Web Browsers and Secure Sites

Firefox 3 and Certificate Errors

Internet Explorer 7 and Certificate Errors

Changes have been made to Internet Explorer to make it easier for users to see that they are on a secure site.

University of Cincinnati Libraries uses self-signed certificates by default. This may cause an issue for users who are running Internet Explorer 7. Direct navigation to the Off Campus Access URL is blocked by IE7 when self signed certificates are used.

We are alerting you to this change in behaviour so that you understand that there is nothing wrong with our site or your computer.

Self-signed certificates make your data safe from eavesdroppers, but say nothing about who the recipient of the data is. This is common for intranet websites that aren't available publicly.

Here is what you will need to do to stop the warning page from appearing every time you go to our site.

First, you will see this page (click on the image below).

Please click on Continue to this website. You will be presented with the red Address Bar and certificate warning:

Click on the Certificate Error button to open the information window. Click on View Certificates.

Then click on Install Certificate. You'll see yet another warning. (Click on the image below.) Click on yes, and IE7 will recognize the certificate at future visits..