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Understanding Security |
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The Internet is made up of millions of computers that are linked to form a public network. As data travels between your computer and its final destination, the data must travel from computer to computer in a process called routing. If you are asked to provide private information such as a password, credit card number, or bank account number, you might be concerned about the security of that information.
Netscape Communicator provides security features that help protect private information that you send and receive when browsing with Netscape Navigator and when using Netscape Messenger, Communicator's email program.
If you type your bank account number into a form on a web page, for example, and then submit that information to a secure server, Navigator automatically encrypts (scrambles) the information you send and decrypts (unscrambles) any information you receive from that server. For encryption to work, you must interact with a secure server.
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You Try It: Check to See if Encryption Is Being Used |
- Look at the padlock icon in the status bar at the bottom of the browser window and the Security button in the Navigation toolbar.
- An open padlock indicates an unencrypted, or insecure, document. Most pages aren't secure and don't need to be.
- A closed padlock indicates that you are viewing an encrypted document. You'll see this on the order pages of many online shopping sites, such as Amazon.com or Travelocity.
- If you have questions, click the padlock or the Security button to display a document's security status.
- Watch for security messages. Navigator will display a message alerting you to changes in security status as you view other web pages.
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Tips for New Users |
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Tip: Tired of so many warning messages? You can always click the Don't Show This Message Again button and then wait until you're actually worried about security to click the Security button.
Tip: If you submit information to a server that is not secure, Navigator will warn you that the submission you are about to make may not be safe. In many cases, you don't need to worry about submitting this data, which can include search engine queries, moves in a computer game, or an entry in an online guest book or chat room. If what you're submitting is confidential personal or financial data, however, you might want to cancel the submission and email or phone the company or organization that sponsors the site to find another way to submit your confidential information.
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FYI |
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The URL for most web servers starts with http://, while the URL for most secure servers starts with https:// - the s is for secure. Regardless, a secure site always includes a link to information about the site's security policy.
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