(Originally posted on 4/20/21 and then again on 5/12/21): I made a decision last week (4/14?) to not renew what's called SSL (Secure Socket Layer) which is a security option that is recommended for sites if they are doing commerce and asking people for credit card info etc. It was costing us $200 a year to keep SSL on our site, and since we don't sell stuff, I decided I had enough and didn't renew SSL going forward. The downside (and I think it's intentional) is that Google/others doesn't re-index their data that often, so if someone is searching for our site in a general google search, or by typing into the address bar, or by clicking on a link to a page in The Vault, it is likely to come up with some kind of scary message saying "site not safe"... "site is trying to steal your info", when in reality, it is just that the site had SSL when it was indexed the last time, and now it doesn't. Rather than their message saying that it's just a matter of SSL not being renewed, I guess Google/Browsers finds it easier to say "UNSAFE...." and in doing so, they are really attempting to force the hand of folks like me and others who have actual websites to pay the $200 so that people don't get the BS warning that Google puts out there. IF YOU SELECT "CONTINUE ON TO THE SITE" YOU WILL NEVER GET THE MESSAGE AGAIN WHEN USING THAT SAME BROWSER/SEARCH ENGINE WHEN VISITING 3WIDES PICTURE VAULT. You will see a tiny lock icon with a line through it, or a lock with a red line through it next to our site's name in your address bar letting you know that the site doesn't have an SSL. (You'll also see that when visiting this site (The Message Vault)... or SJDR... but you don't get the scary message because this site and SJDR never had an SSL! They only give you the scary warning if a site had one (was paying for it) and then removed it.....) Since the search engine on our main page is done through Google, some of you may experience issues as well, with either the search not working, or receiving some kind of warning. For a more detailed explanation, email me with what you are experiencing and I'll respond via email. I've already spent more time and $ on tech crap like this that I have to pull from my pocket to try to keep up with, and quite honestly, I'm pretty sick of it. Eventually, it'll all be Facebook or whatever comes along next to replace Facebook, and that's when I'll go back to looking at actual photos in albums and watching DVD's of old short track racing instead of keeping up with the technology that gets more expensive each year. I'm told by GoDaddy that Google will eventually re-index and the issues will go away, but it could be a matter of a few days.... or a few months... It's all up to whatever Google wants to do and when they want to do it. You gotta love big tech... SO, IF YOU'RE STILL READING THIS AFTER THAT LONG WINDED EXPLANATION, THE SITE IS NOT ANY LESS SAFE OR ANY MORE SAFE THAN IT WAS FOR THE PAST 19 YEARS... THE WARNING IS 100% BECAUSE YOUR BROWSER/GOOGLE SEARCH/ETC, SEES THAT THE SITE NO LONGER HAS AN SSL CERTIFICATE AS IT HAD IN THE PAST BECAUSE I CHOSE TO NOT RENEW (PAY), AND BECAUSE IT IS DIFFERENT THAN WHEN IT LAST INDEXED, IT GIVES YOU A" WARNING." IF YOU SELECT "CONTINUE ON TO THE SITE" YOU WILL NEVER GET THE MESSAGE AGAIN WHEN USING THAT SAME BROWSER/SEARCH ENGINE WHEN VISITING 3WIDES PICTURE VAULT. Sorry for the inconvenience guys - I'm fine with taking the time to bring the main site and the Message Vault to you, but I'm done digging into my own pocket, including spending $200 each year for an SSL certificate that is 100% not needed. Here's the link to the main site: www.3WidesPictureVault.com
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