Read the padlock honestly
What the padlock proves, and — more usefully — what it does not.
The padlock means what you type is scrambled on its way to that website. That is all it means.
Key points
- The padlock means the connection is scrambled, and nothing more
- The owner of a site is the words just before the first single slash
What to remember
- Read the words immediately before the first single slash. That is who you are actually talking to.
- The padlock seals the envelope. It says nothing about who opens it.
Try this
Find the first single slash in the address bar above. Whatever sits just before it is who you are really talking to. Doing it once on a site you trust makes it automatic on one you do not.
Practice: Read the padlock honestly. Your first lesson is free, with no account or card; the rest are part of a Lantern plan. Interactive lessons require JavaScript.