Hello, and welcome…
Rick’s Daily Tech Tips Update for Wednesday, May 18, 2022
Topics covered in this issue…
• How to block insecure websites with Firefox
• Give an older PC new life by replacing Windows with Linux
• How to add Windows’ Control Panel to the Start menu
• Video: Meet Zeus, the world’s tallest living dog
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Today’s quick tech tip….
How to block insecure websites with Firefox
These day’s the vast majority of active websites on the Internet are encrypted to protect your information from being intercepted by hackers as it makes it way between your browser and the website’s remote server.
You can tell a site you’re visiting is encrypted (and therefore safer to use) if the URL in the address bar starts with https:// instead of http://. You’ll also see a little “lock” icon on the address bar if the site is secure.
As mentioned above, most sites are encrypted these days, but there are still a few sites out there that aren’t.
What’s more, some sites are available in either encrypted mode or unencrypted mode, depending on whether you type http:// or https:// into the address bar at the front of the URL.
Google Chrome and some other browsers now block insecure websites by default, but Firefox doesn’t. However, there’s a setting you can change that will force Firefox to only allow sites that are secure to load.
Once that setting is enabled you’ll be shown an error screen every time you try to visit a non-encrypted site, with a button you can click if you’re willing to risk it and view the insecure site anyway.
If you try to visit a site that’s available in both encrypted and non-encrypted versions, this setting will force Firefox to ignore the non-encrypted version and load the encrypted version instead.
My guess is Firefox will start blocking insecure websites by default at some point, but as of right now it doesn’t.
This is one of those optional settings that I strongly recommend that you enable. Here’s how:
1 – Open your Firefox browser and click the Application Menu icon in the top-right corner of the window (it looks like three horizontal lines stacked atop one another).
2 – Click Settings.
3 – In the left-hand pane, click Privacy & Security.
4 – In the right-hand pane, scroll down to the “Security” section and select Enable HTTPS-Only Mode in all windows.
That’s all there is to it. From now on Firefox will automatically block every non-encrypted site that attempts to load in the browser.
The latest from Rick’s Daily Tips Tech Blog…
• Give an older PC new life by replacing Windows with Linux
This post explains how replacing the Windows installation with Linux can give most any older PC a brand new life.
• How to add Windows’ Control Panel to the Start menu
If you have a computer that’s running either Windows 10 or Windows 11 you probably know the only way to access the Control Panel is to search for it using the Search box. This post explains how to add an icon for the Control Panel right to the Start menu.
• Click here to see today’s ‘Picture of the Day’.
Every morning I post a new photo that I find inspiring, intriguing, or just plain beautiful to look at. Jumpstart your day by checking it out.
Pro blogging tip…
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Rick’s Daily Pick…
SimpleHouseware Metal Desk Monitor Stand with Organizer Drawer (#ad)
Could your work desk / workspace use a little organization? If so, check this out…
Today’s post from ‘My Daily Smile’…
Video: Meet Zeus, the world’s tallest living dog
The Guinness Book of Word Records just recognized a new official World’s Tallest Dog. Watch this video to “meet” him.
Tech news that caught my eye…
• iOS 15.5 Release: Everything to know about the new iOS update
• Skiff Mail is taking on Gmail by betting on privacy
• Robinhood lets users manage their own crypto wallets in push to spur trading
• Grubhub’s complimentary lunch offer in NYC crashed its website and app
• Serious WordPress plugin vulnerability abused to attack thousands of websites
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Thanks so much, and have an amazing day.
Your tech buddy,
Rick Rouse
https://www.RicksDailyTips.com