How-To Guide: Secure Websites

Q.   When I’m purchasing products online for my facility or I’m registering online for a training, I usually use a credit card to pay. How do I know the website is secure and the information will not be used by someone else?

A. There are several things you should check before you give out personal or credit card information through a website:

1.   Find out what the Privacy Policy is of the website you will be using.

Often a website has the words “Privacy Policy” at the bottom or footer of the pages on its website. If you click on the words/link “Privacy Policy”, you will be taken to a separate page that contains a statement on:

• the type of information the website collects,
• how it uses this information,
• to whom it gives that information
• how a person can access his/her information,
• and how a person can have this information removed.
• A privacy statement often also includes information regarding security measures being taken to protect the information of website visitors.

2.   Make sure the website you will be using is secure.

A secure website prevents unauthorized persons from viewing the information that is sent to or from that site. This is done through a secure server that uses an encryption technique that prevents unauthorized users from intercepting and reading information that passes through the system.

If  you are being asked for information, such as your birthdate or credit card numbers for an order form or registration form, make sure the site is secure. If the website is secure:

• an icon of a closed lock will be displayed on the right bottom status bar
• the url in the address bar will have an “s” added to the http and will display as https://.

3.   Check your computer to make sure it is secure and free from viruses.

Here are some steps to keep your computer secure:

• Update your anti-virus software regularly. The software can usually be set-up to remind you to update your software on a regular basis. But besides updating the software, scanning your files and emails for any incoming infected files is also needed.
• Update your operating system. Viruses can find security holes in your operating system and internet browser, so also update these programs on a regular basis. You can turn on the automatic updates and be reminded when an update is needed.
• Avoid opening email attachments from folks you don’t know.
• Be aware of spyware, adware and malware.
• Spyware is software that can collect personal information or change the configuration of your computer, generally without your consent.
• Adware is software that displays advertisements and is often bundled with other software, such as spyware.
• Malware may interfere with the function of other software applications, so that the user is forced to visit a particular web site.

There are tools that can be downloaded from the Internet to combat this software.

 

[Posted on November 6, 2006]