3. The Website Isn’t Secure (No HTTPS) (Shop Smart: 5 Red Flags When Shopping Online)

🚩 3. The Website Isn’t Secure (No HTTPS)

The Red Flag:

You’re browsing a shopping site, and the URL at the top of your browser starts with http:// instead of https://. There’s no little padlock icon beside it—just plain text. It might look like a perfectly normal website, but underneath the surface, it’s like shouting your credit card details in a crowded room.

Why It’s Risky:

The “s” in https stands for secure. It means that any data (like your personal information or payment details) sent between your browser and the website is encrypted. Without it, hackers can easily intercept your information—especially if you’re on public Wi-Fi.

If there’s no encryption, any information you type—like passwords, billing info, or even your name and address—can be stolen or manipulated.

What to Do:

• Only enter personal or financial information on https:// websites. Check for the padlock icon before typing anything sensitive.
• Avoid shopping or logging into sensitive accounts while on public Wi-Fi, unless you’re using a trusted Virtual Private Network (VPN).
• Hover over links in suspicious emails or ads—sometimes they lead to imitation sites designed to mimic real ones, but with an insecure address.

Pro Tip:

Click or tap the padlock icon in your browser’s address bar. It will show you details about the site’s security certificate—if it’s expired or issued to a different domain, that’s a major red flag.

Let me know if you'd like me to illustrate this section with a visual showing a "secure" vs. "insecure" website interface—it could be great for educating readers who aren’t tech-savvy!