Check the padlock before typing anything

Step by step

1. Click the Start button! Look at the bottom of this practice computer: the dark strip there is its taskbar. In the middle of it, click the Start button (four blue squares). The main menu opens just above it. If you see two taskbars, use the one inside this page.
2. Click "Browser". In the menu that opened, click the "Browser" tile (a square with a small picture and its name under it): the app opens in its own window.
3. Go to puzzles-and-games.example. Click in the address bar, type puzzles-and-games.example and press Enter. It is a practice website that behaves like some real ones do.
4. Click the sign next to the address. Look left of the address: this site shows a warning sign. Click it: it says "Not secure".
5. Now a secure site: go to Practice Mail. Click "Practice Mail" on the favorites bar.
6. Click the padlock. Click the padlock left of the address: "Connection is secure". That is what you want to see before typing anything private.
7. Close this window. You are done with this window, so close it: click the ✕ button at the top right corner of the "Browser" window (on its title bar, the strip at the top). The window disappears.

These steps are written for SafePC, a pretend Windows-style computer in your web browser. On your own computer, the buttons and menus may look a little different, but the idea is the same.

More lessons in Keeping safe

• Install the updates
• Choose which apps can use the camera
• Say "Block" when a site wants to send notifications
• Close a fake virus warning
• Don't download a "player update"