Internet Security and Privacy
When you visit an
TIP
McAfee Internet Security’s Security Check lets you know if your Web browser is
How can I tell if a Web site is secure?
Today, many sites use SSL to set up secure commerce on the Web. In addition to Web server security, the most common Internet browsers provide feedback about the security level of the site to which you are currently connected. For example, Netscape Communicator displays a lock icon in the lower left corner of the browser window. If the lock icon is broken, the site is not secure. If the lock symbol is not broken, the site is secure. In addition, if the lock symbol has a gold background, the site is using strong,
Recent versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer and America Online browsers also display security information. For more information about how your browser indicates the security level of sites, refer to your browsers online help, or the printed documentation.
If SSL is so great, what is the problem?
SSL is affected by a couple of problems. One problem is that not everyone has an
What about authentication?
Authentication is a method of assuring that both parties to an Internet transaction are who they claim to be. For example, if you get account balance information from your bank, you want to be sure that you are contacting the bank, and not some unauthorized entity. In addition, the bank wants to be sure that they are providing the information to you, and not just to a person who happens to know your bank account number.
Authentication usually entails entering a user ID and a password. To circumvent intercepted passwords and IDs, authentication employs encryption to scramble this information before transmitting it.
Product Guide 103