just a followup. Hope it doesn't make your eyes glaze over.
The security issue is really a feature of chrome\chromium.
A lot of browsers are chromium based.
In searching further, here is Google info re: security. - this may not be the answer for everybody but it worked for me. Read on to the bottom.
ttps://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95617?visit_id=636767856239457311-1443552824&p=ui_security_indicator&rd=1
View site information-Info or Not secure The site isn't using a private connection. Someone might be able to see or change the information you send or get through this site.
On some sites, you can visit a more secure version of the page:
Select the address bar.
Delete http:// and enter https:// instead.
What I did was:
1. turn back on, in settings, Under "Privacy and security," -> protect you and your device from dangerous sites.(spits a warning on the url line but doesn't spit the "red screen" and doesn't inhibit me from going to FR)
2. Refreshed the browser
3. I changed my saved url in my link to FreeRepublic from http to https. This works in FR
4. My browser now identifies FreeRepublic as secure.
I haven't given it a runout test, but so far, so good.
Note: In digging deeper, FR may be ok when using https but links in pages\post may not be ok as the links could be using http
From an "Inspect" of the code"
Mixed Content:
The page at ‘https://freerepublic.com/perl/pings'; was loaded over HTTPS, but requested an insecure image ‘http://i67.tinypic.com/29nc6bl.jpg';.
This content should also be served over HTTPS.
In my settings, I have a feature that allows mixed mode HTTPS\HTTP. I turned it on. FR Spits an un-secure error when it finds mixed mode. I am going to leave it on for awhile to see what havoc is might cause.
I'll post back with any issues, otherwise, I'm done here.