Make sure a website is secure
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Created by: Spencer Waters
Modified on: Fri, 3 Sep, 2021 at 3:44 PM
Check if a site's connection is secure
To see whether a website is safe to visit, you can check for security info about the site. Chrome will alert you if you can’t visit the site safely or privately.
- In Chrome, open a page.
- To check a site's security, to the left of the web address, look at the security status:
- Secure
- Info or Not secure
- Not secure or Dangerous
- To see the site's details and permissions, select the icon. You'll see a summary of how private Chrome thinks the connection is.
What each security symbol means
These symbols let you know how safe it is to visit and use a site. They tell you if a site has a security certificate, if Chrome trusts that certificate, and if Chrome has a private connection with a site.
Secure
Information you send or get through the site is private.
Even if you see this icon, always be careful when sharing private information. Look at the address bar to make sure you're on the site you want to visit.
Info or Not secure
The site isn't using a private connection. Someone might be able to see or change the information you send or get through this site.
On some sites, you can visit a more secure version of the page:
- Select the address bar.
- Delete
http://
, and enter https://
instead.
If that doesn't work, contact the site owner to ask that they secure the site and your data with HTTPS.
Not secure or Dangerous
We suggest you don't enter any private or personal information on this page. If possible, don't use the site.
Not secure: Proceed with caution. Something is severely wrong with the privacy of this site’s connection. Someone might be able to see the information you send or get through this site.
You might see a "Login not secure" or "Payment not secure" message.
Dangerous: Avoid this site. If you see a full-page red warning screen, the site has been flagged as unsafe by Safe Browsing. Using the site will likely put your private information at risk.
What a security certificate is
When you go to a site that uses HTTPS (connection security), the website's server uses a certificate to prove the website's identity to browsers, like Chrome. Anyone can create a certificate claiming to be whatever website they want.
To help you stay on safe on the web, Chrome requires websites to use certificates from trusted organizations.
Spencer is the author of this solution article.
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