Secured and unsecured websites
These days, websites that handle sensitive information tend to be encrypted. This means that any sensitive information you enter into a site will be coded so that hackers have difficulty reading it. Being able to tell whether a site is encrypted is especially important when using public Wi-Fi.
How can you tell if a site is encrypted? The way sites transfer information involves HTTP (hypertext transfer protocol), which is a great way to transfer information across the web. HTTP, however, isn’t secure, which is why HTTPS, a more secure format, was invented (the “S” stands for “Secure”).
You can tell whether a site uses HTTPS by checking the left-hand portion of your address bar:
- https://www.nationwide.com
All modern banks and commerce sites that handle sensitive information should utilize HTTPS. If a site doesn’t use HTTPS, treat it with caution.