Feeling way in over my head so I have to ask about something that is likely obvious to most.
When logged in to my Start9 server using Brave running on Windows, HTTPS is not displayed with my server address unless I double-click inside the address as to edit it.
I made it through the “Certificate Import Wizard” to “Import successful” and verified that my server’s local Root CA certificate was located within my certificates folder. BUT, I fumbled it the first try and, if I remember correctly, I logged in using my unique server address before going back and successfully making it through the Certificate Import.
So, my question: Is there no other confirmation within StartOS that the Root CA certificate is being utilized? i.e. Is the presence of my server’s unique Local Root CA certificate in the “Certificates” folder and HTTPS display in the browser’s address field, as described above, considered Root CA certificate utilization verification or is there a more direct setting within StartOS, that I have not found, that would more clearly state this security measure was in place?
Welcome Stefano,
Can you let us know what OS you’re on and which guide you’re following?
To address some of your questions: unfortunately browsers find it fashionable to hide the http method (http:// or https://) until you click in the address bar (and sometimes they don’t even show it then, even more annoyingly).
One way you can tell usually is if there’s a padlock icon in the address bar next to the URL. If you click on it, it will give you more details about the certificate and its trust status.
Browsers come either with their own CA certificate store with all the trusted root certiciates that every website uses (Like firefox on linux, by default) or they look at the OS’s CA trust store for those CA certs. Since a StartOS server issues its own certificates for every service, signed by its own CA certificate, which it also created at setup time, it’s not in the system trust store until you add it.
Thank you for responding George,
My OS:
| Edition | Windows 10 Home |
|---|---|
| Version | 22H2 |
| Installed on | 7/6/2021 |
| OS build | 19045.3930 |
| Serial number | 003740712057 |
| Experience | Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.19053.1000.0 |
Ahh! Found it-with your help.
Clicked on the two keys symbol to the left of the URL-click on “connection is secure” and that brings up the certificate viewer that shows everything.
Thank you for your help,
Stephan