Security issue

[agb]

For the past week or so, every time I use this site, either as a guest or logged in, it appears as ‘not secure - charliehall.proboards.com’. Can anyone tell me why this has started happening?

[Charlie Hall]

Hi agb,
I have not had this problem nor have I heard about it from anyone else. I suspect it could be an issue with your system or your anti-virus program. If you are on a Windows based system you might also want to give the free version of CCleaner a try.
Regards,
Charlie

[sheendigs]

Hi Charlie, read this
This occurs because the website is set up to use secure SSL encryption.

Your web browser uses the HTTP protocol to connect to traditional unencrypted websites - but uses HTTPS–literally, HTTP with SSL—when connecting to secure websites. ... With HTTPS, no one can see the full path of the web pages you visit.
And this is what you can do:
www.digicert.com/blog/not-secure-warning-what-to-do/
I hope this helps

Naturally, you will have to buy an SSL certificate per year (The downside)

Sheendigs

[mikeab]

I get this on the'Shadowmusic' site as well.

[Cruachan]

Hi Charlie,

I suspect most of us have become aware of this issue in recent weeks but have held back believing that it would soon be resolved.



Regards,
Mike

[Charlie Hall]

Thanks to all for your feedback.
Sheendigs, your link mentions Chrome, which I do not use as I currently use MS Edge which comes with Windows 10. I am wondering if it is only Chrome users who have the problem or if it can happen with other browsers too.
Regards,
Charlie

[sheendigs]

Hello Charlie
I am using Chrome and naturally, I assume that Chrome will give the message that the site is not secure because of http and not https.
They base themselves on that to indicate if it is secure or not..when I click on the red exclamation warning, it shows me the settings by default,
about things that are blocked.
It does not affect me to visit your site and several others that I know. They give the same warning.
Again, because they want you to buy the service to get the certification of https.
Yep, but this would mean that others could buy the service and not be secure!!
Anyway, it is good for all of us to be aware of this changing access.
Sheendigs

[Charlie Hall]

Hi Sheendigs,
Thank you. I am hoping ProBoards who hosts this site will be aware of it.
Regards,
Charlie

[agb]

Thanks for the feedback. I use an iPad Air 2 and I believe that recently there was a software update installed automatically. Perhaps this has caused the problem.

[sheendigs]

Hi Agb
The problem is not with your air-pad. The message will continue to appear until ProBoards make their site secure...meaning HTTPS at the beginning for Charlie Hall Proboard.
Simple as that. Until then we have to undergo this small inconvenience.
Sheendigs

[Charlie Hall]

Just as a rather silly exercise I tried changing the web address to include the extra s. The new link worked, but preceding the web address in the address bar were the words Not Secure. With the usual address those words do not appear. This is of course with using Edge, my usual browser.
Regards,
Charlie

[sandra]

No problem or message with IE 11 on 64 bit Windows 7 but I get the Not Secure message if I use Chrome.

[didier]

I don't have this problem using Windows 7, Firefox, Bitdefender antivirus and Malwarebyte premium.

Didier

[agb]

Agb
I don’t have this problem on my desk top computer upstairs with windows 7 but that has https in the address bar. unfortunately i do practically everything on this I pad and this must just have
http, so how do I change that, like sheendig said it seems to be up to pro board.
Regards Alan

[Charlie Hall]

Hi Alan,
As I indicated in my post about my experiment, I don't think changing the address to https will help. However, it should be straightforward enough to try adding the s, although I know nothing about I pads.
I think the only real solution would be up to Proboards to fix.
Regards,
Charlie

[Cruachan]

Hi Charlie,

This should shed some light on the matter:

support.proboards.com/post/7144796/thread

When I logged in to create this post I note the padlock appears in the address bar which means my login details are secured.

After login the security level seems to drop which should be okay providing we do not supply any sensitive info about ourselves in a post. Our email addresses springs to mind, but then we have been exercising caution about this for as long as I’ve been a member.

I suspect the message we are seeing has more to do with our browsers having introduced code recently to advise us when a website is not secure. In other words it’s probably always been this way and we have not been aware of it.

I doubt whether there is anything to worry about. As always, it’s best to maintain a healthy level of caution when doing anything on the Internet.

If you have any remaining doubts, Charlie, I suggest you contact ProBoards for further clarification: support.proboards.com/

Regards,
Mike

[Cruachan]

Jul 2, 2019 1:22:10 GMT sandra said:

No problem or message with IE 11 on 64 bit Windows 7 but I get the Not Secure message if I use Chrome.

Hi Sandra,

Can I suggest you give serious consideration to abandoning IE11 and instead start using a more capable and secure modern browser.

www.ezcomputersolutions.com/blog/stop-using-internet-explorer/

I too still run Windows 7 Pro 64bit as well as Windows10 Pro under a Dual Boot configuration. I prefer the former as it allows me greater flexibility without all the irritating ‘features’ imposed by Windows 10. However, things are slowly changing for the better and doubtless I will have to switch to Win10 eventually.

I use Mozilla Firefox under Win7 and, currently, Chrome under Win10.

No need for any concerns as either browser will allow you to transfer your Bookmarks from IE11. You can leave IE11 in situ, just change your default browser preference.

Regards,
Mike

[Charlie Hall]

Hi Mike,
I suspect you are right that nothing has changed, except in certain browsers a warning can be given.
Regards,
Charlie

[jetblack69]

Try using the "FANTASTIC" BRAVE BROWSER. brave.com/

[garystrat]

Hi Charlie,

I logged out and back in again, the Login Page is secure!

Regards

Gary


I just checked the main ProBoards Page and that is secure too, but the messages sections and member information don't appear to be!

[Charlie Hall]

Hi Gary,
Thanks. Please let me know which browser you were using.
Regards,
Charlie

[garystrat]

Hi Charlie,

My main browser is Safari, but it is the same with incognito which is another private browser.

This link may be helpful:

www.hswsolutions.com/resources/why-you-need-to-secure-your-website/

Hope that Helps

Regards

Gary

[sandra]

Thanks for that Mike but I still prefer the layout of IE11 and have that as my first browser of choice but I am finding that I am having to switch to Chrome for more and more sites over he last couple of years.

[Charlie Hall]

Hi Gary,
Thank you. I read the link. I don't suppose there is much else I can do as I would assume it should be Proboards' responsibility to keep their forums as secure as they would be reasonably expected to be.
Regards,
Charlie

[garystrat]

HI Charlie,

Firstly, we should thank you for taking members security seriously, I for one certainly appreciate it.

I found this link where Craig (Support Helper) explains it:

support.proboards.com/thread/656498/security-issue?page=1&scrollTo=7181384

It seems it is their intention is to implement https:// on all pages at some point in the future, but in the meantime people should’t be too concerned by the message.

A point worth mentioning here is the the browsers displaying it are actually functioning as they should, it’s a good thing!

Regards

Gary

[Charlie Hall]

Hi Gary,
Thank you again. He talks of a forthcoming version upgrade, which I hadn't been aware of. Hopefully, all will be well after that has been done.
Regards,
Charlie