Does Green Padlock mean You are Safe?
date
Sep 27, 2022
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does-green-padlock-mean-you-are-safe
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Published
summary
Learn what https green padlock is and if it means you are safe or not. You might want to know all the details to make sure that your data is safe while surfing on the internet.
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Website
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Post
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Author
Buse Eker
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Privacy & Security
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What Is Green Padlock? Does Green Padlock Mean You are Safe? - FastVPN
Online security is a great concern for individuals, as well as businesses. These days, it has become difficult to protect data over the internet. Businesses find it troublesome to protect their sensitive details and the details shared by their customers. Protecting customer details is crucial for businesses to maintain long-term relationships. A green padlock is an indication that a website is secure.
But does it mean you are completely secure? This is what we are going to find out through this article. So, let’s proceed.
What’s the HTTPS Green Padlock?Is Green Padlock Dead?Problem with the Green PadlockGreen Padlock is Not Enough for SecurityVPN is Here to HelpBottom Line
What’s the HTTPS Green Padlock?
HTTPS green padlock is used by a website or company to indicate to the users that the website is protected. It means the website uses SSL or secure sockets layer technology. This is the ‘S’ of HTTPS. Often users are confused between HTTPS and HTTP. But they know that the green padlock on the address bar indicates protected information. So, it reduces the risk of hackers intercepting, misdirecting, and stealing data.
Is Green Padlock Dead?
Today, one of the biggest questions the SSL/TLS industry is facing is- is green padlock dead?
Well, even if it is not dead, it is definitely on life support. There have been rumors that it will be deprecating it completely since the internet is migrating to HTTPS. Truth be told, it is facing a wide range of issues.
Problem with the Green Padlock
There have been studies that show that 49% of phishing sites are now using HTTPS. It is a surprising statistic, but another tidbit that has been included in the study shows that 80% of the internet users doesn’t know what green padlock actually means.
Cybercriminals keep getting more sophisticated in their phishing attempts. And people need to be educated more about green padlocks and security.
There are some browsers dominating the market: Microsoft, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, and Edge. These browsers, along with their mobile versions, display the green padlock a little differently. The lack of uniformity is making things worse.
Many experts believe that the whole trust ecosystem is in a free fall. Google says what is secure and what is insecure, but also each browser implements its own technique of displaying ‘safe and secure’.
If a browser ultimately kills off the green padlock, it is most likely to be Google. There have already been announcements about removing the padlock, along with protocol at the start of the URL.
Green Padlock is Not Enough for Security
When goods are sold in larger quantities, their price and value start going down. It can be concluded that if there are no raw materials or production costs involved, prices of the goods are going to drop.
SSL is experiencing something similar. They are being given out for free with web hosting packages by many companies, including the ones that do not even check into the buyer’s identity. In simple words, they don’t care about who is buying the package as long they are paying the bills.
So, you will find a green padlock on every site, particularly the ones where you are sharing your financial details, the trust you put on the underlying certificate is dropping. These days a green padlock means that your system is connected to the website that you are seeing in the address bar.
Green padlock alone isn’t enough. More than a million new phishing sites are cropping up every month. Phishing sites are being created every day and since we already know hosting deals, including a certificate that comes at a very low price, it can be assumed that hosting providers don’t have enough resources to go through every new website. Even if they perform a check, who will check if the site hasn’t changed once it goes live.
But ultimately, it is the visitor that is facing the outcome of sharing their details with a phishing site.
VPN is Here to Help
Just because a green padlock is not a sign of complete protection, you don’t need to feel helpless. The VPN comes to your rescue.
With a VPN, you can hide your IP address and keep changing it from time to time. It can protect you from cybercriminals.
When you are connected to the internet, you run the risk of being attacked by strangers. Your data is vulnerable. Using a VPN will protect you by hiding your banking information, account passwords, and other details. It can also mask your IP address from scrupulous means.
Many banks have switched to two-factor authentication to access sensitive banking data and accounts. But the issue is many banks still don’t use such security systems. Hence, your online activity can be exposed to hackers. A VPN is the best security measure you can take.
When you are shopping over the internet, you use your payment details, such as credit card or debit card number, along with some personal details. If the site is not well-protected, it can lead to identity theft. A VPN will help in securing your connection. Hence, you can shop safely and privately.
VPNs are easy to use. The top users have a user-friendly and intuitive interface that makes installations easier even for people who are not tech-savvy.
No matter, it is your home network or company network, use a VPN. It will give users the freedom to access their preferred channel.
You can set up a VPN on your desktop, mobile device, or router.
Bottom Line
Green padlock security indicators can’t be trusted anymore for determining the safety and security of the user. Experts recommend that the best practice to ensure online security is to use a VPN. It can hide your IP address and keep you anonymous over the internet. It conceals all your online activity. So, you can browse the internet freely.
With FastVPN, you can enjoy complete security. No matter which OS you are using- Linux, macOS, or Windows, you can get a FastVPN app for each. You will also find apps for Android, Android TV, and iOS. You can use up to 6 devices at the same time with a FastVPN account.
