"Connection not secure" - normal for SDMB?

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1

I’ve just noticed that, when I’m on the main page or any of the forum main pages, my connection is secure. Once I click on a thread, I get the “connection not secure” indicator (red lock with line through it).

Is this normal for SDMB and I’ve never noticed it, or is it a new thing or something going wonky on my end?

2

That’s from having https:// before boards.straightdope.com or www.straightdope.com. Leave off the https:// if you can, it doesn’t like straightdope.com.

3

I don’t think that’s it. At least in my address bar the https… isn’t showing. It just starts boards.straightdope.com…

4

Yup, the board doesn’t use https.

5

Whatever browser you’re using is trying to establish a secure connection, that’s what https:// is. You must have it but can’t see it.

6

I’m using firefox. I readily admit I know extremely little about the workings of the internet and computers in general.

Is it a big deal to have occasionally insecure connections?

7

This is a new “feature” in Firefox (and Chome, I think). Basically, the browser is bitching because we have a login box on the page and we’re not using https.

It’s nothing new for the SDMB (we’ve always operated without https), and it’s not that big of a deal, but many of the new browsers are complaining about it.

8

Ah, OK thank you. At least now I understand what’s happening.

9

Browsers are adding new bells and whistles as they try to keep up with Chrome in the constant struggle to attract new users or keep the old. (It’s a war that Chrome has already won with 90% of the market.) Many of these so-called security features are unnecessary (at least at present) and some are a bloody nuisance.

10

If it annoys you too much, you can turn it off. I did, since it kept covering up dialogs I needed to use.

Copying the directions straight from a Google search:

[ol]
[li]Open Firefox.[/li][li] In the address bar type the following command:[/li][li] about:config.[/li][li] Click on the “I’ll be careful, I promise…” button.[/li][li] In the Filter field type: security.warn_entering_secure.[/li][li] Double-click on this entry and set its value to False.[/li][li] Close the about:config window and restart Firefox.[/li][/ol]

11

Thank you!