How to Ensure Your Web Transactions are Secure

With the ease of doing business and personal transactions on the net, how can you make sure if your transactions are secure? Though nothing is 100% bullet proof, below are a few things you can do and look for when you want to protect yourself from those who want to gain access to your business and personal transactions.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Most secure sites will start off with an https:// not an http:// in the heading of the address bar. The "S" denotes a secure link.

2. At the bottom right hand corner of your browser a pad lock will appear stating that the https connection is established. This lock means that the site is using an encryption called SSL or secure sockets layer. It is the protocol that piggy backs on top the data to encrypt it.

3. Always look for digital certificates when using a secure connection. These certificates authenticate the entity you are dealing with in addition they also add to the creditability of the website you are visiting. Generally the two most reputable companies that authenticate websites are Vera-sign and Etrust. At bottom of the most sites pages you will notice the Etrust or Vera-sign insignia, make sure you click on those images to make sure they lead back to the Vera-sign site or the Entrust site. That way you can assure they are not clone images put there to fool you.

4. Regularly scan your system for spyware as they are notorious for small programs called keyloggers. Keyloggers do exactly what they sound like. They record your keystrokes and report it back to someone else.I personally use Spy Sweeper on my own system, although Spyware Doctor by PC Tools is just as good. Both Spyware removal utilities are paid subscription models, and offer many more benefits compared to other freeware anti-Spyware solutions.

5. Last but not least make sure you update your browser with the latest version, as using the most recent browser ensures that the data is protected using the latest encryption technology. These are the some of the most important things to look for and do when creating transactions on the net. Remember the more aware you are the safer your experience will be.

Resources

• HOW TO NOT GET SCAMMED
• HOW TO REPORT SPAM
• HOW TO CLEAR COOKIES OFF YOUR BROWSER
• HOW TO SET A WIRELESS NETWORK PASSWORD

[00Analana]

on 11/12/2008 Thanks for this informative article!

[MotherDove]

on 11/11/2008 Invaluable information! Thanks.

[andre7514]

on 11/11/2008 I was very glad to have read this article. This is some information, that I needed. Even when you were describing, the secure connection with the http and the https, I typed the "s" and I saw the lock secure button, so that I could have a secure connection. Thanks for those helpful tips. 5 stars

[amylaine]

on 11/10/2008 Great tips, thanks.