What indicates that a website may not be secure?

The absence of "https://" and the padlock icon suggests that a website may not be secure. Websites that do not use "https://" are operating over HTTP, which does not provide a secure or encrypted connection. This means that any data transferred between the user and the website could be vulnerable to interception by third parties, such as hackers.

Furthermore, the padlock icon, typically displayed in the address bar for websites that are secure, indicates that the website has an SSL (Secure Socket Layer) certificate, which helps to encrypt the data exchanged. Without this visual indicator and the secure protocol in the URL, users should be cautious about entering personal or sensitive information on that website. This absence serves as a clear warning that the site may not prioritize users' data security.