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secure sites don't open in firefox. I get the same message on all https sites, even when trying to get on the mozilla site.started when had to switch 2 windows8

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  • Last reply by cor-el

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I had to get a new computer that runs windows 8 I downloaded the latest version of firefox but it won't open any secure sites including all my banking sites. I read everything about this problem on Mozilla's website and on other help sites. deleting the firefox folder in program files (x86) and downloading and installing an older version (version 6) made it so I can at least use my banking sites but they don't look right. The words are all very small and at the far left side of the pages.

I can open all the problem sites in Microsoft internet explorer and they work fine. Please let me know when there is a fix for this problem. I see a lot of people have it and so far Mozilla has given no solutions that actually work. I HATE having to use internet explorer. I have used only firefox or netscape before that for over a decade. Would like to go back to firefox, so please let me know if there is a fix that works. I have a screenshot of the error page but I can't upload it, there is no link on your help pages to do that and the error message is too long for me to type.

Sincerely, Ian B

I had to get a new computer that runs windows 8 I downloaded the latest version of firefox but it won't open any secure sites including all my banking sites. I read everything about this problem on Mozilla's website and on other help sites. deleting the firefox folder in program files (x86) and downloading and installing an older version (version 6) made it so I can at least use my banking sites but they don't look right. The words are all very small and at the far left side of the pages. I can open all the problem sites in Microsoft internet explorer and they work fine. Please let me know when there is a fix for this problem. I see a lot of people have it and so far Mozilla has given no solutions that actually work. I HATE having to use internet explorer. I have used only firefox or netscape before that for over a decade. Would like to go back to firefox, so please let me know if there is a fix that works. I have a screenshot of the error page but I can't upload it, there is no link on your help pages to do that and the error message is too long for me to type. Sincerely, Ian B

All Replies (14)

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When you say Firefox won't open the sites, do you get an error page complaining about the security certificate, or do you get a different error page, or do you get a blank page?

When numerous secure sites look completely unstyled, this often indicates a problem with security certificates.

Could you start by checking the date, time, and time zone on your system clock to make sure those are correct?

Next, choose a secure site that won't load correctly in Firefox and visit it in IE, and check the issuer of the certificate? For example, click the padlock in IE's address bar and look for the "Issued by" section of the certificate. Does it indicate any of your security software vendors? It would be useful if you could list the URL you visited and the issuer you see.

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The site is ANY banking or other secure site I go to. The problem is only when using Firefox. I checked all the things you said to check for. I don't want to give all my banking sites for security purposes, but it does the same thing when I log on to Firefox support so I will give that information.

The issuer is the same in Firefox as it is in Internet Explorer, but the site works fine in IE.


The date and time and time zone are all correct.

Mozilla support displays the page completely wrong. In fact it is SO unreadable I'm having to enter this info using Internet Explorer. The mozilla page is: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/users/login

The error message says:

support.cdn.mozilla.net:443 uses an invalid security certificate.

The certificate is not trusted because the issuer certificate is not trusted. (Error code:sec_error_untrusted_issuer_) This could be a problem with the server's configuration or it could be someone trying to impersonate the server. If you have connected to this server successfully in the past the error may be temporary and you can try again later.

when I click on the "view certificate" box the issuer info says" Issuer information in both browsers is as follows: CN = Cybertrust Public SureServer SV CA O = Cybertrust Inc

Then I close the error message box and click on tools- page info-security-view certificate-details-issuer info in the URL address window then I get the following:CN = DigiCert High Assurance EV CA-1 OU = www.digicert.com O = DigiCert Inc C = US

On internet explorer I don't get the error message so I can't click on the view certificate in the error message box. But when I click on the "Lock" icon I get the following isuer information on Internet Explorer: CN = DigiCert High Assurance EV CA-1 OU = www.digicert.com O = DigiCert Inc C = US


Does that help?

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hello, please try to reset firefox and see if this can address the issue...

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Try to rename the cert8.db file in the Firefox profile folder to cert8.db.old or delete the cert8.db file to remove intermediate certificates that Firefox has stored.

If that helped to solve the problem then you can remove the renamed cert8.db.old file. Otherwise you can rename (or copy) the cert8.db.old file to cert8.db to restore the previous intermediate certificates. Firefox will automatically store intermediate certificates when you visit websites that send such a certificate.

If that didn't help then remove or rename secmod.db (secmod.db.old) as well.

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Where is the Firefox profile folder located?

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Hi hemicro, it depends on your OS. This article should help: Profiles - Where Firefox stores your bookmarks, passwords and other user data.

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You can use this button to go to the currently used Firefox profile folder:

  • Help > Troubleshooting Information > Profile Directory: Show Folder (Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder)
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Tried the renaming and no change. Dates etc have been checked and tried. It does not allow any secure sites to open.

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In my case the computer is running Win8 and firefox was working fine this am when the message to upgrade showed. I upgraded to the current version and now the problem is there. That is the only thing that was done to the computer.

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Just looked at the certificate for the secure sites and found Fiddler2 involved and don't know why ! Created by http://www.fiddler2.com

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I do not have fiddler2 installed on my computer.

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Hi hemicro, this Fiddler certificate has been hijacked and used by a program named Browser Safe or Browser Safeguard. Please check your Windows Control Panel, Uninstall a Program, for that. Before removing it, click the "Installed on" column heading to see if you can identify it as part of a bundle of potentially unwanted programs installed on the same day. Or if you find some other mystery software, please name names.

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PERFECT ! That took care of the problem and it was Browsersafeguard that had been installed. The only installation today was the firefox programs: "Mozilla Maintenance Service" and "Mozilla Firefox 30.0 (x86 en.GB). I will try to check if the program piggy backed on a temporary situation on the desktop. My wife may have downloaded something and maybe it came from another website. Thanks for your excellent help.

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FiddlerRoot usually indicates unwanted software being installed named similarly to BrowserSafeguard, BrowserSafe, SafeGuard

See /questions/982532#answer-520145)