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Connection not Secure

Neil

Fellow
Joined
May 21, 2013
Posts
3,132
Location
Hitchin, Hertfordshire
First Name
Neil
Les,

Can’t see the benefit. Nobody transmits sensitive data on this site so if the security benefits of the certificate were to be achievable it wouldn’t benefit anyone anyway. As for Googles attempts to boycott non certified sites who haven’t forked out for a largely unnecessary certificate? Carry on Google.
 

Penpal

Grand Master
Joined
May 26, 2013
Posts
25,340
Location
Canberra AUSTRALIA
First Name
Peter
This has concerned since Les first raised this concern ages ago.To impose restrictions on behalf of the forum management seriously rests with them perhaps a definitive answer from them perhaps for the second time would allay fears justified or not.?

Peter.
 

Phil Dart

Moderator
Executive Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2014
Posts
5,455
Location
Colebrooke, Devon
First Name
Phil
What Neil said really.

HTTPS is a drive by Google to get sites to change the fundamental way in which they are rendered, and the security settings behind them, which also involves purchasing a certificate. The cost of the certificate is neither here nor there when compared to the hosting and running costs of this site altogether, so that is not the issue. However, functionality is, and various parts of this site would cease to function if it were to be HTTPS, not to mention the work involved in amending the coding, so that the bits that would still work, would, well, still work.

It arrived in the consciousness of the public mind because Google announced that websites that are not HTTPS would be penalised in their search ranking results. There was a mad rush by everyone with a website to get it done and there was plenty of hype in the media. Consequently people now go through life believing that the world will implode if a site they visit isn't HTTPS. The power of Google to alter and influence people's minds is enormous.

There is no sensitive information on this site, and Member's password information is encrypted. The IAP site is HTTPS, but they had to change their software to do it, and is now a pale shadow of its former self (in my opinion anyway). There are no plans to make this site HTTPS for the present, since there really is no need, and I'm sorry to say that for now at least, I am not prepared to invest weeks of work and thousands of pounds in new software simply because Google have successfully misled people into thinking that HTTPS is essential. If we all bought things on this site or uploaded sensitive data it might be different. But we don't, we upload photos of pens and talk about them. Hardly state secrets.
 

Penpal

Grand Master
Joined
May 26, 2013
Posts
25,340
Location
Canberra AUSTRALIA
First Name
Peter
I am grateful for your explanation re security Phil,my imagination is not sufficient to encompass the real cost of running any forum in the first place. Ownership is not with us users but yourself. Thanks.

Peter.
 
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