July 18, 2023

How to tell if a website is credible

Thanks to the internet, we currently have a wealth of information at our fingertips. However, not all websites are created equal—some are more credible than others. If you consume content online, whether it’s for work, school, or leisure, it’s important to distinguish between legitimate sources and unreliable sources. Consider these helpful tips the next time you need to evaluate a website’s credibility and safety.

Check the domain name

One of the fastest ways to tell if a website is credible is by checking its domain name. Domains ending in .org, .com, .edu, or .gov are usually more legit than websites that end in .biz or .info. However, some websites use the former suffixes to appear more authoritative than they are, so use multiple methods of evaluating a site if you’re still unsure.

Look at the sources

When reading an article or study, it's important to evaluate its sources to see if they’re credible. Look for appropriate citations to back up large claims. Additionally, credible sources often include the author's name and credentials to establish their expertise. Pay attention to when the article was written, and the dates of the sources used. If you're in a field where information changes rapidly, using more recent studies is recommended.

Check out the contact page

It’s easy for a website to copy and paste logos and branding from another company into their site. Illegitimate websites will usually hide their contact information, though, whereas legitimate ones usually make their contact information readily available. If the website you’re on lacks a contact page, you may be looking at a deceptive site. A credible website should ideally include the physical address, phone number, and email address.

Evaluate the website’s design

When deciding if a website is real, look at its design and layout. Well-made websites that look and feel professional are typically more legitimate than websites that feel like they were thrown together quickly, which may include oddly sized images and typos.

Check your security connection

Checking for security indicators is another great way to assess a website’s credibility. For starters, HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) is usually more secure than HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) because it uses encryption methods to protect your data. HTTPS also authenticates your connection, which ensures that the website you're interacting with is legitimate. Therefore, if you're sharing sensitive information online, HTTPS is recommended over HTTP.

When browsing with Microsoft Edge, you can easily evaluate the security level of each site by checking the Microsoft Defender Smartscreen icon in the address bar. The icon has four different states that indicate whether the website is fully secure, not fully secure, outdated, or suspicious. If Microsoft Defender Smartscreen detects an unsafe connection, it shows a warning screen before opening the URL.

These tips can help you avoid potentially dangerous sites. Take advantage of security features and more by downloading Microsoft Edge.

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Articles are written specifically for the United States market; features, functionality, and availability may vary by region.