Google has spent quite a significant period of time trying for all the users to adopt the HTTPS protocol, trying to make sure they adopt it as a part of their lifestyle. The reason for this is that with regards to the HTTPS protocol, data is actually subject to encryption, as there is usage of SSL/TLS as the data travels between the browser and the actual website. While many opt for HTTPS, there are still quite a number of people who think that the presence of padlock means that there is the presence of trustworthiness, however, now an increasing number of phishing sites are displaying the padlock.
With accordance to the latest data in mind, there are now 49 percent of phishing websites that happen to use SSL, and this is up from 35 percent during the last quarter, and just 25 percent from a year ago. The increase is probably down to the fact that now, an increasing number of phishers that use their own domain names, and are also creating certificates for them, along with the factor of Chrome not displaying the ‘Note Secure’ on the sites in particular that happen to lack encryption. The certificate authorities don’t have the resources, nor the manpower to check every single website in a bid to ensure their legitimacy, and also, another fact is that many of the websites that request such certificates don’t have any content on them at that particular moment.
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Just back in December of last year, according to a pole conducted, more than 80 percent of people were led to believe that the presence of a padlock was the unique indication that a website was legitimate, and also safe – neither of which is true.
Browser makers are now doing their bit, by taking action, as they are now looking forward to work with security firms, in an attempt to identify and block new phishing sites, however, the problem here is that some manage to evade even being flagged. So what should we do about all this, then? Well, your safest bet would be to not input your details if you are even the slightest bit suspicious about a website; remember – having a padlock does not make a website safe!
