I thought I could spot a phish. But recently, I took a quiz online that asked me to identify which sites were phishing sites. I was surprised by how hard it was to identify these fake ponds. I am quite familiar with SSL certificates from my online retailing days and being an avid online shopper and loving the convenience of being able to access banking online. But my sub-par test results gave me a jolt. It dawned on me how trusting I was of things like generic seals of approval and basic signs like a standard SSL cert. These indications were quite ingrained in me subliminally and I realized that I was often taking security on websites for granted.

Just as we are careful to rip up or shred any documents that have our names, addresses, or other personal information before throwing it in the trash, ensuring that a website is secured should be an everyday practice. This is not only important from a consumer perspective but as a business owner where you are collecting information, you have a responsibility to show that you value your customer’s privacy and security when dealing with you.

Try your hand at identifying the phish. Maybe you’ll pass the test, but at the very least, it will provide a good exercise in identifying the signs of a phishing site.

Take the test!

Once you’re done with the test, you might find yourself in the need for a good chuckle. If so, check out the Cart Whisperer series of videos from last year. Remember, to instill confidence in online shoppers, you need to make them feel safe.

From “No More Abandoned Carts”.