From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.system

Hello,

I'm looking at a friend's Macbook OS X laptop. Many web sites aren't
loading. Firefox at least told me that the web sites in question don't have an overlap of SSL Protocols to enable verification of the site and content. Safari just gave up and didn't offer an error message.

I am a linux and Windows user of FF. I've not touched a Mac since the 512+. How do I find the SSL Protocols on the Mac Book and update them?

Some update functions still work. I'm just not finding the appropriate network protocol settings. Where are they hidden on Apple Devices?

Thank you!
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.system

On 22/03/2026 03:07, David LaRue wrote:

Hello,

I'm looking at a friend's Macbook OS X laptop. Many web sites aren't loading. Firefox at least told me that the web sites in question don't have an overlap of SSL Protocols to enable verification of the site and content. Safari just gave up and didn't offer an error message.

I am a linux and Windows user of FF. I've not touched a Mac since the 512+. How do I find the SSL Protocols on the Mac Book and update them?

Some update functions still work. I'm just not finding the appropriate network protocol settings. Where are they hidden on Apple Devices?

Thank you!

Hi David,

Since you're comfortable with a command line, you can bypass the
"Keychain Access" GUI and fix this directly via the Terminal. The issue
is almost certainly that the MacBook's local certificate store is
unaware of modern Root CAs (like ISRG Root X1) that have replaced the now-expired DST Root CA X3.

Here is how you can manually inject the new trust relationship:

1. Download the new Root Certificate
From the Terminal on the Mac (or download it on your machine and move
it via USB), grab the Let's Encrypt Root:

Bash
curl -O https://letsencrypt.org/certs/isrgrootx1.der
2. Inject and Force Trust
Run the following command to import the certificate into the System
Keychain and explicitly set it to "Always Trust" for SSL. You will be
prompted for the friend's admin password:

Bash
sudo security add-trusted-cert -d -r trustRoot -k /Library/Keychains/System.keychain isrgrootx1.der
3. Cleanup the Expired Certificate (Optional but Recommended)
If the system still struggles, it might be trying to use the old,
expired DST Root CA X3 first. You can find and delete it via the GUI
(Keychain Access -> System Roots), or try to locate it via CLI:

Bash
# To list certificates and find the exact name for deletion
security find-certificate -c "DST Root CA X3"
Why Safari is "Silent" vs Firefox
On older Macs, Safari uses the Secure Transport library built into OS X.
If that library doesn't support TLS 1.2 (common in OS X 10.8 or older),
Safari simply fails the handshake without a helpful error. Firefox is
your best bet for a "quick fix" browser because it brings its own
internal encryption libraries and root store, bypassing the aging Apple
system files.

The "Nuclear" Option (Linux)
If the laptop is a mid-2010s model, it’s likely a 64-bit Intel machine. Since you're a Linux user, you'll find that Linux Mint (Xfce) or
ChromeOS Flex runs beautifully on that hardware and will give your
friend a modern, secure browser environment without the "Apple Tax" of
forced obsolescence.

Good luck with the rescue mission!

(Assistance provided by Gemini)
--
Kind regards,
David B.
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.system

Am 22.03.26 um 04:07 schrieb David LaRue:

Hello,

I'm looking at a friend's Macbook OS X laptop. Many web sites aren't loading. Firefox at least told me that the web sites in question don't have an overlap of SSL Protocols to enable verification of the site and content. Safari just gave up and didn't offer an error message.

I am a linux and Windows user of FF. I've not touched a Mac since the 512+.
How do I find the SSL Protocols on the Mac Book and update them?

Some update functions still work. I'm just not finding the appropriate network protocol settings. Where are they hidden on Apple Devices?

Thank you!

Disconnect this museum piece immediately from the outside world.
--
"Roma locuta, causa finita."
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.system

=?UTF-8?Q?J=C3=B6rg_Lorenz?= <hugybear@gmx.net> posted:

Am 22.03.26 um 04:07 schrieb David LaRue:

Hello,

I'm looking at a friend's Macbook OS X laptop. Many web sites aren't loading. Firefox at least told me that the web sites in question don't have
an overlap of SSL Protocols to enable verification of the site and content.
Safari just gave up and didn't offer an error message.

I am a linux and Windows user of FF. I've not touched a Mac since the 512+.
How do I find the SSL Protocols on the Mac Book and update them?

Some update functions still work. I'm just not finding the appropriate network protocol settings. Where are they hidden on Apple Devices?

Thank you!

Disconnect this museum piece immediately from the outside world.

It might help if the exact Macbook model is known plus the OS X version.
"About This Mac" from the Apple icon dropdown menu should say.
--
Cheers, Alan
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.system

Alan B <user237@newsgrouper.org.invalid> wrote in news:1774182981-237 @newsgrouper.org:

=?UTF-8?Q?J=C3=B6rg_Lorenz?= <hugybear@gmx.net> posted:

Am 22.03.26 um 04:07 schrieb David LaRue:

Hello,

I'm looking at a friend's Macbook OS X laptop. Many web sites aren't
loading. Firefox at least told me that the web sites in question

don't have

an overlap of SSL Protocols to enable verification of the site and content.
Safari just gave up and didn't offer an error message.

I am a linux and Windows user of FF. I've not touched a Mac since the 512+.
How do I find the SSL Protocols on the Mac Book and update them?

Some update functions still work. I'm just not finding the

appropriate

network protocol settings. Where are they hidden on Apple Devices?

Thank you!

Disconnect this museum piece immediately from the outside world.

It might help if the exact Macbook model is known plus the OS X version. "About This Mac" from the Apple icon dropdown menu should say.

Hello Alan,

Mac OS X
Version 10.6.8

Software Update button works, but no updates available.

Thank you for your help,

David
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.system

On 2026-03-22 18:15:32 +0000, David LaRue said:

Alan B <user237@newsgrouper.org.invalid> wrote in news:1774182981-237 @newsgrouper.org:

=?UTF-8?Q?J=C3=B6rg_Lorenz?= <hugybear@gmx.net> posted:

Am 22.03.26 um 04:07 schrieb David LaRue:

Hello,

I'm looking at a friend's Macbook OS X laptop. Many web sites aren't
loading. Firefox at least told me that the web sites in question don't >>>> have an overlap of SSL Protocols to enable verification of the site and >>>> content. Safari just gave up and didn't offer an error message.

I am a linux and Windows user of FF. I've not touched a Mac since the >>>> 512+. How do I find the SSL Protocols on the Mac Book and update them? >>>>
Some update functions still work. I'm just not finding the appropriate >>>> network protocol settings. Where are they hidden on Apple Devices?

Thank you!

Disconnect this museum piece immediately from the outside world.

It might help if the exact Macbook model is known plus the OS X version.
"About This Mac" from the Apple icon dropdown menu should say.

Hello Alan,

Mac OS X
Version 10.6.8

Software Update button works, but no updates available.

Thank you for your help,

David

MacOS 10.6 stopped getting any updates years ago. There's almost
certainly nothing you can do to get the installed web browser to work
with new websites.

There may be an old version of Firefox or Opera, or one of the Firefox spin-offs, which could work for a while longer, but even the modernised Firefox Dynasty requires MacOS 10.7 or newer.

There is PowerFox which claims to work with MacOS X 10.4 to 10.6 and is
likely the best (if not only) option, but I've never tried it: <https://powerfox.jazzzny.me>

Probably the most sensible option is to simply retire the old Mac and
get a new / newer model.


--- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.system

On 2026-03-22, David LaRue <huey.dll@tampabay.rr.com> wrote:

Alan B <user237@newsgrouper.org.invalid> wrote in news:1774182981-237 @newsgrouper.org:

=?UTF-8?Q?J=C3=B6rg_Lorenz?= <hugybear@gmx.net> posted:

Am 22.03.26 um 04:07 schrieb David LaRue:

Hello,

I'm looking at a friend's Macbook OS X laptop. Many web sites
aren't loading. Firefox at least told me that the web sites in
question don't have an overlap of SSL Protocols to enable
verification of the site and content. Safari just gave up and
didn't offer an error message.

I am a linux and Windows user of FF. I've not touched a Mac since
the 512+. How do I find the SSL Protocols on the Mac Book and
update them?

Some update functions still work. I'm just not finding the
appropriate network protocol settings. Where are they hidden on
Apple Devices?

Thank you!

Disconnect this museum piece immediately from the outside world.

It might help if the exact Macbook model is known plus the OS X
version. "About This Mac" from the Apple icon dropdown menu should
say.

Hello Alan,

Mac OS X
Version 10.6.8

LOL...

That's an OS from 2009.

It's 2026, my friend.
--
E-mail sent to this address may be devoured by my ravenous SPAM filter.
I often ignore posts from Google. Use a real news client instead.

JR
--- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.system

Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> wrote in news:n2gh3nFdpprU1 @mid.individual.net:

<snip>

Mac OS X
Version 10.6.8

LOL...

That's an OS from 2009.

It's 2026, my friend.

and still useful to my friend.

I'm knowledgeable enough to know that adding TLS 1.2 support to an older computer is possible. Just because Apple or any other company wants you to buy their new hardware or software and throw away what they sold you before doesn't mean you always should. It is just a corporate scam you fall for.

Enjoy what you have before your own planned obsolescence eventually occurs.

Thanks for the leads and comments everyone.
--- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.system

On 2026-03-25, David LaRue <huey.dll@tampabay.rr.com> wrote:

Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> wrote in news:n2gh3nFdpprU1 @mid.individual.net:

<snip>

Mac OS X
Version 10.6.8

LOL...

That's an OS from 2009.

It's 2026, my friend.

and still useful to my friend.

I'm knowledgeable enough to know that adding TLS 1.2 support to an older computer is possible. Just because Apple or any other company wants you to buy their new hardware or software and throw away what they sold you before doesn't mean you always should. It is just a corporate scam you fall for.

Enjoy what you have before your own planned obsolescence eventually occurs.

Thanks for the leads and comments everyone.

As far as finding a suitable browser is concerned, I came across a
link to the SpiderWeb app which may be OK. Sadly I don't have an old
OS X build to try it out for myself.

<https://randommacstuff.blogspot.com/p/spiderweb-browser.html>
--
Cheers, Alan
--- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2