Expired MEF Certificate

[gui_tarzan]

I'm getting the error but used Firefox to bypass the warnings. Brave won't let me through at all. This is why there should always be a backup admin that is active. I hope tboy is ok but this will kill a website faster than - well, you know.

[big_teee]

I can bypass the error with Firefox.
Apparently many can't get on at all.
tboy has not been on since March 8, 2023.
Not sure what is happening?
T

[g1]

I mentioned this in the Sunn thread but forgot to mention it in this one.
When I first got the security warning from firefox, it said 'exception not possible for hsts certificate' or something similar.
After I cleared my cache, it still gave me the security warning, but there was now an 'add exception' button. After I clicked on that and added the exception, I was able to get on.

[DrGonz78]

I like this Ghostery web browser. Got me through the portal of death and all that. But this looks pretty bad. I think every great website like MEF needs at least 2 or more cooks in the kitchen. The moderators need to be given a clear way to fix these sorts of issues. Now there is always the concern for Tboy. Which is hopefully nothing but we all are concerned either way.

Also what causes security certificates to expire? And isn’t there a more automated way to keep them renewed. I have not dealt so much with secure web protocols as an administrator.

On a side note: (blabbers of thoughts & farts)
This is all why Tboy upgraded the site as to get the site’s security protocols in check with the latest version. Probably many other reasons but I think it was a big one. At least in my memory it seemed like the older software version stopped being able to display the page securely. My memory is not that crystal clear on it now. But it makes sense why you have to update vbulletin version to keep the page as a secure. It seems obvious that around the same time all browsers programs started to really not allow to continue to the site. Which is a good reason to update MEF.

[The Dude]

In my Google "research" for the error that comes up in Chrome, it said a likely cause is that the server time/date is not correct. So it could be as simple as updating the time and date on the server. But, you'd have to have physical access to the server to check that and, to my knowledge, tboy is the only one with that access. I agree with others, I really hope he's ok. His absence is a bit scary. Let's just hope he's on vacation sitting on a beach somewhere having drinks with umbrellas.

[xtian]

Not good. Certificate expired May 28. I can't convince Safari to load this web site--have to resort to Chrome:

[mozz]

Firefox won't let me in, i must have my security settings higher than those who can access it. No chrome here. Microsoft Edge lets me in if i give it permission.

[Tom Phillips]

In my Google "research" for the error that comes up in Chrome, it said a likely cause is that the server time/date is not correct. So it could be as simple as updating the time and date on the server. But, you'd have to have physical access to the server to check that and, to my knowledge, tboy is the only one with that access...

As I remember from past posts by tboy, the server hardware resides in his home or shop. In this case running MEF with vBulletin is more involved than being the founder & top admin of a canned service that rents space on a commercial server.

[The Dude]

Yes, Tom. That is also my understanding

[loudthud]

Earlier today I was seeing ads with chrome, I think firefox has an ad blocker turned on.

Anyway, I did a search on Gooogle and found a phone number for tboy. Easiest number I've ever found. Called it and it went to voice mail so I left a message. No return call yet.

[The Dude]

I hope this gets fixed soon. This place is boring as hell with so few being able to get to the site.

[Chuck H]

I'm not sure if everyone is grasping the gravity of the situation. Steve has been absent since just before the SUNN forum lost it's cert. At first I didn't think anything of it because he doesn't really like doing this and has tried to re home the forum a few times with no takers. The first time was way back in the firebottle days. But he's stayed true to us for almost three decades since no one else would do it. It's never been unusual for the site to go down requiring maintenance and Steve wouldn't step in until soon after. But he always did. He has a relatively low post count considering that ninety percent of those are communications with us regarding administration. So he wasn't doing it for him. He's been doing it for us. And as I see it now there are two possibilities. Steve has given up the forum and chosen to not look back. Who could blame him? As far as I'm concerned he should be bronzed for all his efforts on our behalf. But this seems unlikely. I wouldn't be surprised if he "quit" but I don't think he would abandon us without a word. Which begs the second possibility, that he is somehow incapacitated.

loudthud, Jason and Terry have both left messages on that phone number as well. We are very concerned. And also considering what will happen next on behalf of the forum. We are only moderators and not admins but we are concocting a plan to compile contact info for much of the regular posting group here. Not noticed at face value but it could well reach a hundred members. So I hope there will be time. My consideration is that we might land on another existing forum en mass as refugees and just set up camp. My hope is that our group could be regarded well enough by the admin of another forum that they might set up a pickup sub forum for us. I'm not active in "pickups" but it's probably half of our group.

That's all I have right now.

[DrGonz78]

Well that’s our worst fear and it’s beginning to seem most probable. The #1 reason I don’t think Steve would just walk away from MEF is the treasure trove of information it represents, and there’s enough there with Enzo’s contributions alone. No Tboy is either on an extended Memorial Day vacation or something keeping him from receiving communication like an emergency or something. But he would not abandon the site. I just hope he turns up soon so we can all rest easy.

[Chuck H]

Well that’s our worst fear and it’s beginning to seem most probable. The #1 reason I don’t think Steve would just walk away from MEF is the treasure trove of information it represents, and there’s enough there with Enzo’s contributions alone. No Tboy is either on an extended Memorial Day vacation or something keeping him from receiving communication like an emergency or something. But he would not abandon the site. I just hope he turns up soon so we can all rest easy.

Well considering his absence since before the SUNN forum cert I don't think this is an extended weekend vacation. And if it's an emergency it would be an emergency lasting over two months now. Any who care should be worried about Steve right now.

[loudthud]

I'm not sure if everyone is grasping the gravity of the situation. Steve has been absent since just before the SUNN forum lost it's cert. At first I didn't think anything of it because he doesn't really like doing this and has tried to re home the forum a few times with no takers. The first time was way back in the firebottle days. But he's stayed true to us for almost three decades since no one else would do it. It's never been unusual for the site to go down requiring maintenance and Steve wouldn't step in until soon after. But he always did. He has a relatively low post count considering that ninety percent of those are communications with us regarding administration. So he wasn't doing it for him. He's been doing it for us. And as I see it now there are two possibilities. Steve has given up the forum and chosen to not look back. Who could blame him? As far as I'm concerned he should be bronzed for all his efforts on our behalf. But this seems unlikely. I wouldn't be surprised if he "quit" but I don't think he would abandon us without a word. Which begs the second possibility, that he is somehow incapacitated.

loudthud, Jason and Terry have both left messages on that phone number as well. We are very concerned. And also considering what will happen next on behalf of the forum. We are only moderators and not admins but we are concocting a plan to compile contact info for much of the regular posting group here. Not noticed at face value but it could well reach a hundred members. So I hope there will be time. My consideration is that we might land on another existing forum en mass as refugees and just set up camp. My hope is that our group could be regarded well enough by the admin of another forum that they might set up a pickup sub forum for us. I'm not active in "pickups" but it's probably half of our group.

That's all I have right now.

I had no idea about most of this. It was my impression that back in the Ampage days, Steve had written the software that ran the site. It lacked many of the features that we take for granted now, but it did run smoothly without major problems. I think we should show our gratitude with a Tboy Appreciation Thread. Most of us have no idea what goes on behind the scenes and what it takes to keep a site like this going.