Internet Explorer Cannot Connect to Secure Web Sites ---> There are a
number of possible causes, which in turn have 7 suggested fixes. You can
test your ability to connect to SSL sites using these SSL tests:
Microsoft or Ebay
If you get the "page cannot be displayed" then I'm afraid you can't
access SSL sites.
An example of this picture can be found here!
Here are the steps that you should try to fix your "secure sites
problem".
Verify that Internet Explorer Is Using 128-Bit Encryption:
•In Internet Explorer, on the Help menu, click About Internet Explorer
•The level of encryption on your computer appears next to the words
Cipher Strength.
•Verify that the Cipher Strength value appears as 128-bit
•If the Cipher Strength is anything less then 128-bit, download the
"Explorer Internet High Encryption Pack" to your computer's hard disk,
and then install it.
Delete Temporary Internet Files
•There's also a possibility of some corrupted files in your Temporary
Internet Files (TIF) storage. You should clear these
•In Internet Explorer, on the Tools menu, click Internet Options, and
select the General tab
•Under Temporary Internet files, click Delete Files, and click OK when
you are prompted to confirm the deletion
Configure Security settings for the Trusted sites zone in Internet
Explorer:
•In Internet Explorer, on the Tools menu, click Internet Options, and
select the Security tab
•Select Trusted sites, and then click Default Level
•Add the secure Web site you are trying to access to the Trusted sites
zone. To do so, click Sites, type the address (URL) of the site in the
Add this Web site to the zone box
•Click Add, click OK, and then click Apply
Clear the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) slate and AutoComplete history:
•In Internet Explorer, on the Tools menu, click Internet Options, and
select the Content tab
•Under Certificates, click Clear SSL State
•Click OK when you receive the message that the SSL cache was
successfully cleared
•Under Personal information, click AutoComplete
•Under Clear AutoComplete history, click Clear Forms. Click OK when you
are prompted to confirm the operation.
Verify that Internet Explorer is configured to use SSL 2.0 and SSL 3.0
•In Internet Explorer, click on the Tools menu, click Internet Options,
and select the Advanced tab
•In the Settings box, under the Security header, click to select the
Use SSL 2.0 and Use SSL 3.0 check boxes (if they are not already
selected), and then click OK
Verify that the Date and Time Settings on Your Computer Are Correct:
•Because SSL certificates have an expiration date, if the date on your
computer isn't correct, it may prevent you from connecting to secure
sites.
•To verify that your computer is configured with the correct date and
time settings
•Click Start > click Control Panel
•Click Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options, and then click Date
and Time
•Select the Date & Time tab
•Check to make sure that the date and time settings are configured to
use the current date and time, and then click OK
Check the file integrity of the IE and Outlook:
•Click Start>Run> "sfc /scannow" (without quotes) It might ask for the
Windows CD to upload the corrupted files
•Click Start>Run> regsvr32 softpub.dll (without quotes) and wait for
the OK message; then try again.
If none of the above helps, Norton Antivirus has been known to cause
the problem. Uninstall it if this is what you have. Try a secure site.
If all is now ok install a different antivirus. Free ones here:
AVG Free: 'AVG Free - Download antivirus and antispyware software for
Windows XP and Vista' (
http://free.avg.com/)
Avast: 'FREE avast! antivirus 4.x Home Edition, anti-spyware &
anti-rootkit for Windows' (
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html)
