Internet Response Suddenly Very Slow

My internet access (both Firefox & IE) suddenly got very slow on my Win7 computer. I held out for a couple of days hoping it was temporary. I thought it might be an msn problem because I 1st noticed it in hotmail & about the same time my Windows phone failed numerous times to download an app. I seem to remember once accessing an site that had a list of current/active msn problems; sometimes only in certain areas. Or was that Verizon?

Today I called Verizon & spent 1 1/2 hours with a tech who seemed to know even less than me (if that's possible). I became afraid that following her directions would make things even worse, so I discontinued the conversation.

Accessing hotmail.com just now gave . . .
Secure Connection Failed
The connection to the server was reset while page was loading.

• · The page you are trying to view cannot be shown because authenticity of the received data could not be verified.

• · Please contact the website owners to inform them of this problem.

Neither NOD32 AntiVirus & Malwarebytes finds any problems.

Suggestions?

Edit . . .
Hotmail often says "Task could not be completed. Try again" . . . going to next message, different mailbox etc.