My dev team uses the free SSL Certificate from certbot/let's encrypt - its really easy to install - you shouldn't have a site without SSL in 2019 and the year is almost up. Happy to help if you have any questions, but here are step by step directions a child can follow:
https://certbot.eff.org/lets-encrypt/debianstretch-apache

Paging Gloves for the "we'd do that but it's secretly more complicated than that for this site" response  

This has been discussed before, and it's not likely to change.

Further, you're making assumptions about the site that are not informed. Consider that the software running the site is around 15 to 20 years old. You're not gonna just hop on the server and install cert oh nd boom bam Bob's your uncle.

There we go  

Hey!

So is there a solution in the works or will the site always be unprotected?

We have been told nothing is going to change on NA other than the ads. For better or for worse, that means nothing is changing.

Interesting. I'm sure there are enough computer engineers and scientists on the site who would be will to help with the code of the site if that's the hangup.

It's not.
 

I believe B.A.'s answer was clear enough.

if it's an ancient backend like an old-assed version of Cold Fusion or something... I personally wouldn't want to touch it. Hell I'd be afraid to log in with administrative privileges. If this assumption is correct, 'life support' would be the correct term, pending time/resources for a full rewrite.
 

Yep.

Permission is our roadblock sadly.

We couldn't even get enough people to contribute to a fucking e-zine.  What makes you think all these helping hands would come out of the woodwork for something like this?
 

There are some really smart people on this site. People care about their security/privacy. Sounds like a complete overhaul is needed though, in which case, the owner would likely have to pay someone to do it.

I've already said why it's not happening, I don't know how many more ways to say it. Finding willing and capable people to help isn't the issue.

Is it safe ?

I’ve been disappointed in the amount of invasive banner ads.

You shouldn't have to. A direct, non ambiguous (versus "don't worry we won't change anything") update from the new owner would be appropriate. Like, "ok guys, shut up. Take it or leave it"...

gloves seems more like Sarah Sanders than a contract developer for the site. Put it all out on the table in terms of what to expect... I mean, is there even monitoring? The performance has been crap lately. I can't complain, obviously, but expectations should be clear.
 

I dunno who Sarah Sanders is.

I do contract work for them, Nintendo Age just isn't getting any updates.

The site DOES actually have monitoring now, we did set that up. Previously there was none. Any time the site goes down, the guy in charge of handling it (not me) gets an email. Then he goes and reboots the server. Thus far that has been enough to fix whatever issues pop up.

When is the last time you heard anything from him?  That should tell you all you need to know about where NA lies on his list of priorities.  

 

I think that was his point.

 

Life in general is dangerous. You shouldn't leave the house.
 

The older I get, the more weary I am about going outside.
 

Trust me it doesn't improve much later on.