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How do I tell if my connection to a website is secure?

Revision 189950:

Revision 189950 by Lamont287 on

Revision 189979:

Revision 189979 by Anticisco on

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secure https padlock lock grey
secure https padlock lock grey

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Firefox uses a padlock icon next to a website's URL to let you know your connection is encrypted. Click on the icon for more information.
Firefox uses a padlock icon next to a website's URL to let you know your connection is encrypted. Click on the icon for more information.

Content:

The Site Identity button (a padlock) appears in your address bar when you visit a secure website. You can quickly find out if the connection to the website you are viewing is encrypted, and in some cases who owns the website. This should help you avoid malicious websites that are trying to obtain your personal information. The Site Identity button is in the address bar to the left of the web address. Most commonly, when viewing a secure website, the Site Identity button will be a {for not fx70}green padlock{/for}{for not fx70}[[Image:green lock 42]]{/for}{for fx70}gray padlock{/for}{for fx70}[[Image:Gray padlock - Firefox 70]]{/for}. However, in rare cases, it may also be a gray padlock with a yellow warning triangle [[Image:orange triangle grey lock 42]] or a padlock with a red strike over it [[Image:unblocked mixed content 42]]. {for not fx70} {note}Clicking the [[Image:Site Info button]] button at the left of the address bar brings up the [[Control Center - manage site privacy and security controls | Control Center]], which allows you to view more detailed information about the connection's security status and to change your security and privacy settings.{/note} {/for} {for fx70} {note}Clicking the [[Image:Gray Shield 70]] button at the left of the address bar brings up the [[Control Center - manage site privacy and security controls | Control Center]], which allows you to view more detailed information about the connection's security status and to change your security and privacy settings.{/note} {/for} __TOC__ {warning}You should never send any sort of sensitive information (bank information, credit card data, social security numbers, etc.) to a website without the padlock icon in the address bar. In this case, it hasn’t been verified that you’re communicating with the intended website and your data isn’t safe against eavesdropping!{/warning} {for not fx70} =Green padlock= A green padlock (with or without an organization name) indicates that: *You’re definitely connected to the website whose address is shown in the address bar and the connection hasn’t been intercepted. *The connection between Firefox and the website is encrypted to prevent eavesdropping. A green padlock plus the name of the company or organization, also in green, means this website is using an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extended_Validation_Certificate Extended Validation (EV) certificate]. An EV certificate is a special type of site certificate that requires a significantly more rigorous identity verification process than other types of certificates. For sites using EV certificates, the Site Identity button displays both a green padlock and the legal company or organization name and location of the owner of the website, so you know who is operating it. {/for} {for fx70} =Gray padlock= A gray padlock (with or without an organization name) indicates that: *You’re definitely connected to the website whose address is shown in the address bar and the connection hasn’t been intercepted. *The connection between Firefox and the website is encrypted to prevent eavesdropping. A gray padlock means this website is using an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extended_Validation_Certificate Extended Validation (EV) certificate]. An EV certificate is a special type of site certificate that requires a significantly more rigorous identity verification process than other types of certificates. For sites using EV certificates, the Site Identity button displays a gray padlock, as well as the legal company or organization name and location of the owner of the website when you click the [[Image:Gray Shield 70]] button so that you know who is operating it. See [[Content blocking|Content Blocking]] for additional information about what displays when clicking the [[Image:Gray Shield 70]] button. {/for} =Gray padlock with yellow warning triangle= A gray padlock with a yellow warning triangle indicates that the connection between Firefox and the website is only partially encrypted and doesn't prevent eavesdropping. This also appears on websites with self-signed certificates or certificates that aren’t issued by a trusted authority. For information about what "partially encrypted" means, see [[Mixed content blocking in Firefox]]. This is a problem the site developer needs to resolve. {note}Do not send any sort of sensitive information (bank information, credit card data, social security numbers, etc.) to sites where the Site Identity button has a yellow warning triangle icon.{/note} =Gray padlock with a red strike over it= A padlock with a red strike over it indicates that the connection between Firefox and the website is only partially encrypted and doesn’t prevent against eavesdropping or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man-in-the-middle_attack man-in-the-middle attacks]. This icon will not appear unless you’ve manually deactivated [[Mixed content blocking in Firefox | mixed content blocking]]. {note}Do not send any sort of sensitive information (bank information, credit card data, social security numbers, etc.) to sites where the Site Identity button has a gray padlock with a red strike over it.{/note}
The Site Identity button (a padlock) appears in your address bar when you visit a secure website. You can quickly find out if the connection to the website you are viewing is encrypted, and in some cases who owns the website. This should help you avoid malicious websites that are trying to obtain your personal information. The Site Identity button is in the address bar to the left of the web address. Most commonly, when viewing a secure website, the Site Identity button will be a {for not fx70}green padlock{/for}{for not fx70}[[Image:green lock 42]]{/for}{for fx70}gray padlock{/for}{for fx70}[[Image:Gray padlock - Firefox 70]]{/for}. However, in rare cases, it may also be a gray padlock with a yellow warning triangle [[Image:orange triangle grey lock 42]] or a padlock with a red strike over it [[Image:unblocked mixed content 42]]. {note}Clicking the {for not fx70}[[Image:Site Info button]]{/for}{for fx70}[[Image:Gray Shield 70]]{/for} button at the left of the address bar brings up the [[Control Center - manage site privacy and security controls | Control Center]], which allows you to view more detailed information about the connection's security status and to change your security and privacy settings.{/note} __TOC__ {warning}You should never send any sort of sensitive information (bank information, credit card data, social security numbers, etc.) to a website without the padlock icon in the address bar. In this case, it hasn’t been verified that you’re communicating with the intended website and your data isn’t safe against eavesdropping!{/warning} {for not fx70} =Green padlock= A green padlock (with or without an organization name) indicates that: *You’re definitely connected to the website whose address is shown in the address bar and the connection hasn’t been intercepted. *The connection between Firefox and the website is encrypted to prevent eavesdropping. A green padlock plus the name of the company or organization, also in green, means this website is using an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extended_Validation_Certificate Extended Validation (EV) certificate]. An EV certificate is a special type of site certificate that requires a significantly more rigorous identity verification process than other types of certificates. For sites using EV certificates, the Site Identity button displays both a green padlock and the legal company or organization name and location of the owner of the website, so you know who is operating it. {/for} {for fx70} =Gray padlock= A gray padlock (with or without an organization name) indicates that: *You’re definitely connected to the website whose address is shown in the address bar and the connection hasn’t been intercepted. *The connection between Firefox and the website is encrypted to prevent eavesdropping. A gray padlock means this website is using an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extended_Validation_Certificate Extended Validation (EV) certificate]. An EV certificate is a special type of site certificate that requires a significantly more rigorous identity verification process than other types of certificates. For sites using EV certificates, the Site Identity button displays a gray padlock, as well as the legal company or organization name and location of the owner of the website when you click the [[Image:Gray Shield 70]] button so that you know who is operating it. See [[Content blocking|Content Blocking]] for additional information about what displays when clicking the [[Image:Gray Shield 70]] button. {/for} =Gray padlock with yellow warning triangle= A gray padlock with a yellow warning triangle indicates that the connection between Firefox and the website is only partially encrypted and doesn't prevent eavesdropping. This also appears on websites with self-signed certificates or certificates that aren’t issued by a trusted authority. For information about what "partially encrypted" means, see [[Mixed content blocking in Firefox]]. This is a problem the site developer needs to resolve. {note}Do not send any sort of sensitive information (bank information, credit card data, social security numbers, etc.) to sites where the Site Identity button has a yellow warning triangle icon.{/note} =Gray padlock with a red strike over it= A padlock with a red strike over it indicates that the connection between Firefox and the website is only partially encrypted and doesn’t prevent against eavesdropping or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man-in-the-middle_attack man-in-the-middle attacks]. This icon will not appear unless you’ve manually deactivated [[Mixed content blocking in Firefox | mixed content blocking]]. {note}Do not send any sort of sensitive information (bank information, credit card data, social security numbers, etc.) to sites where the Site Identity button has a gray padlock with a red strike over it.{/note}

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