# "Connection not secure" - normal for SDMB? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [April 23, 2017, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/connection-not-secure-normal-for-sdmb/785078 "2017-04-23T17:07:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2017, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/connection-not-secure-normal-for-sdmb/785078/1 "2017-04-23T17:07:28Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2017, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/connection-not-secure-normal-for-sdmb/785078/2 "2017-04-23T17:13:39Z")
That’s from having https:// before [boards.straightdope.com](http://boards.straightdope.com) or [www.straightdope.com](http://www.straightdope.com). Leave off the https:// if you can, it doesn’t like [straightdope.com](http://straightdope.com). ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2017, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/connection-not-secure-normal-for-sdmb/785078/3 "2017-04-23T17:17:09Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > That’s from having https:// before [boards.straightdope.com](http://boards.straightdope.com). Leave off the https:// if you can, it doesn’t like the board. I don’t think that’s it. At least in my address bar the https… isn’t showing. It just starts [boards.straightdope.com](http://boards.straightdope.com)… ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2017, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/connection-not-secure-normal-for-sdmb/785078/4 "2017-04-23T17:18:56Z")
Yup, the board doesn’t use https. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2017, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/connection-not-secure-normal-for-sdmb/785078/5 "2017-04-23T17:20:33Z")
> [@FloatyGimpy](#): > > I don’t think that’s it. At least in my address bar the https… isn’t showing. It just starts [boards.straightdope.com](http://boards.straightdope.com)… 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. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2017, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/connection-not-secure-normal-for-sdmb/785078/6 "2017-04-23T17:24:14Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > 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. 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? ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2017, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/connection-not-secure-normal-for-sdmb/785078/7 "2017-04-23T17:27:42Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2017, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/connection-not-secure-normal-for-sdmb/785078/8 "2017-04-23T17:33:05Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > 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. Ah, OK thank you. At least now I understand what’s happening. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2017, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/connection-not-secure-normal-for-sdmb/785078/9 "2017-04-23T18:20:46Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2017, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/connection-not-secure-normal-for-sdmb/785078/10 "2017-04-23T19:50:42Z")
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] ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2017, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/connection-not-secure-normal-for-sdmb/785078/11 "2017-04-23T20:13:46Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > 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] Thank you!