Web Site Certificates

A web site that uses encryption to protect your privacy must have a site certificate. Sites for shopping and banking, for example, use them. Certificates are verified by an independent certificate authority and confirm that the name the certificate is registered to matches the web site name. This means the site is trustworthy. If you receive a message stating that there is a problem with the certificate, don't submit any personal information. Most of the time the message will let you see the certificate and you can decide whether to accept it or not.

The National Cyber Alert System has more information on site certificates.