No connection to any sites in Firefox

[ellenc]

Attached are some Firefox screen shots that I've been receiving for the past two weeks blocking access to any and all websites. I have to access the sites my entering the name in my search engine. As always, thanks for any explanation and help you can give will be greatly appreciated. ellen

 

[samuria]

Check your date and time set DNS go 208.67.220.220 & 208.67.222.222

 

[MoxieMomma]

Check your date and time

Agree!
For starters, pleas make sure your system date and time are correct.
If they are not, fix them and consider replacing your CMOS battery, which may be dying.

(Also: is this the same computer as the one here and here???)

MM

 

[ellenc]

I don't now what a CMOS battery is. I have a desktop and does not use any batteries.
Yes, it's the same computer but different issues.
I have a feeling I need to do a clean Windows install.
Thanks for taking the time to reply. ellenc

 

[ellenc]

I have no idea what this is: Check your date and time set DNS go 208.67.220.220 & 208.67.222.222
The Windows date and time clock is accurate. I appreciate your replying. ellenc

 

[ThrashZone]

CMOS battery is a mother board battery about the size of a nickel

 

[MoxieMomma]

Hi:

EDIT: Thanks, @ThrashZone -- you beat me to it, while I was typing.

Actually, even desktop computers have a little battery inside the case on the motherboard.

CMOS battery

When it starts to die, the computer's time/date will drift.
That can be one cause of the error you report.
It happened to another user recently HERE.
When the user replaced the battery, the browser error went away.
One hint that the CMOS battery needs to be replaced would be that system time drifts off again, after you fix it.

As for changing your DNS servers, the other suggestion @samuria made, I'm not sure that will fix your issue. I will defer to @samuria to walk you through that.

Until then, I suggest perhaps trying the steps suggested here:

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/troubleshoot-SEC_ERROR_UNKNOWN_ISSUER

If that does not work, we may need to collect additional basic system diagnostic information, in order to better assist you.

Thanks,
MM

 

[IoNGeNeRaL]

I'd personally use Google's DNS instead of OpenDNS. Some people have reported odd redirects with OpenDNS.

 

[MoxieMomma]

I'd personally use Google's DNS instead of OpenDNS. Some people have reported odd redirects with OpenDNS.

Agree -- Google DNS is probably a better choice.

But I wonder if perhaps there isn't something else going on with the OP's system.

Might be worth a bit more investigation, or at least the troubleshooting suggested in the Mozilla support link I just posted.

Cheers,
MM

 

[Callender]

Question: What is your Antivirus? Some are known to use their own certificates for SSL scanning and could possibly cause that error.

Second question: Your screenshot

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shows a secure connection to sevenforums (https) but sevenforums only uses http. So obviously the connection won't work.

Suggest: Launch Firefox and type about:support in the address bar then press Enter

In the window that opens choose "Copy text to clipboard" and paste the results here.

 

[Callender]

RE: SevenForums and https connection see:

​

It's not supported.

More ideas:

Visit this link and posts any poor results - although you might not be able to connect with the problem you have.

https://www.howsmyssl.com/

​

Aslo get Certificate Store Checker from here:

https://www.trustprobe.com/fs1/apps.html

​

Extract the file into a folder on your desktop and run it. Post a screenshot of any suspicious certificates.

If the above version doesn't work get the real time certificate store monitor from this link:

http://trax.x10.mx/files/trustmonitor.zip

Do the same as before and run it. Click the system tray icon for scan options. When finished post any suspicious certificates and also exit the application.

EDIT:

Also type about:config in Firefox address bar and press Enter

Accept the warning. In the search box type security.ssl then press Enter

Note your current settings then try these if yours are different.

​

 

[MoxieMomma]

Question: What is your Antivirus? Some are known to use their own certificates for SSL scanning and could possibly cause that error.

Second question: Your screenshot

View attachment 390685​

shows a secure connection to sevenforums (https) but sevenforums only uses http. So obviously the connection won't work.

Suggest: Launch Firefox and type about:support in the address bar then press Enter

In the window that opens choose "Copy text to clipboard" and paste the results here.

Good catch!
I think you might be on to something...

MM

 

[Callender]

RE: Your screenshot.

How many tabs were open? Did you connect to or try to connect to SevenForums? Same question goes for mygreatcall dot com.

 

[ellenc]

I am an average individual user, not a geek but with pretty good knowledge of Windows. I have no idea at all what any of the replies mean. I have Norton Internet Security but don't believe this problem is related to antivirus.
Every website I have attempted to access in the past couple of weeks has blocked access per the screenshots I sent. Every website I have attempted to accessd begins with HTTPS:, not HTTP. That's the crazy part. I have to go into duckduckgo, type in the address/site I want and get into it by clicking on the link in the search. sevenforums and greatcall are but two of every site I can't access. I am unable to acces any website at all without having to go through the search. ec

 

[Callender]

Okay let's rule out Norton. Try downloading a Firefox variant - Cyberfox Portable version

Cyberfox Portable Download

Get the AMD version from the choice of downloads.

Save to your desktop

Create a folder to install the Portable version of Cyberfox. You decide where to create the folder. For test purposes you could just use a new folder on your desktop.

​

Run the setup file and choose the folder - when finished open that folder and launch Cyberfox. Try browsing and see if you get the same problem. Report results back here. If it works we can say that the problem is with Firefox and not your Antivirus or Windows.

RE: Other instructions. If you don't understand them don't worry. Maybe it will need to be a slow step by step explanation,

RE: Firefox. When was the last time you updated it and which version is installed.

Step by step instructions on how to find out:

Launch Firefox. Then you need to enable Menu Bar (if not already enabled)

Right click on the blue part of the screen and ensure that "Menu Bar" is ticked.

​

Then click "Help" and from the dropdown list that appears click "About Firefox!

​

A window will open that states which version is installed. Write the number down and let us know what it is.

If you see any messages about Fireox updates or downloading updates let it complete.

Cheers.

 

[Callender]

Some research indicates that the problem could be down to a faulty search engine or autocomplete settings when typring URL's into the address bar. Also on my own machine use of a browser based proxy can cause when switching between search engines.

Still need to know if you have the current up to date version of Firefox.

In the meantime try a different search engine temporarily.

 

[ellenc]

No connection in Firefox cont.

Thank you ever so much for the time you took to send the information to me. It's greatly appreciated. I've been ill recently and may have to make a hospital visit. I hope to follow your guide in the not-too-distant future. ellenc