When you have a secure connection Chrome will display a ‘padlock’ icon. Google Chrome likes when websites use HTTPS because it means they can feel more confident that your information is safe. HTTPS adds SSL (another protocol) into the mix to provide encryption and authentication which keeps the information private between your computer and the website. HTTPS (notice the S on the end) is the secure protocol. Here is an example: An example of a page with the “Information Symbol” which indicates your connection is not secure. You will see the grey circle with an i – the “Information Symbol” – when you are connected over HTTP. When you are connected to a website over HTTP the content of the page can easily be changed and the information you enter in can easily be stolen. The meaning of those acronyms don’t matter – what you want to know is that one of those protocols is secure and one isn’t. Which one is used depends on what the website tells your browser to do.

When you connect to a website your browser uses the HTTP protocol or the HTTPS protocol. It tells you when your connection to a website is not secure. The lowercase i with a circle around it is formally known as the Information Symbol. Have you seen this ‘circle with an i’ icon in Google’s Chrome web browser? Wondered what it meant? In Everything Encryption The grey ‘circle with an i’ symbol indicates your connection is not secure.

Number on google chrome icon