Welcome to Cybersecurity in 31 Days. I’m Malan Faya, your host. Today is Day 27. To view previous posts, click here.

For a safer web browsing experience, look for HTTPS in the web address before submitting sensitive information to a site.

Some people set up websites without providing security to protect your data. Before submitting sensitive information, such as a password or credit card information, make sure to look for “HTTPS” in a Web address. “HTTPS” indicates that the site is secure and encrypted to protect your private information. You should also see a padlock icon in the address bar of your Web browser. A secure website uses Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) to encrypt your data.

But note that not all websites require SSL to be suitable for use. SSL is suitable for sites that enable online banking transactions or online purchases. It is also suitable for a site that generally collects sensitive information from the user. So depending on the nature of information you are sending through a site, watch out for the “HTTPS” and padlock sign.