Do you ask yourself, how do I know whether to trust a website on Microsoft Edge? Keep reading and find out here!
How do I Know Whether to Trust a Website on Microsoft Edge?
To know whether to trust a website on Microsoft Edge, type in the URL of the site in the Microsoft Edge browser. Hit enter to load the webpage. Afterward, look for a grey lock or a green lock (like a padlock) on the left side of the URL bar. A green or grey lock means that the site is secure, while a red lock means that the site is not protected or secure.
Microsoft main browser used to be the Internet Explorer but Microsoft has launched a new improved browser called Microsoft Edge. This browser has some security features which can be really helpful. While browsing the Internet you come across a lot of new websites, and it becomes necessary to know if you can trust these websites. So today we are sharing here how to know whether to trust a website on Microsoft Edge.
You must also check this article: How to Get Help in Windows 10
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Why Microsoft Edge In The First Place?
The latter is gaining popularity with Windows 10, as it is the default browser on the Operating System. And web security is very important on every web browser as people can pick up negative benefits from it. So this guide will help you walk through the entire topic.
About Microsoft Edge
If you have updated your computer to the new Windows 10, then the Microsoft Edge browser would be set as your default. Internet Explorer is on its way to unpopularity, with new web browsers coming in. Microsoft Edge aims to give you high security and with their priorities set, it is making a mark on the web. Microsoft edge is a universal browser that runs in sandbox mode.
This term basically refers to the security that maintains an environment where the app cannot harm or make any other software. And so while the browser runs on your system, the security and stability of both the Operating system and your computer or laptop is present.
So, guys, this was all about the security system of Microsoft Edge, and now let us show you how you can know whether to trust a website on Microsoft edge.
Tips To know On whether to trust a Website on Microsoft Edge
One of the major parts of cybersecurity is website security check. So here are a few tricks and tips that will help you check if the visited websites are safe and secure.
- In the address bar of the new website that you browse on Microsoft Edge, a grey lock icon will appear on the left side of the website address.
- At the same position, a green color lock is present.
- The left side of the web address in the address bar lacks the lock icon.
These are the three lock indications that are the trusted ways to check the security of websites. If you keep a check on these indications then you will be to keep your personal information safe from hackers.
What Is A Grey Lock Icon On Microsoft Edge
To begin with, if you observe a grey lock icon beside the address of your website. If yes then it represents that the website that you are trying to browse is safe and authentic. The website is thus encrypted and except the website server and the user, no third party can trace it or see it.
Where Do You See A Grey Lock Icon?
One of the websites in which you will observe this grey lock icon is Facebook.
Step 1: Type Facebook.com in the address bar of your Microsoft Edge browser.
Step 2: To have extended information, you can click on the lock icon. It will show that the website that you are trying to access is encrypted. And except you, no third-party app or website can access or see your information or transfer it to the website.
Almost all social networking websites and platforms use this kind of encryption.
What Is A Green Lock Icon On Microsoft Edge
If you are accessing a website and observe a green lock icon then it represents the use of SSL to establish a connection with the host. Many websites use SSL aka Secure Socket Layer. SSL along with Extended Validation Certificate means that the website is genuine and encrypted.
Where Do You See A Green Lock Icon
This kind of protection and encryption is used by the e-commerce websites and the leading payment wallets. They use the SSL connection in order to make the process of money transfer and purchase safe, secure and encrypted.
Sites With No Lock Icon On Microsoft Edge
It might happen that you do not observe any lock icon on the left side of the website address in the address bar. Then the site is not that safe, it suggests that the information on the website is hosted on shared servers. And so it is advised that you do not opt for any e-commerce related services from this website. Such websites are not safe for online shopping or any kind of social networking.
Tap the Lock Icon to Verify Identity and Trust on Microsoft Edge
Another tip that will help you know whether to trust a website at Microsoft Edge is tapping the lock icon. With the help of this advanced approach, you can know more about the identity of the website that you are trying to access.
Simply hit the grey/green lock icon in order to verify the identity. As you will tap on the displayed icon, details like website server location, of verification and the owner of the site will be produced.
Security Features in Microsoft Edge Browser
Microsoft Edge is a new browser which Microsoft gives pre-installed with Windows 10. It was meant to be an upgrade over the Classic Internet Explorer. In this new Microsoft Edge browser, various security features are provided. Let us look at some of these security features.
- Microsoft SmartScreen:- This feature was first introduced in Internet Explorer 8. Microsoft Edge contains a better upgrade of the same feature. This feature was an essential component of both Edge and Windows Shell. This security feature helps to protect users by performing a reputation check of the sites they are trying to get on to for any kind of Phishing. A user is given a warning if SmartScreen finds any type of malicious activity from the website end. This feature performs a regular check on every website a user is visiting through Microsoft Edge.
- Private Browsing:- Like every other Browser, Edge also has a private browsing feature known as inPrivate. By using this private browsing feature, you can surf the Internet without the browser storing any kind of Cookies, History or temporary files during the session. You can enter into the inPrivate mode by opening the Edge browser and using the shortcut Ctrl + Shift + P.
- Windows Hello:- Windows Hello is a one of a kind security feature in the Edge Browser. This feature natively allows the Edge browser to support Microsoft’s Biometric Sign-in System. Windows Hello uses biometric information that is unique such as your face, fingerprint, iris or even heartbeat detection gathered from a wearable device to authenticate your identity, instead of the traditional password system. This feature is very useful in terms of security and also in terms of ease of use. As Biometric unique identities aren’t something a person can forget.
- Defence against memory corruption:- A hacker can gain access to your system through a browser by sending scripts to a program that might result in buffer overflows. This buffer overflow causes the browser to deal with the overflow during which the hacker can take control of the machine. Various security techniques are implemented by Edge browser to prevent memory overflow.
- Running Edge in Sandbox mode:- The Edge browser aways run in sandboxed mode. This provides extra security features to the System as it prevents attackers from gaining control of all of your computing resources. Even if they gain access to the browser, they will be sandboxed and put there, so that they can’t go ahead and compromise your computer.
So that’s it for the security features of the Edge browser. All these features provide a User with extreme security for the browser and the system.
Microsoft Edge Security Extensions
Microsoft Edge has a great advantage over the Internet Explorer as the support of Browser Extension on Edge. This major update of Edge extension was announced in 2016. Since then a large number of Extensions were developed to support Microsoft Edge. These extensions also include various type of Security extensions which extend the security features of the Edge browser to a great Extent. In this section, I am going to tell you about several such extensions and their use. So let’s start.
- LastPass:- LastPass security extension provides all the Password Management functions needed. It provides the creation of strong passwords, storing secure notes, and auto-filling the common information on various trusted websites. It is available for Free and supports cross-device functioning.
- Keeper:- Keeper security extension behaves like a digital vault used to store valuable and secret information in a vault on the browser. The downside of this extension is that it is not free but needs you to purchase its annual subscription.
- Norton Identity Safe:- Norton Identity Safe is a security extension which provides safe and secure browsing over the Internet. It protects you from viruses and trojans and also keeps your identity and password safe from various websites or hackers.
- Ghostery:- Ghostery is one of the most popular tracking protection extensions. It blocks the social tracking buttons you see all over the web, along with other clutter like advertising tracking. Ghostery isn’t an ad-blocker per se but does remove some. It lets you see how sites are tracking you and add exceptions for trusted sites.
These are some of the security extensions that you can download and install on your Edge browser to enhance the security of your Browser.
Now You Know When To Trust a Website on Microsoft Edge
We hope guys that this article of how to know if you should trust a website on Microsoft edge was of help to you. If you still have any doubts regarding any site, do let us know. Also, feel free to share your views or any other suggestions in the comment section.
