huge prizes, it's likely fake. Scam websites lure people in with impossible deals.
Important: Never enter your credit card information on a site you don't trust. When in doubt, go to the official store's website directly.
Use a site safety checker
If you're not sure about a website, you can check it for free at Google Safe Browsing (safebrowsing.google.com/safebrowsing/report_overview/) or VirusTotal. These tools tell you if a site has been reported as dangerous.
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About this article: This guide was simplified and rewritten by TekSure from content originally published by How-To Geek. We make it easier to read for everyday users — no jargon, just plain steps. View the original article. Learn about our content sources.