Can't Access Secure Sites

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.

Here are some Microsoft Knowledge Base articles dealing with this problem that you may like to look at if you aren't able to solve the problem. Just Google the error number and you should find some additional info on it!

• 261328 - Cipher Strength Appears as 0-Bit in Internet Explorer
• 301803- Error Message When You Try to Connect to Secure Site: Client Certificate Has Expired or Is Not Yet Valid
• 303807- "The Page Cannot Be Displayed" Error Message When You Try to View Web Page on a Secure Web Site
• 305217- Page Cannot Be Displayed Error During SSL 3.0 Server Session Timeout
• 811383- Internet Explorer Connectivity and Certificate Display Issues
• 813951- You Cannot Access Your MSN E-mail Account or Authenticate with a Web Site in Various Programs
• 821814- You Receive a "Page Cannot Be Displayed" Error Message When You Post to a Site That Requires Authentication