End of Chrome’s padlock: How to tell if a website is safe?

Earlier in May, Google announced that Chrome would remove the padlock from the address bar that indicates if a website is secure. Despite, With the release of update 117 for the browser, it will be replaced by another, more neutral system.

But how do you know if a website is still safe? Hosting company HostGator has compiled a list of tips that can help you answer this question! Check out some points to consider while navigating.

1 – Check the website address

The first important tip is to verify the address of the website visited, especially if you find a shortened URL, as many phishing scams use this mechanism. Changing characters is also quite common. A practical example: How do I know if the word “loja” is written with a capital “l” or “i” on the website “lojadojoao.com.br”?

If the address in question has already been accessed, it is worth using the browser’s autocomplete feature or searching for the page itself on Google.

2 – Research the reputation of the page

If the page visited is from a store, it is worth paying attention to whether it is available on Google My Business. Another possibility is to search for the name of the site on Reclame Aqui.

“On the Reclame Aqui website, search for your desired store and clicking ‘Go to Website’ makes it possible to verify if the website is correct and the same as the one you clicked on before,” explains Igor de Andrade, digital security specialist at HostGator .

3 – Pay attention to security seals

Despite the end of Chrome’s padlock, there is another feature that helps determine if a site is secure: the presence of security seals.

these stamps usually found at the end of pages and can help prove the security of a website. Examples of certificate tools are SSL (helps authenticate a domain and transfer encrypted data) and SiteLock (to protect the page against threats and perform daily checks for malware).