Why is it important to educate consumers about checking HTTPS and website certificates to protect against carding-related phishing?

[Student]

Educating consumers about checking HTTPS and website certificates is critical to protecting against card-related phishing attacks, as these measures help users secure their personal and financial information. Phishing aimed at stealing bank card data (carding) is one of the most common cyberthreats, and awareness of HTTPS and certificates can significantly reduce the risk. Let's explore why this is important and how it works for educational purposes.

1. Understanding HTTPS and its role​

HTTPS (HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure) is a secure version of the HTTP protocol that uses encryption based on the SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) or TLS (Transport Layer Security) protocols. HTTPS provides three key security aspects:

• Confidentiality: Data transmitted between the user and the site (e.g. card numbers, passwords) is encrypted, making it impossible for hackers to intercept.
• Integrity: Encryption ensures that data cannot be modified during transmission.
• Authentication: HTTPS verifies that the user is interacting with the real site and not a fake one, thanks to certificates.

Without HTTPS, data is transmitted in cleartext, allowing attackers to intercept sensitive information using techniques like man-in-the-middle attacks. Phishing sites designed for carding often don't use HTTPS or use fake certificates, so checking HTTPS is the first step to protection.

2. The Role of Certificates in Phishing Protection​

SSL/TLS certificates used to ensure HTTPS are issued by trusted certificate authorities (CAs). They confirm that a website belongs to the organization and domain it claims to belong to. Certificate verification is important for the following reasons:

• Website authentication: The certificate contains information about the website owner and domain. By checking the certificate, the user can verify that the website, for example, belongs to a bank and not to a scammer using a similar domain (e.g., "bank.com" instead of "bank.com" with the Cyrillic "a").
• Detecting fakes: Phishing sites may use self-signed certificates or certificates issued by untrusted CAs, which trigger browser warnings. Trained users can spot these signals and avoid entering data.
• Domain Spoofing Protection: Attackers often use similar domains (for example, "paypa1.com" instead of "paypal.com"). Certificate verification ensures that the domain matches the official one.

3. How is phishing related to carding?​

Phishing is a social engineering technique in which attackers trick users into revealing sensitive information, such as bank card details. Carding is the subsequent stage, where the stolen data is used for fraudulent transactions or sold on the black market. Phishing sites often:

• They imitate the interface of banks, payment systems (PayPal, Visa) or online stores.
• They request card details under the pretext of payment, verification or updating information.
• They use fake input forms that send data directly to the attackers.

Checking HTTPS and certificates helps identify such sites because:

• Legitimate websites of large organizations almost always use HTTPS and have valid certificates.
• Phishing sites may not have HTTPS, have self-signed certificates, or use domains other than official ones.

4. Why consumer education is important​

Educating users to validate HTTPS and certificates has several key benefits:

• Reducing the number of phishing victims: Users who know how to verify HTTPS (for example, the lock icon in the address bar) and certificate are less likely to enter data on fake sites.
• Improving digital literacy: Being aware of HTTPS and certificates teaches users to be more alert to other signs of phishing, such as suspicious URLs, spelling errors, or unexpected data requests.
• Preventing financial losses: Carding can lead to theft from bank accounts, unauthorized purchases, or compromised credit data. HTTPS and certificate verification reduces the likelihood of data being transferred to fraudsters.
• Protection against sophisticated attacks: Modern phishing attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated, including the use of HTTPS on fake websites (attackers can purchase cheap certificates). Certificate verification helps determine whether it was issued by a trusted CA and whether it matches the domain.

5. How to train users​

The following approaches can be used to effectively educate consumers:

• Checking the lock icon: Train users to look for the lock icon in the browser's address bar, which indicates HTTPS. The absence of a lock or a warning about an insecure connection is a red flag.
• Domain Analysis: Explain how to check a URL for suspicious characters or differences from the official domain (e.g. "g00gle.com" instead of "google.com").
• View Certificate: Show how to click on the lock icon and open the certificate details to check if it is issued by a trusted CA (e.g. DigiCert, Let's Encrypt) and if the domain matches.
• False security warning: Be aware that HTTPS alone does not guarantee the authenticity of a site, as attackers can also use HTTPS. It's important to verify the domain and certificate.
• Practical examples: Conduct training sessions with examples of phishing sites, showing how they differ from legitimate ones (e.g. through screenshots or simulations).
• Using browser warnings: Teach users not to ignore browser warnings about untrusted certificates or unsafe sites.

6. Practical steps for users​

To protect against phishing, users can:

1. Always check if the URL starts with "https://".
2. Click on the lock icon and view information about the certificate (owner, CA, expiration date).
3. Compare the domain with the organization's official website (for example, "apple.com" rather than "apple-login.com").
4. Avoid entering data on sites that trigger browser warnings.
5. Use antivirus software and browsers with anti-phishing features.

7. Additional protective measures​

In addition to HTTPS and certificate verification, training should include:

• Using two-factor authentication (2FA) for banking and payment accounts.
• Regular monitoring of banking transactions to quickly detect fraud.
• Avoid clicking on links in suspicious emails or messages that may lead to phishing sites.
• Updating software (browsers, antiviruses) to protect against vulnerabilities.

Conclusion​

Educating consumers about HTTPS and certificate verification is a crucial step in the fight against phishing and carding. HTTPS provides encryption and authentication, and certificate verification helps identify fake websites. Improving digital literacy allows users to make informed decisions, reducing the risk of data theft and financial loss. Regular training, practical examples, and the use of additional security measures create a reliable barrier against cyberthreats.