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Knowing you're logging into a safe website

These days it’s very important to check you’re on a safe website. Especially if you’ve got there by clicking on a link in an email or through social media.

Here are a few things to keep in mind.

Before you click

Before you click on a link, check the web address. If there’s anything unusual about it, then it might not be the website you’re expecting to go to.

Before you enter personal information

Example web address showing the padlock and https in the address bar
Example web address showing the padlock and https in the address bar

Before you enter any personal information on to a website look for the S in HTTPS, this shows the website is encrypted. If the full web address isn’t showing in the address bar, double click it to expand it so that you can check for the ‘S’. If there is a padlock in the address bar you can also click on this to check the connection is secure.

However, though this means information you enter on the site is encrypted, be aware that you could still be on a fraudulent website.

Check the Privacy policy

Check the website privacy policy. This will tell you how your data is being collected, used and protected by the website. The privacy policy for the Open University is in the footer of every web page.

The Open University website footer with Privacy policy link highlighted

Contact from the Open University

Emails you receive from the Open University will always include open.ac.uk in the sender's address. We will never ask you to tell us your username or password either over the phone or by email.

Last updated 7 months ago