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Why am I suddenly unable to access websites that I have used for years with no problem. What is going on. I cannot, for example, go to my Facebook page, and I've had trouble accessing my email. What the heck is going on?

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  • Last reply by cor-el

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I am suddenly unable to access websites, some of which I've viewed for years, like Facebook and my email, for Pete's sake. What is going on? I'm told there's a security risk and there's nothing I can do. What has changed. This is distressing in the extreme. I have put virus protection in place, and use a VPN, so I feel reasonably secure in my online work. Something has changed at Firefox, what the heck is it, and how do I correct it?

I am suddenly unable to access websites, some of which I've viewed for years, like Facebook and my email, for Pete's sake. What is going on? I'm told there's a security risk and there's nothing I can do. What has changed. This is distressing in the extreme. I have put virus protection in place, and use a VPN, so I feel reasonably secure in my online work. Something has changed at Firefox, what the heck is it, and how do I correct it?

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Haven't authorized any addons recently, or previously I"m pretty sure. At least none that Google can find. Something else is going on, and if there's a technical issue with accessing these sites, if some kind of certification is needed for example for me to access my FB account, I would appreciate it if Firefox would actively pursue a solution, and not simply tell me there's nothing I can do. I need to gain access to these sites.

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There are a multitude of articles, to which we are directed for help, that do not help. I'm not a computer expert and that is why I depend on the browser and the VPN and antivirus programs to do their job. I cannot access Facebook, because of some reason that I am unable to understand, cannot solve, and cannot find any help for. This is beyond frustrating. What is going on at Firefox. I have been browsing forever on these website, that are suddenly blocked. WHY? What the hell is going on.

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Do you get an error page (attach screenshot) or does the page simply stays blank ?


If you use extensions ("3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Extensions) that can block content (Adblock Plus, NoScript, DuckDuckGo PE, Disconnect, Ghostery, Privacy Badger, uBlock Origin) always make sure such extensions do not block content.

Firefox shows a purple shield instead of a gray shield at the left end of the location/address bar in case Enhanced Tracking Protection is blocking content.

  • click the shield icon for more detail and possibly disable the protection

You can check the Web Console for relevant-looking messages about blocked content.


You can try these steps in case of issues with webpages:

You can reload webpage(s) and bypass the cache to refresh possibly outdated or corrupted files.

  • hold down the Shift key and left-click the Reload button
  • press "Ctrl + F5" or press "Ctrl + Shift + R" (Windows,Linux)
  • press "Command + Shift + R" (Mac)

Clear the Cache and remove the Cookies for websites that cause problems via the "3-bar" Firefox menu button (Settings).

"Remove the Cookies" for websites that cause problems:

  • Settings -> Privacy & Security
    Cookies and Site Data: "Manage Data"

"Clear the Cache":

  • Settings -> Privacy & Security
    Cookies and Site Data -> Clear Data -> [X] Cached Web Content -> Clear

Start Firefox in Troubleshoot Mode to check if one of the extensions ("3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Extensions) or if hardware acceleration or userChrome.css is causing the problem.

  • switch to the DEFAULT theme: "3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Themes
  • do NOT click the "Refresh Firefox" button on the Troubleshoot Mode start window