PlingStore

The site just appears under Firefox as www.plingstore.org.uk and does not seem to be specifically either http:// or https:// – it says that the ‘site is not secure’ (but I trust R-Comp) and also says that I have not granted this site any special permissions. So it appears you are wrong.

The site just appears under Firefox as www.plingstore.org.uk

Sigh. https:// at the beginning please.
Then re-run the checks and you will find I’m right¹. You wouldn’t be communicating with any sort of security if you used HTTP.

Need to “go” to work soon. WFH I quite like.

¹ I have a T-shirt the guys at work got me that says so. :)
Came with a bottle of rather nice scotch² and a few other things on my 60th

Sigh. https:// at the beginning please.

Firefox does not do this.

Sigh. https:// at the beginning please.

Firefox does not do this.

Fitrefox hides the http(s):// part. If you save the url from the url bar to a text editor you’ll see what was really there.

Fitrefox hides the http(s):// part. If you save the url from the url bar to a text editor you’ll see what was really there.

As you say it tends to hide the http portion¹, but you can change that by prodding the right config option:

How do I get Firefox to show the http:// in a web address?

¹ My installs have long hidden HTTP but shown HTTPS. The about:config change forces the display of both. For some people it’s superfluous, if you’re working on system access checks etc. then it’s pretty useful if not actually essential.

Some advice on fixing up my website to https://… would be appreciated, actually – and possibly advice as to who to whether hosting on Servage (where it is at the moment) is actually optimal, and if not, where to be hosted.

Servage offer free LetsEncrypt, but I’ve not bitten that bullet yet mainly because I’ve not managed to make sense of their instructions about how to redirect anyone who uses the http://… address after I’ve changed to https://…

Some advice on fixing up my website to https://… would be appreciated

Does the content need to change at all, perl scripts, database-based images etc. or is it something you just ask the web service provider to do? I am hosted by fast-name on their gold hosting service. My provider makes no mention of https-ing a site.

Well, my website has no perl scripts, no database-based images, and no Java. It does have php files, but I don’t think any of the content needs to change.

Does the content need to change at all,

Doesn’t matter. Encryption is the connection to the server, not what is served.

or is it something you just ask the web service provider to do?

This. I think these days certificates expire fairly quickly, so the renewal process is usually automatic, but it needs access to the admin side of the server.

on their gold hosting service.

In my experience, naming stuff after money metals just tends to make the price tag seem justified. Whether it is “gold” or “domestic”, it’s just a name.

My provider makes no mention of https-ing a site.

You need a better provider. Hell, even OVH’s cheap home user plan comes with a Let’s Encrypt certificate, php, WordPress, and a load of space.

Some advice on fixing up my website to https://… would be appreciated

I just took a quick look at their web site. I can’t see any way to get information without having a login, which I don’t.

They do seem to have live chat, though, and I would recommend that you use the service.

Servage offer free LetsEncrypt, but I’ve not bitten that bullet yet mainly because I’ve not managed to make sense of their instructions about how to redirect anyone who uses the http://… address after I’ve changed to https://…

I use Let’s Encrypt for the certs for my site. I had to read Let’s Encrypt’s instructions many times before I had the courage to actually follow them.

My hosting provider doesn’t advertise auto-renewal of free Let’s Encrypt certs, but a short chat session confirmed that they do, and it has worked ever since.

So, in both aspects, I see the solution to your situation as coming from chats with their techies.

Does the content need to change at all, perl scripts, database-based images etc. or is it something you just ask the web service provider to do?

The change from http to https is just a change to settings in your control panel. You may have to add a file to get a redirect from http to https, I can’t remember, but, if there isn’t adequate information in the control panel’s help, chat with their techies and they’ll help you.

chat with their techies and they’ll help you

That’s one of the reasons I’m wondering about a change of host…no joy trying that so far.

With just http://… everything’s working fine, on automatic as it were, but only on auto.

That’s one of the reasons I’m wondering about a change of host

Are you getting the free or paid service? The paid one looks expensive, but it depends of course on what you want out of it.