The internet is an ever-evolving entity. Although it’s almost impossible to obtain a definitive figure, WebsiteSetup estimates that there are 1.7 billion sites online. That’s a big number and, as time rolls on, it’s only going to get bigger. This is obviously great news for anyone that values choice. However, as we know, the internet isn’t always a safe place. Cisco data predicts that distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks will top 15.4 million by 2023. This doesn’t mean you’re always in danger, but it’s a stark reminder that you should always be vigilant.
Simple Ways to Stay Safe Online
The question, therefore, is how do you know if a website is legit? The first thing you can do is look at the URL. Does the address bar have an image of a lock and/or the prefix HTTPs? These things don’t necessarily mean the website isn’t a scam, however, these symbols do tell you that data passing through the site is encrypted which, in turn, means it’s protected from hackers. You can take this a step further by looking at whether a website features CAPTCHA challenges. Otherwise known as Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart, these challenges are another way of stopping hackers.
These are simple ways of determining the status of a website. Again, they don’t guarantee 100% that it’s not a scam. However, any webmaster that takes the time to encrypt data and put CAPTCHA challenges on registration forms probably isn’t a criminal. Another way you can ascertain whether a website is legit is through reviews. Online casino gaming is an industry built on trust and reviews form a major part of the economy. Indeed, because customers are expected to deposit and bet money, they need feel safe as well as know they’re protected by features such as SSL encryption. Reviews help foster this sense of trust as they’re typically written by industry experts.
Build Up a Profile of the Websites You’re Using
For example, this review by Casino Smash of the BetMGM Casino app provides general details about the platform, such as its features, games, and deposit match bonus. Nonetheless, it also discusses BetMGM’s regulatory credentials. This gives the review more depth and, in turn, greater authority. Moreover, readers are being told that this app is not only safe but legal thanks to regulatory oversight from agencies such as Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. Overall, these things foster a sense of trust and, therefore, help guide readers towards legit websites.
The final thing you can do to assess the validity of a website is run its details. Like a detective, you can use tools such as Whois Lookup to find out when a website was registered and who registered it. You can also look to see if the website has a privacy policy. Finally, you can do some digging around on social media. Does it have a presence on Facebook et al? What are people saying about it on social media? Are there any suspicious posts? All of these things can help you build up a digital character profile. As with all of these tips, nothing is ever foolproof. However, if you can remain vigilant and utilize our advice, you should be well on the way to surfing the web safely.