Viruses, malware and spyware are one of threats that may be faced by our computer whenever we browse the Web. The good news is your web browser has a lot of built-in security features to help protect your computer.
These are some of the most important features we should know about, as well as some simple tips we can use to stay safe online :
1. Check the web address
Malicious websites (fraudulent website) often use deceptive web addresses to trick users. Thy pretending legitimate sites by copying the design of the website as well as in some cases utilizing a URL similar to the real site. Malicious website also will typically copy some or all of a legitimate website's fonts, colors and layout, as well as images and logos used on the site in order to make the spoofed site look as authentic as possible.
Below is the example of malicious website that use deceptive web address:
This is the correct website :
Double-checking the domain name is a good way to ensure you're going to the real, trusted site — not a phony site with a similar web address. Some web browsers will even try to make the domain name easier to read.
2. Look at the security symbol.
Some websites will display a lock symbol in the address bar as shown below. This is most commonly seen with certain types of websites, like online stores and banking sites. This means the website is using an HTTPS connection, which makes it safe to enter your personal information.
HTTPS is a way to encrypt information that you send between a browser and a web server. This protects your website’s users from “man-in-the-middle” attacks, where someone steals the information being sent to a website, like credit card information or logins.
If there is no this symbol on websites it's OK because not all websites need this extra layer of security. However, you should avoid entering any sensitive information, such as your credit card number, if you don't see this symbol in the address bar.
3. Update Browser regularly
updating your browser is very important, because all sorts of little fixes can be included in updates,
The most important reason to keep your browser up-to-date is for our own safety and security, and that of your computer. Identity theft, phishing sites, viruses, trojans, spyware, adware, and other sorts of malware are example many different sorts of security threats that we had to face when you're browsing the web.
Your browser will usually notify you when it has an update available, but you always have the option to update manually. In this example, we're updating Google Chrome to the most recent version, but the exact update procedure will vary depending on your browser.