How to Check If a Website is Safe

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In this internet era, we’re all aware of the risks of using a website, and how important it is to be safe. But threats are always on the rise, and they can be difficult to spot. That’s why it’s so important to have tools that can help you to check if a website is safe or not. Check out some of these easy-to-use tools that will let you know if your website is safe!

Check if the website has SSL certificate

An SSL certificate guarantees the safety of data when sent from your browser to the website. It also prevents data theft. When you visit a website, look for the padlock icon next to the URL in your browser’s address bar or in the bottom status bar. If the icon is missing, then the website may not have an SSL certificate.

If you see the icon, click the ‘Details’ link. You will see details of the SSL certificate, including cipher, protocol, and algorithm. You should also see the certifying authority and organization identification.

Search for a privacy policy

To be safe online, you should always check a website’s privacy policy. Privacy policies should clearly state how the website collects and uses your data. In many countries, such as the EU, this is required by law. The existence of such a policy shows that the website owner cares about the safety and compliance of personal data.

When searching for a privacy policy, it is important to note that some websites use legalese to conceal their real purpose. Search for words like “data”, “retain,” and “third parties” when looking for a website’s privacy policy.

Use a website safety checker

A website safety checker helps you check the security of a website before you visit it. It scans the website against a variety of safe browsing lists, as well as specific types of threats. If a website contains links that you don’t recognize, it will warn you before you click on them. These links can lead to infected pages or even damage the reputation of a resource.

For example, if you’re planning to build a new website, you can use the cWatch Website Security – Online Tool to scan and remove any malware from it. You should also perform a Whois lookup on a website to determine the owner’s identity.

Check for Https

Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) is the standard security protocol used on the Internet. It is a combination of the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) with the SSL/TLS protocol to provide encrypted communication and secure identification of a website. When you visit a website that uses HTTPS, your browser verifies that the website’s certificate is valid and then establishes a secure connection with the website. Once the connection is established, all communications between your browser and the website are encrypted and secured from eavesdroppers. HTTPS is important because it helps prevent unsafe bots from intercepting communications between your browser and a website and stealing sensitive information like credit card numbers, social security numbers, and login credentials.

Find contact information

The presence of contact information on a website can make it seem more legitimate to a visitor. Without contact information, many website visitors will simply leave the website. Contact details can be displayed in the form of an email address, phone number, physical address, or social media accounts. While the contact information doesn’t guarantee the safety of the website, it does show that the website is trustworthy.

Check the Whois

To verify whether a website is safe, check the whois. This information will tell you who owns the domain name, including the location of the website. Websites that are safe and legitimate are registered in the name of a company or individual.

Review Website’s Social Media Presence

Social media presence is one of the most important factors when determining if a website is legit. While many websites do not have social media presence, you can check if the website you’re considering has established profiles on these platforms. If it doesn’t, then you should proceed with caution.

Double check the domain name

Double checking the domain name of a website can help you to confirm its legitimacy. If the URL contains dashes, symbols, or impersonates a business, it is probably a fake. It is also important to look at the domain name and spelling of the URL because some fraudsters alter the letters slightly to create the appearance of a safe website

Run a Virus Scan

Most of the fake websites are put together in a very short amount of time by hackers. The best way to detect malware is to use antivirus software. There are several free tools that will detect and remove malware and other threats from your computer. These tools will also alert you if your computer has been infected.

What are the best tools to check a website’s safety?

  • Google Safe Browsing: A free service provided by Google that checks websites against a database of known phishing and malware sites.
  • Norton Safe Web: A free tool from Norton that provides a website safety report, including information about the site’s reputation and potential risks.
  • McAfee SiteAdvisor: A free tool that provides website safety ratings and information about potential threats, including spyware, spam, and phishing.
  • WOT (Web of Trust): A free browser extension that provides website safety ratings based on community feedback and data from a variety of sources.
  • WebARX: A website security solution that provides real-time protection against cyber-attacks and hacking attempts.
  • Sucuri: A website security company that provides a website security scanner, firewall, and website monitoring services to help protect against potential threats.
  • Screaming Frog SEO Spider: A website analysis tool that can help identify security vulnerabilities, broken links, and other issues that could affect website safety and security.

In short

There are a number of different tools that you can use to check if a website is safe or not. By using these tools, you can ensure that you are only visiting safe websites and avoid any potential risks. We recommend that you use a combination of these tools to get the most comprehensive view of a website’s safety.