Firefox 3 has new “invalid SSL certificate” warning screens. All fine and dandy, but pretty confusing, and way too much work to allow the certificate.

When you browse to a site with an invalid/unknown ssl certificate ( such as self-signed certificates ), you see this screen:

FF3 SSL Cert Step 1

At first glance, it seemed the site was down, and i checked whether i typed the URL correctly. Yep, it was. Then i reread the message more clearly, and noticed it was in fact the SSL stuffs. This is where your Joe Schmoe and Jane Doe sits in front of the screen, wondering why their beloved site is down, and go on surfing to another place.

To actually allow you to view the site, it gets even more cumbersome. You need to go to 3 obscure steps to allow the page to be viewed, as seen below:

FF3 SSL Cert Step 2

Clicking “Add Exception” brings you to this page:

FF3 SSL Cert Step 3

Next, “Get Certificate” :

FF3 SSL Cert Step 4

And, finally, the last button, “Confirm Security Exception”. And then we are able to see the page we intended to view :)

Ofcourse, this is just a beta ( 3 to be exact ), so I’m pretty sure some GUI master will improve the situation :)

For the rest, I’m absolutely LOVING Firefox 3, sure is heading to be a big winner :) Now if only the plugins/addons follow soon.. :)