2.3 Protecting personal data

Figure 3 Personal data

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An image depicting a secure connetion on a browser, which is identified by a padlock symbol next to the url.

Figure 3 Personal data

An increasing number of services conduct business online. They all involve providing personal data over the internet. This may be shopping, banking or even a job application process.

Ensure that the webpage is secure by looking out for these features:

• secure sites will have a web address that begins https://
• some sites may provide a padlock in the address bar
• use websites that are trustworthy – you’ll be finding out how to judge how trustworthy a website is in Week 5.

There are a number of free tools that can warn you if a site you are accessing is considered unsafe before you access it. For hackers, their first target to attack is your browser because a browser stores lots of your personal data on their cookies. We’ve provided some examples below, but you might want to search for your own.

• WOT (Web of Trust) [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] – a free browser extension for Chrome that helps you decide which websites you can trust based on other users experiences.
• McAfee Site Advisor – free download that gives ratings to signal when to click and when to skip.
• Avira Browser Safety – a free browser extension for Chrome that blocks harmful sites, protects your privacy and finds deals while you shop.
• Virustotal – You can scan a suspicious link, files, or application. It will show you whether they contain any virus, malware, spyware, or any other threats.