Going HTTPS / SSL

Weather-Watch forum has been accessible as an HTTPS (SSL) web site for a little while but I’ve done some tidying up today to try to make all parts of the site use HTTPS. If you’re still using the vanilla HTTP version why not try adding an ‘s’ to the URL. It shouldn’t look any different but you’ll hopefully get a warm fuzzy feeling inside because your online life is a little more secure from prying eyes.

One thing that I can’t change is that there are many banners/links to user web sites that are still HTTP. If your own web site is HTTPS capable why not update your Forum banner/links. If your site is still using HTTP then take a look at LetsEncrypt - https://letsencrypt.org/ You can get a free SSL certificate for your web site there and there are instructions for how to use the certificate. I guess some people who use hosted web servers might not be able to make the change, but even then it might be worth asking your hosting provider how you can SSL enable your site using LetsEncrypt.

Thanks for all your work you do here Chris! 8)

My hosting provider enabled SSL a few months ago so I will update my link later.

Stuart

Thanks Chris

Cheers

MikeyM

awesome news awesome post …

good stuff Chris
I did ask Florian about have the WD server able to be https, but that costs more

Seems to be the way of the future, my host was offering letsencrypt (which I’m currently using) but now they have their own setup for free on all plans. I need get around to switching.

Letsencrypt is free so I’m not sure why it would cost more unless you’re looking for commercial SSL that can handle credit card payments.

Hi Niko, are you still with MDD hosting?, because they have got free SSL. I’m not sure what it means, but if I change my book mark to this site to “HTTPS” my banner & my avatar no longer work, do you know how or what needs to be done to my site/server/forum profile to make the banner/avatar work again, it looks like my site has Auto SSL certificate installed already, as I can get to my site using “HTTPS”.

many thanks.

teal.

My provider offers free SSL too, but wondering for sites like ours is it worth it to change?

There have been indications that search engines (google esp.) will reduce rankings for non https. Also Chrome, and maybe other browsers will, or do, flag as unsafe non-https sites and that may freak the uneducated surfer.

Otherwise no, it’s just something else to tinker with

Yes, still a very happy MDD customer

I’m still using their original SSL option letsencrypt, I need to switch to to their current option and I think that will kick in automatically if I delete letsencrypt in cpanel.

I checked and SSL is working on your site, so change the links in the forum to https and it should solve the problem.

Thats only if your site is using a non verified SSL or self certified (in whm) if your site is setup to use normal /non ssl then that
notice should never come up

Hi,

I have experimented with changing my site to SSL which is supported by my host, and can be easily enabled. My site uses quite a lot of iframes, all of which are http not https. These dont seem to display, which I assume is because I am then mixing http and https.

I am totally new to SSL so is there any way round this?

My homepage is largely based on the amazing homeweather idesign template, which is added to my homepage via an iframe. I assume when I update to SSL I need to change the I frame address to the new https address? I also assume I would need to do thus for all other images on my host server?

Sorry for such dumb questions!

Paul

I had to change all the linked pages on my site to https so I think the answer is yes.

You had to change all of your internal links manually?

Yes, that’s my recollection.

That’s right there is enough for me not to switch over…lol

Actually I think that may be bad info :oops: Just ignore me :roll:

Hi,
Changing all your links is a simple quick process, I use http://findandreplace.codeplex.com/
Works perfect, use it for multiple changes anything all the time.
regards,