Using Web Addresses to stay safe

URLs simply the web address displayed in the address bar... May seem simple to most, but could there be some way to use it to our advantage to decide which sites are legit and which aren't? Yes, simply study the address bar and decide here are some tips:

ex.  http://www.google.com/maps

Green: Scheme, simply the protocol used to connect to the site.

Blue: The name of the host. Used when any person or company registers the name for only them to use.

and of course Red: Additional Paths, this may jump you to a specific page on that web page, like a login screen or another part of the website.

Simple enough, right? Now we get into the sticky stuff. Tell me which of these four do you think are real?

www.bankofamerica.com

www.bankofamerica.xyz.com

www.xyz.com/bankofamerica

www.bankofamerica.com/smallbusiness

Ok here is the easiest way to tell: www.bankofamerica.com and www.bankofamerica.com/smallbusiness are legit. How to tell? Always look at the name of the host first. On both of these it is bankofamerica.com/ . Comprendo? Now look at the other two. In www.xyz.com/bankofamerca xyz is obviously the name of the host, this might not even really have anything to do with the Bank Of America, be careful. Easy enough yet? No, look at www.bankofamerica.xyz.com looks right, right? Now look again: www.bankofamerica.xyz.com did you see that? Looky there it is bankofamerica(DOT)xyz not bankofamerica.com/xyz YOU ARE STILL CONNECTING TO XYZ NOT BANK OF AMERICA. Be careful with these... the dot could kill you, almost literally, could destroy you, your identity or simply take your money and get you in trouble. If you are making any online transaction with any sensitive information, check the address bar first, make sure the scheme is https:// not http:// and that tere is a padlock icon on the address bar. If completely secure the full address would look like this:

https://www.bankofamerica.com/