Cannot Access Secure Sites
I have Windows XP SP2, and within the past two weeks I have not been able to get into any secure (https) sites. I can get to the web page, but when I enter my userid and password, it says "The page cannot be displayed" -- can you help?
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Some Fixes Break Things
That's what many users discovered when they applied the XP/SP2 megafix... some things no longer worked, such as access to secure websites. Unfortunately there are many potential causes and possible fixes for this "page cannot be displayed" problem. But most of them are easy to try. Run through these in the order listed below, and chances are good you'll be back in action.
Got Malware?
When this type of thing happens "suddenly", I always suspect the cause is a recent software installation or update. Just in case that new software is something you DON'T want -- like a virus or spyware -- the first thing I recommend is to run a good anti-virus and anti-spyware tool. See my articles How can I avoid computer viruses? and Spy, Counter-Spy for details on how to protect yourself from those risks.
Get Updated
Next, make sure you're up to date with the Microsoft system patches. To get the latest fixes and configure your system for automatic updates, open Internet Explorer, click on Tools, then Windows Update. Allow Windows to download and install any critical fixes that are identified.
Check Your Browser
Once you're certain your system is up to date and cleared of malware, test your browser's ability to make a secure connection using this VeriSign SSL test site. It will tell you if your browser has the 128-bit security feature required to connect to most secure sites, and will recommend browser updates if needed.
Next, click on Tools, Internet Options, then the Advanced tab. Scroll to the bottom of list and make sure "Use SSL" and "Use TLS" options (all versions) are checked. Now check the security settings in Internet Explorer. Click on Tools, Internet Options, then the Security tab. Select Internet, then click Custom Level. Use the dropdown box to set custom settings to Medium or Low, then click OK.
Turn Back The Clock
If you can identify when the failure to connect to secure sites started happening, a system restore may help by rolling back any changes that have been made. Click on Start, Help, then "Undo changes to your computer with System Restore". A calendar will show the system restore points that are available. Choose the one JUST BEFORE the problem began and do a restore.
Block the Blocker
Still having a problem connecting to secure sites? Your network router or firewall software may be blocking access. To find out if your router is causing the problem, unplug the network cable that runs from your cable modem to the router, and plug it directly into the network (ethernet) jack on your computer -- temporarily cutting the router out of the loop. If that solves the problem, check your router's manual to see if it can block or unblock certain ports. It's unlikely, but it may be configured to block port 443, which is used to make secure connections.
If you run a software-based firewall such as the Windows XP firewall, ZoneAlarm, Black Ice, Norton Internet Security or similar, turn it off and see if that fixes the problem. Software firewalls can also block certain ports, so poke around and see if you need to unblock port 443. For more help see this Microsoft article on unblocking ports. Chances are you don't even need a firewall. See Do I Need a Firewall? for more information.
More Resources
If you still have a problem accessing secure sites, check these Microsoft knowledge base articles:
Have you found a solution not listed in this article? Please post a comment and share it!
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Posted by Bob Rankin on December 5, 2005 10:29 AM
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Article information: AskBobRankin -- Cannot Access Secure Sites (Posted: December 5, 2005 10:29 AM)
Printed from: http://askbobrankin.com/cannot_access_secure_sites.html
Copyright © 2005 - Bob Rankin - All Rights Reserved
Most recent comments on "Cannot Access Secure Sites"
(See all 37 comments for this article.)Posted by:
Jessica Franklin
22 Oct 2007
I have tried using Firefox and I have the same problem, on Hotmail, it just says that my password is incorrect the first time, and then the second time it bounces me back to the login page and on other sites (except my bank) it refreshes back to the login page, please help! I just don't understand why I can login to my bank, but not other secure sites.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Have you disabled or limited cookies? Or do you use any well-meaning security software that does so?
Posted by:
Jessica Franklin
25 Oct 2007
I have checked and i am allowing cookies. i even took off every kind of protection that my antivirus which is McAfee and Windows had and it still does not work, I am just confused becasue my bank will log me in and even rememmbers my details for me but no other site.
Posted by:
Spoof
03 Dec 2007
try a proxy site like http://www.accessmyspacefromwork.info/
Posted by:
Victorine
23 Jan 2008
Hi, I am not able to connect to the Internet via IE or Mozilla Firefox but I am to login to Messengers while connecting to BroadBand. I have a Compaq Pressario V6000 laptop. My Wireless connection is working fine.
Can you please let me know the problem.
Posted by:
Satish
02 Mar 2008
i have been facing this problem of logging on to hotmail https site ;after the login page submission - the page shows message cannot be displayed. i had the same prob. about a month ago and solved it by allowing pop-ups from 1st and third parties in security tab of IE options. I am using IE 7.0.5730.11 and bit / cipher strength is 128 bits. Also i have removed norton's all types of software but to no avail. i have in the PC McAfee and Spyware Doctor from long time.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Have you tried removing McAfee and/or the spyware sotware to see if they are interfering?
Posted by:
coonal
11 May 2008
I had the same problem. I was not able to login into yahoomail, gmail, orkut. But I tried a proxy site http://accessmyspacefromwork.info and it worked. I was able to access all secured sites. What could have been the problem? Plz suggest an alternate solution as I don't want to access all the sites through proxy.
EDITOR'S NOTE: I assume you're trying to access those sites from work or school, and they are explicitly blocked by the network administrators.
Posted by:
Izzy
11 Jun 2008
I have windows XP and recently got infected with spyware, after i ran ad aware and spybot i couldnt access secure sites, it seems i cannot even open norton anti virus and i cant even uninstall it..Any time i find a website to where i might be able to fix this problem its says that the page cannot be displayed..also i tried to use system restore but it always fails to restore...i dont want to spend $200 to the geek squad on this one, i dont kno wat to do nemore...thanks
EDITOR'S NOTE: Some viruses try to block anti-virus download pages, nasty. I recommend that you install Windows Defender and AVG anti-virus. Hopefully they can catch and kill the nasties.
Posted by:
jess
13 Nov 2008
im having the same problem. But, it dosent say page connot be displayed just the same page comes up again without my log in details. If i take my laptop over my mates house and connect to her network it works? So its gotaah be something to do with my router. Help?! Thanks.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Sounds suspiciously like a classic man-in-the-middle spoof. I would hit the reset button on your router and see it that clears up the problem. You may also have to re-configure your router settings, check with your ISP on that...
Posted by:
ken y
01 Jan 2009
whew........i'm having the same problem. i'm fairly computer literate, and upgraded to a new harddisk with xp sp2.......and lo, no secure sites. i've tried your suggestions, but nothing works........still get the "cannot find server" message.........i'm about ready to re-format, and install sp1.....please help!
ky
Posted by:
Rick
21 Aug 2009
I'm not tech savvy, and I came across this page while researching a problem which would tell me every certificate was not valid or expired and would block me from going to sites I knew were okay . It turned out to be a simple fix. Somehow the clock on my computer got turned back to 2000. So every site had a not yet valid or expired certificate. Once I set the 2009 date, I could get to every site without a problem. And that eliminated each "Security Alert" warning I was getting.