Early internet sites had “trust seals”
I remember paying $200/yr just to put a “HackerSafe” seal on my e-commerce website in the 2,000’s.
If you didn’t have those seals, people wouldn’t think your website was secure from hackers.
EVERYONE paid for those and tons of companies sprung up offering them.
Eventually all internet sites got more secure and trust in some dumb seal faded (people would just post pics of them instead of embedding the companies widget) 🤣
Trust now comes from reviews, personal recommendations, or asking AI if the site is legit.
Image Description
A collage of various trust seals from the early internet era, featuring logos like McAfee Secure, VeriSign, PayPal Verified, and HackerSafe. These seals were prominently displayed on websites to assure visitors of security and trustworthiness.
Positive Aspects
This image perfectly encapsulates the era of early internet commerce where trust seals were the norm. It visually reinforces the article's nostalgic look back at how online security was marketed and perceived. The variety of seals highlights the widespread nature of this practice.
Key Takeaways
- Trust Seals as a Standard: In the early 2000s, displaying trust seals was essential for e-commerce credibility.
- Costly Assurance: Companies spent significant amounts on these seals to assure customers of their site's security.
- Evolving Trust Mechanisms: Over time, reliance on these seals diminished as websites inherently became more secure.
- Modern Trust Sources: Today, reviews and personal recommendations have replaced trust seals as the primary indicators of a site's legitimacy.
Additional Insights
Remember when you'd see a HackerSafe badge and breathe a sigh of relief? Those were the days! Now, we rely on reviews and AI to guide us through the digital jungle. It's fascinating how trust has evolved alongside technology. Just imagine explaining "trust seals" to a Gen Z—they’d probably think it’s an NFT!
