Win8 helps you easily identify trusted websites

To understand the circumstances under which a website should be trusted depends in part on who posted it, what information they want from you, and what you want from it. If you're not sure if you trust a website, consider these questions:

Are you visiting a secure site?

If you are visiting a website with a secure connection, you can identify it by a site certificate. Secure or encrypted website addresses will start with HTTPS (instead of HTTP), and you will often see certain types of icons, such as padlock icons, in your browser, indicating that the site is secure. Secure connections use certificates to identify websites and encrypt connections, increasing the complexity of hackers viewing connections.

Depending on the type of certificate the site has, you can see the URL or company address to which the certificate was granted. An Extended Validation (EV) certificate turns the address bar green in some browsers and will include the name and address confirmed by the site owner. A non-extended verification certificate will contain the URL or the domain of the site. If you can view the security report and the security report only shows the URL, make sure the URL is the one you want to visit. Phishing or deceptive websites often use similar website names to trick visitors into believing that they are visiting a trusted site.

A certificate is issued by a company called a certification authority. Windows contains a list of the most common certification authorities. If Windows does not recognize the certificate issuer, a warning message will appear. However, Windows can be configured to trust any certification authority, so when a website is potentially deceptive, you should not rely solely on receiving a warning message to determine if it is

whether the website is already trusted by the Internet Certification?

Internet Trust is a company that verifies that a website has a privacy statement (a notice about how your personal information is being used), and it also verifies that the website allows you to choose how to use your information. A website approved by the Internet Trust Organization can display a privacy certificate stamp, which is usually located on the home page or on the order form. However, these seals do not guarantee that the website is trustworthy, it simply means that the website complies with the terms acceptable to the Internet Trust. In addition, some unethical websites may deceptively display a trust logo. If you are not sure whether the trust logo is legal, contact the trust organization to find out if the site is registered.

To learn more about these trusted organizations, you can go to the TRUSTe website, the BBB Online website or the WebTrust website.

Does the site belong to a company or organization you know?

For example, if you have purchased a product in a brick-and-mortar store and have a satisfying shopping experience, you may also want to try to visit the store's website. However, even if you trust the company, be sure to read the privacy statement or terms of use of the site. Sometimes, certain companies' websites are independent of their store and may have different privacy terms. See if there are terms that you disagree with, such as requesting an email promotion or ad from the site, or sharing your information with the company's partners. If you do not agree to these terms or actions (for example, if you do not wish to be tracked or do not wish to view the advertisement), please do not use the website.

Does the website require you to provide personal information?

If you are asked to provide personal information, such as a credit card number or bank information, you can only provide it if you have a good reason. Also, make sure you have a secure input form to record information. Look for messages that indicate that the message will be encrypted, and check the padlock icon or make sure the web address starts with HTTPS://(if none of the above is displayed, do not enter confidential information). Also, try to find out the site's policy on information storage: Will they archive your credit card number? Will they share information with their partners? Before providing information, you should ensure that the site will use your information in an appropriate and secure manner.

Is there a phone or email contact on the retail website?

Do they provide a phone number that allows you to call the phone number when you have a problem, or use that phone number to place an order? Does the site list street addresses? Have you issued a refund policy that is acceptable for the terms? If the site does not provide a phone number or physical address, try contacting the company via email to request the letter

If you are unable to identify the site, are there any other information to help you make a decision?

If you are not familiar with a website or the website does not have a privacy certificate, you may still be able to trust the website. Inquire about this site from a trusted friend or colleague. Search the Internet for a reference to the site to see if a source (such as a magazine or company you trust) references the site. Read the site's privacy statement or other statement (but keep in mind that the site does not necessarily comply with these terms).

The website may not be trusted if:

1. You are notified of the site via an email from someone you don't know.

2. The site provides objectionable content such as pornography or illegal content.

3. The site offers exaggerated offers or benefits, which means there may be fraud or sales of illegal or pirated products.

4. To lure you to the site through an induced steering strategy, what you really don't offer is the product or service you want.

5. The site requires you to provide a credit card number for authentication or to ask for unnecessary personal information.

6. The site requires you to provide a credit card number and cannot prove the security of the transaction.