[SOLAR-L] SSL security press release

[Forest, Jon]

Hi all,
Sorry for the cross-post, but I want to make sure that everyone sees
this.  I have recently installed SSL security certificates on the
MaineCat & Minerva servers, and will do so soon for SOLAR.  As many of
you have noticed, this has caused a lot error messages in web browsers.
Below is a press release which you can use to distribute to your patrons
to explain the change and how to avoid the error messages.  The new bit
of info I just learned today is about going to http://nm.maine.edu/ca/
so your browser will recognize UNET's authority to issue the security
certificates.  This should resolve the issue, but if you have any
further questions, let me know.  Thanks for your patience.

Jon Forest
Library Automation Manager
Maine InfoNet
http://www.maine.gov/infonet
jon.forest at maine.gov
207-557-0072

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Maine InfoNet improves security for your library catalog

In order to better protect your privacy, Maine InfoNet has recently
implemented SSL certificates for the servers running the MaineCat,
Minerva, and SOLAR  library catalogs.  This will encrypt your personal
information (name and library barcode number) to keep it secure when you
request an item or look at your patron record.  We are using the same
level of security banks and financial institutions use to protect your
personal data.

Due to the way that SSL certificates work, it is necessary to designate
one and only one "official" web site address (URL) for each server.
However, there are several older URLs which still work to access each of
these library catalogs.  If you use one of these older URLs, your web
browser will give you an error message saying that the web site name you
are looking at does not match the web site name on the security
certificate.  Depending on your web browser software, the wording of
this message will vary, but you should be given an option to click
Accept, Continue, or OK and continue with your request.  You can safely
do that, and your personal data will still be protected and will not be
redirected to another server.  However, in order to avoid this message
each time you make a request, you should use one of the "official" URLs
listed below.

You may also get a message saying that your browser does not recognize
the agency which issued the security certificate.  The certificate was
created by UNET, the University of Maine System Network.  You can go to
http://nm.maine.edu/ca/ to download UNET's Certification Authority
certificate, which will avoid this problem in the future.

If you consistently get a security error message when accessing one of
these catalogs, you may need to update the bookmarks on your computer.

MaineCat new address: mainecat.maine.edu
MaineCat old addresses: infonet.maine.edu, inreach.ursus.maine.edu, or
130.111.64.9

Minerva new address: minerva.maine.edu
Minerva old addresses: ursus2.ursus.maine.edu or 130.111.64.52

SOLAR new address: solar.maine.edu
SOLAR old addresses: ursus3.ursus.maine.edu or 130.111.64.7