256-bit SSL Encryption Now Supported

Mike

Windows Forum Admin
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Windows 7 Forums and Windows 8 Forums now support 256-bit SSL encryption on the website. However, this type of encryption will not work for logins and such due to the way our salt/hash/MD5 layer encryption system already works. Images and non-text content will also appear unencrypted, since they are hosted on global content delivery networks.

If you have no idea what this is about, just know:

  • We need 256-bit SSL encryption by October 1st to preserve Facebook applications which will require that websites have legitimate SSL certificates from a certified Certificate Authority. This is mandated by Facebook to interact with their APIs.
  • The registration page will always be encrypted! But in Chrome/Firefox you will also see unencrypted information, including the reCAPTCHA. In IE9, you must allow unencrypted content to be displayed on the page to see the CAPTCHA. If this becomes a problem, we will drop this idea. However, we think its good security.
  • 256-bit SSL encryption enhances communication between APIs and client-to-server interactions in certain instances, but by default your connection will not be encrypted. This is because your login is already encrypted with a highly efficient hash comprised of a complex salt, cookies on your machine, JavaScript and your IP address (In other words, it becomes redundant and slows down your load time to load every page in SSL). You would also lose your cookies by switching back and forth from SSL to unencrypted (normal mode). This is the case on every website.
  • There are some plugins for Firefox and Chrome to navigate sites completely encrypted, but we cannot guarantee perfect navigation.
Considering that 99% of most forums don't really use encryption at all, and if they do probably have self-signed certificates, we feel this is a good thing. If you have no idea what this is about, it won't affect you!

Enjoy your safer browsing experience at Windows7Forums.com!
 
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