diff --git a/src/lib/components/RelayStatus.svelte b/src/lib/components/RelayStatus.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..51bfb1d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/components/RelayStatus.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,162 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+  import { Button, Alert } from 'flowbite-svelte';
+  import { ndkInstance, ndkSignedIn, testRelayConnection, checkWebSocketSupport, checkEnvironmentForWebSocketDowngrade } from '$lib/ndk';
+  import { standardRelays, anonymousRelays } from '$lib/consts';
+  import { onMount } from 'svelte';
+  import { feedType } from '$lib/stores';
+  import { inboxRelays, outboxRelays } from '$lib/ndk';
+  import { FeedType } from '$lib/consts';
+
+  interface RelayStatus {
+    url: string;
+    connected: boolean;
+    requiresAuth: boolean;
+    error?: string;
+    testing: boolean;
+  }
+
+  let relayStatuses = $state<RelayStatus[]>([]);
+  let testing = $state(false);
+
+  async function runRelayTests() {
+    testing = true;
+    const ndk = $ndkInstance;
+    if (!ndk) {
+      testing = false;
+      return;
+    }
+
+    let relaysToTest: string[] = [];
+
+    if ($feedType === FeedType.UserRelays && $ndkSignedIn) {
+      // Use user's relays (inbox + outbox), deduplicated
+      const userRelays = new Set([
+        ...$inboxRelays,
+        ...$outboxRelays
+      ]);
+      relaysToTest = Array.from(userRelays);
+    } else {
+      // Use default relays (standard + anonymous), deduplicated
+      relaysToTest = Array.from(new Set([
+        ...standardRelays,
+        ...anonymousRelays
+      ]));
+    }
+
+    console.log('[RelayStatus] Relays to test:', relaysToTest);
+
+    relayStatuses = relaysToTest.map(url => ({
+      url,
+      connected: false,
+      requiresAuth: false,
+      testing: true
+    }));
+
+    const results = await Promise.allSettled(
+      relaysToTest.map(async (url) => {
+        console.log('[RelayStatus] Testing relay:', url);
+        try {
+          return await testRelayConnection(url, ndk);
+        } catch (error) {
+          return {
+            connected: false,
+            requiresAuth: false,
+            error: error instanceof Error ? error.message : 'Unknown error'
+          };
+        }
+      })
+    );
+
+    relayStatuses = relayStatuses.map((status, index) => {
+      const result = results[index];
+      if (result.status === 'fulfilled') {
+        return {
+          ...status,
+          ...result.value,
+          testing: false
+        };
+      } else {
+        return {
+          ...status,
+          connected: false,
+          requiresAuth: false,
+          error: 'Test failed',
+          testing: false
+        };
+      }
+    });
+
+    testing = false;
+  }
+
+  $effect(() => {
+    // Re-run relay tests when feed type, login state, or relay lists change
+    void runRelayTests();
+  });
+
+  onMount(() => {
+    checkWebSocketSupport();
+    checkEnvironmentForWebSocketDowngrade();
+  });
+
+  function getStatusColor(status: RelayStatus): string {
+    if (status.testing) return 'text-yellow-600';
+    if (status.connected) return 'text-green-600';
+    if (status.requiresAuth && !$ndkSignedIn) return 'text-orange-600';
+    return 'text-red-600';
+  }
+
+  function getStatusText(status: RelayStatus): string {
+    if (status.testing) return 'Testing...';
+    if (status.connected) return 'Connected';
+    if (status.requiresAuth && !$ndkSignedIn) return 'Requires Authentication';
+    if (status.error) return `Error: ${status.error}`;
+    return 'Failed to Connect';
+  }
+</script>
+
+<div class="space-y-4">
+  <div class="flex items-center justify-between">
+    <h3 class="text-lg font-medium">Relay Connection Status</h3>
+    <Button 
+      size="sm" 
+      onclick={runRelayTests} 
+      disabled={testing}
+    >
+      {testing ? 'Testing...' : 'Refresh'}
+    </Button>
+  </div>
+
+  {#if !$ndkSignedIn}
+    <Alert color="yellow">
+      <span class="font-medium">Anonymous Mode</span>
+      <p class="mt-1 text-sm">
+        You are not signed in. Some relays require authentication and may not be accessible.
+        Sign in to access all relays.
+      </p>
+    </Alert>
+  {/if}
+
+  <div class="space-y-2">
+    {#each relayStatuses as status}
+      <div class="flex items-center justify-between p-3 border rounded-lg">
+        <div class="flex-1">
+          <div class="font-medium">{status.url}</div>
+          <div class="text-sm {getStatusColor(status)}">
+            {getStatusText(status)}
+          </div>
+        </div>
+        <div class="w-3 h-3 rounded-full {getStatusColor(status).replace('text-', 'bg-')}"></div>
+      </div>
+    {/each}
+  </div>
+
+  {#if relayStatuses.some(s => s.requiresAuth && !$ndkSignedIn)}
+    <Alert color="orange">
+      <span class="font-medium">Authentication Required</span>
+      <p class="mt-1 text-sm">
+        Some relays require authentication. Sign in to access these relays.
+      </p>
+    </Alert>
+  {/if}
+</div> 
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/lib/consts.ts b/src/lib/consts.ts
index 4f06e91..034f8d2 100644
--- a/src/lib/consts.ts
+++ b/src/lib/consts.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,14 @@ export const standardRelays = [
   //'wss://thecitadel.gitcitadel.eu',
   //'wss://theforest.gitcitadel.eu',
 ];
+
+// Non-auth relays for anonymous users
+export const anonymousRelays = [
+  'wss://thecitadel.nostr1.com', 
+  'wss://theforest.nostr1.com',
+  'wss://profiles.nostr1.com',
+  'wss://freelay.sovbit.host',
+];
 export const fallbackRelays = [ 
   'wss://purplepag.es',
   'wss://indexer.coracle.social',
diff --git a/src/lib/ndk.ts b/src/lib/ndk.ts
index d5a0f79..a518ff4 100644
--- a/src/lib/ndk.ts
+++ b/src/lib/ndk.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-import NDK, { NDKNip07Signer, NDKRelay, NDKRelayAuthPolicies, NDKRelaySet, NDKUser } from '@nostr-dev-kit/ndk';
+import NDK, { NDKNip07Signer, NDKRelay, NDKRelayAuthPolicies, NDKRelaySet, NDKUser, NDKEvent } from '@nostr-dev-kit/ndk';
 import { get, writable, type Writable } from 'svelte/store';
-import { fallbackRelays, FeedType, loginStorageKey, standardRelays } from './consts';
+import { fallbackRelays, FeedType, loginStorageKey, standardRelays, anonymousRelays } from './consts';
 import { feedType } from './stores';
 
 export const ndkInstance: Writable<NDK> = writable();
@@ -12,6 +12,237 @@ export const activePubkey: Writable<string | null> = writable(null);
 export const inboxRelays: Writable<string[]> = writable([]);
 export const outboxRelays: Writable<string[]> = writable([]);
 
+/**
+ * Custom authentication policy that handles NIP-42 authentication manually
+ * when the default NDK authentication fails
+ */
+class CustomRelayAuthPolicy {
+  private ndk: NDK;
+  private challenges: Map<string, string> = new Map();
+
+  constructor(ndk: NDK) {
+    this.ndk = ndk;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Handles authentication for a relay
+   * @param relay The relay to authenticate with
+   * @returns Promise that resolves when authentication is complete
+   */
+  async authenticate(relay: NDKRelay): Promise<void> {
+    if (!this.ndk.signer || !this.ndk.activeUser) {
+      console.warn('[NDK.ts] No signer or active user available for relay authentication');
+      return;
+    }
+
+    try {
+      console.debug(`[NDK.ts] Setting up authentication for ${relay.url}`);
+      
+      // Listen for AUTH challenges
+      relay.on('auth', (challenge: string) => {
+        console.debug(`[NDK.ts] Received AUTH challenge from ${relay.url}:`, challenge);
+        this.challenges.set(relay.url, challenge);
+        this.handleAuthChallenge(relay, challenge);
+      });
+
+      // Listen for auth-required errors (handle via notice events)
+      relay.on('notice', (message: string) => {
+        if (message.includes('auth-required')) {
+          console.debug(`[NDK.ts] Auth required from ${relay.url}:`, message);
+          this.handleAuthRequired(relay, message);
+        }
+      });
+
+      // Listen for successful authentication
+      relay.on('authed', () => {
+        console.debug(`[NDK.ts] Successfully authenticated to ${relay.url}`);
+      });
+
+      // Listen for authentication failures
+      relay.on('auth:failed', (error: any) => {
+        console.error(`[NDK.ts] Authentication failed for ${relay.url}:`, error);
+      });
+
+    } catch (error) {
+      console.error(`[NDK.ts] Error setting up authentication for ${relay.url}:`, error);
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Handles AUTH challenge from relay
+   */
+  private async handleAuthChallenge(relay: NDKRelay, challenge: string): Promise<void> {
+    try {
+      if (!this.ndk.signer || !this.ndk.activeUser) {
+        console.warn('[NDK.ts] No signer available for AUTH challenge');
+        return;
+      }
+
+      // Create NIP-42 authentication event
+      const authEvent = {
+        kind: 22242,
+        created_at: Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000),
+        tags: [
+          ['relay', relay.url],
+          ['challenge', challenge]
+        ],
+        content: '',
+        pubkey: this.ndk.activeUser.pubkey
+      };
+
+      // Create and sign the authentication event using NDKEvent
+      const authNDKEvent = new NDKEvent(this.ndk, authEvent);
+      await authNDKEvent.sign();
+      
+      // Send AUTH message to relay using the relay's publish method
+      await relay.publish(authNDKEvent);
+      console.debug(`[NDK.ts] Sent AUTH to ${relay.url}`);
+      
+    } catch (error) {
+      console.error(`[NDK.ts] Error handling AUTH challenge for ${relay.url}:`, error);
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Handles auth-required error from relay
+   */
+  private async handleAuthRequired(relay: NDKRelay, message: string): Promise<void> {
+    const challenge = this.challenges.get(relay.url);
+    if (challenge) {
+      await this.handleAuthChallenge(relay, challenge);
+    } else {
+      console.warn(`[NDK.ts] Auth required from ${relay.url} but no challenge available`);
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Checks if the current environment might cause WebSocket protocol downgrade
+ */
+export function checkEnvironmentForWebSocketDowngrade(): void {
+  console.debug('[NDK.ts] Environment Check for WebSocket Protocol:');
+  
+  const isLocalhost = window.location.hostname === 'localhost' || 
+                     window.location.hostname === '127.0.0.1';
+  const isHttp = window.location.protocol === 'http:';
+  const isHttps = window.location.protocol === 'https:';
+  
+  console.debug('[NDK.ts] - Is localhost:', isLocalhost);
+  console.debug('[NDK.ts] - Protocol:', window.location.protocol);
+  console.debug('[NDK.ts] - Is HTTP:', isHttp);
+  console.debug('[NDK.ts] - Is HTTPS:', isHttps);
+  
+  if (isLocalhost && isHttp) {
+    console.warn('[NDK.ts] ⚠️ Running on localhost with HTTP - WebSocket downgrade to ws:// is expected');
+    console.warn('[NDK.ts] This is normal for development environments');
+  } else if (isHttp) {
+    console.error('[NDK.ts] ❌ Running on HTTP - WebSocket connections will be insecure');
+    console.error('[NDK.ts] Consider using HTTPS in production');
+  } else if (isHttps) {
+    console.debug('[NDK.ts] ✓ Running on HTTPS - Secure WebSocket connections should work');
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Checks WebSocket protocol support and logs diagnostic information
+ */
+export function checkWebSocketSupport(): void {
+  console.debug('[NDK.ts] WebSocket Support Diagnostics:');
+  console.debug('[NDK.ts] - Protocol:', window.location.protocol);
+  console.debug('[NDK.ts] - Hostname:', window.location.hostname);
+  console.debug('[NDK.ts] - Port:', window.location.port);
+  console.debug('[NDK.ts] - User Agent:', navigator.userAgent);
+  
+  // Test if secure WebSocket is supported
+  try {
+    const testWs = new WebSocket('wss://echo.websocket.org');
+    testWs.onopen = () => {
+      console.debug('[NDK.ts] ✓ Secure WebSocket (wss://) is supported');
+      testWs.close();
+    };
+    testWs.onerror = () => {
+      console.warn('[NDK.ts] ✗ Secure WebSocket (wss://) may not be supported');
+    };
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.warn('[NDK.ts] ✗ WebSocket test failed:', error);
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Tests connection to a relay and returns connection status
+ * @param relayUrl The relay URL to test
+ * @param ndk The NDK instance
+ * @returns Promise that resolves to connection status
+ */
+export async function testRelayConnection(relayUrl: string, ndk: NDK): Promise<{
+  connected: boolean;
+  requiresAuth: boolean;
+  error?: string;
+  actualUrl?: string;
+}> {
+  return new Promise((resolve) => {
+    console.debug(`[NDK.ts] Testing connection to: ${relayUrl}`);
+    
+    // Ensure the URL is using wss:// protocol
+    const secureUrl = ensureSecureWebSocket(relayUrl);
+    
+    const relay = new NDKRelay(secureUrl, undefined, new NDK());
+    let authRequired = false;
+    let connected = false;
+    let error: string | undefined;
+    let actualUrl: string | undefined;
+
+    const timeout = setTimeout(() => {
+      relay.disconnect();
+      resolve({
+        connected: false,
+        requiresAuth: authRequired,
+        error: 'Connection timeout',
+        actualUrl
+      });
+    }, 5000);
+
+    relay.on('connect', () => {
+      console.debug(`[NDK.ts] Connected to ${secureUrl}`);
+      connected = true;
+      actualUrl = secureUrl;
+      clearTimeout(timeout);
+      relay.disconnect();
+      resolve({
+        connected: true,
+        requiresAuth: authRequired,
+        error,
+        actualUrl
+      });
+    });
+
+    relay.on('notice', (message: string) => {
+      if (message.includes('auth-required')) {
+        authRequired = true;
+        console.debug(`[NDK.ts] ${secureUrl} requires authentication`);
+      }
+    });
+
+    relay.on('disconnect', () => {
+      if (!connected) {
+        error = 'Connection failed';
+        console.error(`[NDK.ts] Failed to connect to ${secureUrl}`);
+        clearTimeout(timeout);
+        resolve({
+          connected: false,
+          requiresAuth: authRequired,
+          error,
+          actualUrl
+        });
+      }
+    });
+
+    // Log the actual WebSocket URL being used
+    console.debug(`[NDK.ts] Attempting connection to: ${secureUrl}`);
+    relay.connect();
+  });
+}
+
 /**
  * Gets the user's pubkey from local storage, if it exists.
  * @returns The user's pubkey, or null if there is no logged-in user.
@@ -90,22 +321,57 @@ export function clearPersistedRelays(user: NDKUser): void {
   localStorage.removeItem(getRelayStorageKey(user, 'outbox')); 
 }
 
+/**
+ * Ensures a relay URL uses secure WebSocket protocol
+ * @param url The relay URL to secure
+ * @returns The URL with wss:// protocol
+ */
+function ensureSecureWebSocket(url: string): string {
+  // Replace ws:// with wss:// if present
+  const secureUrl = url.replace(/^ws:\/\//, 'wss://');
+  
+  if (secureUrl !== url) {
+    console.warn(`[NDK.ts] Protocol downgrade detected: ${url} -> ${secureUrl}`);
+  }
+  
+  return secureUrl;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Creates a relay with proper authentication handling
+ */
+function createRelayWithAuth(url: string, ndk: NDK): NDKRelay {
+  console.debug(`[NDK.ts] Creating relay with URL: ${url}`);
+  
+  // Ensure the URL is using wss:// protocol
+  const secureUrl = ensureSecureWebSocket(url);
+  
+  const relay = new NDKRelay(secureUrl, NDKRelayAuthPolicies.signIn({ ndk }), ndk);
+  
+  // Set up custom authentication handling only if user is signed in
+  if (ndk.signer && ndk.activeUser) {
+    const authPolicy = new CustomRelayAuthPolicy(ndk);
+    relay.on('connect', () => {
+      console.debug(`[NDK.ts] Relay connected: ${secureUrl}`);
+      authPolicy.authenticate(relay);
+    });
+  }
+  
+  return relay;
+}
+
 export function getActiveRelays(ndk: NDK): NDKRelaySet {
+  // Use anonymous relays if user is not signed in
+  const isSignedIn = ndk.signer && ndk.activeUser;
+  const relays = isSignedIn ? standardRelays : anonymousRelays;
+  
   return get(feedType) === FeedType.UserRelays
     ? new NDKRelaySet(
-        new Set(get(inboxRelays).map(relay => new NDKRelay(
-          relay,
-          NDKRelayAuthPolicies.signIn({ ndk }),
-          ndk,
-        ))),
+        new Set(get(inboxRelays).map(relay => createRelayWithAuth(relay, ndk))),
         ndk
       )
     : new NDKRelaySet(
-        new Set(standardRelays.map(relay => new NDKRelay(
-          relay,
-          NDKRelayAuthPolicies.signIn({ ndk }),
-          ndk,
-        ))),
+        new Set(relays.map(relay => createRelayWithAuth(relay, ndk))),
         ndk
       );
 }
@@ -121,17 +387,22 @@ export function initNdk(): NDK {
     ? getPersistedRelays(new NDKUser({ pubkey: startingPubkey }))
     : [null, null];
 
+  // Ensure all relay URLs use secure WebSocket protocol
+  const secureRelayUrls = (startingInboxes != null
+    ? Array.from(startingInboxes.values())
+    : anonymousRelays).map(ensureSecureWebSocket);
+  
+  console.debug('[NDK.ts] Initializing NDK with relay URLs:', secureRelayUrls);
+  
   const ndk = new NDK({
     autoConnectUserRelays: true,
     enableOutboxModel: true,
-    explicitRelayUrls: startingInboxes != null
-      ? Array.from(startingInboxes.values())
-      : standardRelays,
+    explicitRelayUrls: secureRelayUrls,
   });
 
-  // TODO: Should we prompt the user to confirm authentication?
+  // Set up custom authentication policy
   ndk.relayAuthDefaultPolicy = NDKRelayAuthPolicies.signIn({ ndk });
-  ndk.connect().then(() => console.debug("ndk connected"));
+  ndk.connect().then(() => console.debug("[NDK.ts] NDK connected"));
   return ndk;
 }
 
@@ -150,7 +421,7 @@ export async function loginWithExtension(pubkey?: string): Promise<NDKUser | nul
 
     // TODO: Handle changing pubkeys.
     if (pubkey && signerUser.pubkey !== pubkey) {
-      console.debug('Switching pubkeys from last login.');
+      console.debug('[NDK.ts] Switching pubkeys from last login.');
     }
 
     activePubkey.set(signerUser.pubkey);
@@ -189,6 +460,7 @@ export function logout(user: NDKUser): void {
   clearPersistedRelays(user);
   activePubkey.set(null);
   ndkSignedIn.set(false);
+  ndkInstance.set(initNdk()); // Re-initialize with anonymous instance
 }
 
 /**
@@ -220,7 +492,7 @@ async function getUserPreferredRelays(
   if (relayList == null) {
     const relayMap = await window.nostr?.getRelays?.();
     Object.entries(relayMap ?? {}).forEach(([url, relayType]) => {
-      const relay = new NDKRelay(url, NDKRelayAuthPolicies.signIn({ ndk }), ndk);
+      const relay = createRelayWithAuth(url, ndk);
       if (relayType.read) inboxRelays.add(relay);
       if (relayType.write) outboxRelays.add(relay);
     });
@@ -228,14 +500,14 @@ async function getUserPreferredRelays(
     relayList.tags.forEach(tag => {
       switch (tag[0]) {
         case 'r':
-          inboxRelays.add(new NDKRelay(tag[1], NDKRelayAuthPolicies.signIn({ ndk }), ndk));
+          inboxRelays.add(createRelayWithAuth(tag[1], ndk));
           break;
         case 'w':
-          outboxRelays.add(new NDKRelay(tag[1], NDKRelayAuthPolicies.signIn({ ndk }), ndk));
+          outboxRelays.add(createRelayWithAuth(tag[1], ndk));
           break;
         default:
-          inboxRelays.add(new NDKRelay(tag[1], NDKRelayAuthPolicies.signIn({ ndk }), ndk));
-          outboxRelays.add(new NDKRelay(tag[1], NDKRelayAuthPolicies.signIn({ ndk }), ndk));
+          inboxRelays.add(createRelayWithAuth(tag[1], ndk));
+          outboxRelays.add(createRelayWithAuth(tag[1], ndk));
           break;
       }
     });
diff --git a/src/lib/utils/nostrUtils.ts b/src/lib/utils/nostrUtils.ts
index 9e06d2e..ff7440b 100644
--- a/src/lib/utils/nostrUtils.ts
+++ b/src/lib/utils/nostrUtils.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import { ndkInstance } from '$lib/ndk';
 import { npubCache } from './npubCache';
 import NDK, { NDKEvent, NDKRelaySet, NDKUser } from "@nostr-dev-kit/ndk";
 import type { NDKFilter, NDKKind } from "@nostr-dev-kit/ndk";
-import { standardRelays, fallbackRelays } from "$lib/consts";
+import { standardRelays, fallbackRelays, anonymousRelays } from "$lib/consts";
 import { NDKRelaySet as NDKRelaySetFromNDK } from '@nostr-dev-kit/ndk';
 import { sha256 } from '@noble/hashes/sha256';
 import { schnorr } from '@noble/curves/secp256k1';
@@ -320,9 +320,13 @@ export async function fetchEventWithFallback(
       .map(r => r.url) : 
     [];
   
+  // Determine which relays to use based on user authentication status
+  const isSignedIn = ndk.signer && ndk.activeUser;
+  const primaryRelays = isSignedIn ? standardRelays : anonymousRelays;
+  
   // Create three relay sets in priority order
   const relaySets = [
-    NDKRelaySetFromNDK.fromRelayUrls(standardRelays, ndk),  // 1. Standard relays
+    NDKRelaySetFromNDK.fromRelayUrls(primaryRelays, ndk),   // 1. Primary relays (auth or anonymous)
     NDKRelaySetFromNDK.fromRelayUrls(userRelays, ndk),      // 2. User relays (if logged in)
     NDKRelaySetFromNDK.fromRelayUrls(fallbackRelays, ndk)  // 3. fallback relays (last resort)
   ];
@@ -347,7 +351,7 @@ export async function fetchEventWithFallback(
 
     // Try each relay set in order
     for (const [index, relaySet] of relaySets.entries()) {
-      const setName = index === 0 ? 'standard relays' : 
+      const setName = index === 0 ? (isSignedIn ? 'standard relays' : 'anonymous relays') : 
                      index === 1 ? 'user relays' : 
                      'fallback relays';
       
@@ -358,7 +362,7 @@ export async function fetchEventWithFallback(
     if (!found) {
       const timeoutSeconds = timeoutMs / 1000;
       const relayUrls = relaySets.map((set, i) => {
-        const setName = i === 0 ? 'standard relays' : 
+        const setName = i === 0 ? (isSignedIn ? 'standard relays' : 'anonymous relays') : 
                        i === 1 ? 'user relays' : 
                        'fallback relays';
         const urls = Array.from(set.relays).map(r => r.url);
diff --git a/src/routes/about/+page.svelte b/src/routes/about/+page.svelte
index 5e31c26..cf37de1 100644
--- a/src/routes/about/+page.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/about/+page.svelte
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 <script lang="ts">
   import { userBadge } from "$lib/snippets/UserSnippets.svelte";
   import { Heading, Img, P, A } from "flowbite-svelte";
+  import RelayStatus from "$lib/components/RelayStatus.svelte";
 
   // Get the git tag version from environment variables
   const appVersion = import.meta.env.APP_VERSION || "development";
@@ -51,5 +52,9 @@
         target="_blank">homepage</A
       > and find out more about us, and the many projects we are working on.
     </P>
+
+    <div class="border-t pt-6">
+      <RelayStatus />
+    </div>
   </main>
 </div>