Can't visit secure sites - I suspect Windows Update (Vanity)

my fertile brain ^ | 1/14/03 | the non-secure Warrior Princess

[Xenalyte]

You know all those sites that start with "https"? I can't visit a single one. I get the "This page cannot be found" boilerplate message.

I suspect Windows Update is the culprit . . . back in August or September, I downloaded a recommended update, after which I couldn't get to Paypal or any other secure site.

I've uninstalled all the updates from the last six months, reinstalled Windows XP, the whole nine yards.

[Xenalyte]

Any ideas, suggestions, comments would be GREATLY appreciated. (I shall ignore all the "Get a Mac" and "Learn Linux" comments, since the discussions for them are that way and over there.)

[American_Centurion]

Try another browser.

If you don't have one download Firebird

If you still can't visit secure sites it is definitely deeper than IE.

[John H K]

I'll assume you're using Internet Explorer as a browser?

I strongly suspect the fix is simply changing a setting in IE "Tools" (at the top)...either Security or Privacy.

I think I had this happen to me for no apparent reason and I simply changed the slider bar for either Security or Privacy, but it was so long ago I'm not sure.

I'd try the Microsoft website and search for https and see what comes up.

[EggsAckley]

I really have no advice for you, but an observation; THIS page starts with http and you're here. Is that your home page?

Also, FR STILL seems a little glitchy this morning. Very slow here.

[Cultural Jihad]

Have you tried to make all your security settings default in IE? Tools menu --> Internet Options menu --> Security tab --> Default Level button.

A quick look in google for "can't access https pages" reveals a lot of hits. The top-most hit refers to a firewall/proxy setting problem/fix on the local PC.

[Xenalyte]

I should add that with Mozilla, Opera and Netscape, I cannot visit ANYTHING. They can't seem to find the Internet. (Of course, this was last week on dial-up; we got cable over the weekend, which may or may not change anything.)

[Xenalyte]

HTTPS, not plain HTTP. I can get to non-secure sites just fine.

[Ingtar]

Are you at work and possibly behind a firewall?

[brityank]

If you know what secure port you're supposed to enter, try appending that to your URL. eg.: https://www.ebay.com:8080 The common ones are :8080 and :443 but I'm sure there are others.

[Notforprophet]

Hey Xenalyte, I'd check your IE settings as other posters suggested, also check the version you're using under Help --> About Internet Explorer.

Failing all that try another browser, ie: Netscape or Mozilla.

NFP

[Woodman]

I have about 40 PC's here running Windows XP with various levels of patches installed (up to today's MDAC hotfix) and we test using SSL. None of these PC's has had a problem in the last 1 1/2 years accessing any secure sites. I think that maybe you have a third party software conflict, or you have inadvertantly changes some IE Settings. I suggest go to Tools -> Internet Options -> Advanced and select "restore defaults" unless you understand what all the settings do.

[EggsAckley]

Ah, I misread the "s" as a plural for http"s". Can't help ya.
But from my experience, every time I've downloaded any MS upgrades, I've regretted it. Brings in lots of strange "parasites."

Good luck.

[Xenalyte]

Right now I am, but this problem happens at home.

[Cultural Jihad]

Another hit FWIW:

"Dont know about netscape but i faced the same problem in IE - solved it thus: tools>internet options>connections>lan settings>Use proxy server>advanced>Use same proxy server for all protocols that did it - the "https://" secure pages started sowing up. reÆó{s Vishwaneet"

[Cultural Jihad]

Another hit:

  I can't view secure Web pages

If you can see normal (http) Web pages but can't see secure (https) Web pages their may be several causes.

• Check the date and time on your computer. If your date and time are behind the current date and time then you may not be able to view secure Web sites.
  • Click here for help on how to check your system date and time.
• Check your proxy settings. If you are connected through a Local Area Network (LAN) then make sure that you have outbound access through port 443 for secure https Web sites. Please check with your system Administrator before changing any settings.
  • Click here for more help with checking your proxy settings.
    
  • Click here for more help on safe surfing.
• Check your Web Browser's security settings. For more help on Internet Explorer's security features click here
  
  
• Check that you are connecting to Xtra, and not using a Corporate VPN account.

[thegreatbeast]

I just wanted to state that I doubt that the problem is associated to security updates from microsoft.com. Try some of the good advice offered by others here.
Good luck.

[paul51]

Update to a current version of IE. Many secured sites will not allow access with outdated versions.

[Woodman]

That could be it as well. We don't use a Proxy, but if she has a Cable connection she probably doesn't either. In fact the problem may be that it is looking for a proxy server where one isn't?

[Xenalyte]

I'm using version 6-something . . . it's most recent, except for (maybe) a patch. I know I have the latest number.

[Woodman]

Windows XP ships with IE 6.0 and earlier versions of IE cannot be installed.