With the popularity of the Internet there has followed a corresponding growth of scams and fraudulent websites that use the Internet as a place to function. To combat this, legitimate websites use tools to verify the legitimacy of the site. One such tool is offered by VeriSign and is called the VeriSign certificate. A VeriSign certificate indicates that VeriSign has reviewed the website in question and found it to be legitimate. Luckily, it is relatively easy to verify a VeriSign certificate in order to make sure that it is genuine.
Step 1
Go to the website in question. For an example, go to the VeriSign website and use it as a practice site for verification purposes. A link to the VeriSign website can be found below in References.
Step 2
Locate the VeriSign certificate on the page. The VeriSign certificate consists of a large check-mark next to the phrase "VeriSign Secured." The majority of the certificate is a bright red color. You'll need to locate this certificate in order to verify it. On the example page of the VeriSign website the VeriSign certificate is at the bottom-right corner of the page.
Step 3
Click on the VeriSign certificate once you locate it. Doing so should open a pop-up window that includes certain information that is crucial to verifying the certificate.
Step 4
Look at the web address of the pop-up window. The web address begins with "http://" and should be at the top of your web browser. If the VeriSign certificate is genuine then the web address will begin with: https://seal.verisign.com. If the web address does not begin with this then the certificate is a forgery.
Step 5
Report any fake VeriSign certificates to VeriSign once you locate them and avoid doing business of any kind with a website that displays a fake VeriSign certificate.
Tip
Many pop-up blockers will stop you from verifying the VeriSign certificates you encounter by preventing the pop-up window that opens when you click on one. Make sure to adjust your pop-up blocker's settings appropriately.
Warning
Even if you're unsure whether a website's VeriSign certificate is legitimate, it's a good idea to contact VeriSign just to be careful. Sites that display fake certificates are often illegitimate websites that run scams or provide fraudulent information.