Phishing Protection

Verify SSL Certificate on Internet Explorer

Below instructions are applicable to Internet Explorer 10 running on Windows 10. Please note that you can only verify certificate in a native version of Internet Explorer 10. New Internet Explorer for Windows 10 called Microsoft Edge doesn’t have the functionality to view certificate details.

  • Navigate to a website for which you want to verify SSL certification in your Internet Explorer browser. Make sure that you are not using Microsoft Edge browser. To launch Internet Explorer on Windows 10 you need to type “internet explorer” in window search bar. You should see Internet Explorer appear in a list above
  • Click on lock icon located on the right side of the taskbar. If lock icon is missing it means that website is not using SSL encryption and it is not safe to use it for anything other than reading content from it. ie-ssl-1
  • After clicking on the lock icon you should see a small popup window with basic certificate details. Typically it will have very generic information about the certificate. ie-ssl-2
  • To make sure that you’re actually browsing a website which is owned by a specific corporate entity you need to click on “View certificates” link in this popup window.
  • You should see a window with certificate details as on an image belowie-ssl-3
  • Click on triangle next to “Details” in order to view all factual details about the website certificate. You should see website owner company details and also details of entity which issues the certificate

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Protect Yourself Against Phishing Attacks

Phishing is a type of internet attack which tricks users into thinking that they are located on a secure bank/corporate/government website while instead of being redirected to a malicious website which goal is to steal user personal information. Typically login (username and password) information is stolen. Losing this information could have very dangerous consequences because hacker may gain complete access to user account information on a website which is subject to the phishing attack.

Below we provide several simple steps which can give you some piece of mind and make sure you’re not a subject of phishing attack. This technique relies on checking SSL certificate of the website to which you were redirected and making sure that certificate is authentic. Even though this technique will not guarantee a 100% protection from phishing attack (certificate forgery is still possible) it considerably lowers chances that you are on a phishing website.

We also strongly recommend that you install one of the leading phishing protection software to make chances of becoming a subject of phishing attack even lower.

Verify SSL certificate in Safari

  1. Make sure that a lock icon (gray or green) is displayed next to the website name.
    Screen Shot 2017-01-22 at 12.22.39 AM
  2. Click on the lock icon.
  3. Click on Show Certificate button.
  4. You will see details of website SSL certificate. 
    Screen Shot 2017-01-22 at 12.25.10 AM
  5. Check following things.
    1. “This certificate is valid” message displayed with a green checkbox.
    2. Website name matches the name of the website you planned to visit.
    3. If you open Details section on the certificate you can also see an address of a company which received this SSL certificate and details of certificate authority who issued a certificate. Verify it to the best of your knowledge.

Verify SSL certificate in Chrome

  1. Make sure that a lock icon (gray or green) is displayed next to the website name. 
    Screen Shot 2017-01-22 at 12.29.58 AM
  2. Click on the lock icon. You will see information if your connection is secure. Typically you should expect to see following message: Secure connection. Your information (for example, passwords or credit card numbers) is private when it is sent to this site. If you see a different message and connection is not secure then you need to take further actions to verify that website is authentic.
  3. Click on Details under this message.
  4. You will see certificate details windows.
    Screen Shot 2017-01-22 at 12.30.26 AM
  5. Check following things.
    1. “This certificate is valid” message displayed with a green checkbox.
    2. Website name matches the name of the website you planned to visit.
    3. If you open Details section on the certificate you can also see an address of a company which received this SSL certificate and details of certificate authority who issued a certificate. Verify it to the best of your knowledge.