HTTPS – Secure or NOT ?

We’re told to look for the little padlock, the symbol of a HTTPS, ‘secure’ connection….

Many are under the illusion that if they see the padlock then the site is safe, INCORRECT!, all the padlock means is that the communication between your browser and the site is encrypted… This doesn’t mean that the content on the site is safe.

Yes if you are on your favourite banking site or doing an online shopping transaction then YES you ABSOLUTELY DO want to see that padlock but more and more sites implement SSL security as a matter of course, it’s just good practice, even this site is SSL encrypted.

So what’s trending ? – more and more we see Phishing sites built from the ground up with no publicly visible malware of dodgy code, it’s all hidden behind captcha codes and presented to the victim on a HTTPS secured site. This makes the site seem even more legit for the unsuspecting target. Other hackers and bad guys are also leveraging HTTPS as it increases their hit rates and leads to more revenue for them…

There’s no need to panic, it’s all about the site content, just keep your wits about you and don’t assume that only the good guys can get an SSL certificate.

What to do ?

As always be caution and pause a moment and ask yourself “why” whenever you’re redirected to a new site, encounter a Captcha Code or presented something a little left of field.

Remember if it looks like a duck, sometimes it’s not always a duck…

If you have doubts then stop, close your browser and reconsider your actions. Perhaps calling an expert for help or a second opinion can save you time, money and reputation.

Remember good antivirus and web filtering systems can prevent many threats but ultimately you are your own best guardian.

Solve Business Services trusts our partners and values our customers security.