Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) lets you securely access websites. Websites that use SSL will have "https" at the start of their address. Most banking sites and online stores use SSL.

This article will describe how to enable SSL in Firefox if you get this message.

If you additionally receive the message "Could not initialize the browser's security component", see Could not initialize the browser security component.

For any other errors, see Error loading web sites.

Check your SSL settings

1. At the top of the Firefox window, click on the Firefox button (Tools menu in Windows XP) and then click OptionsOn the menu bar, click on the Firefox menu and select Preferences...At the top of the Firefox window, click on the Edit menu and select PreferencesAt the top of the Firefox window, click on the Tools menu and select Options...On the menu bar, click on the Firefox menu and select Preferences...At the top of the Firefox window, click on the Edit menu and select Preferences...
2. Select the Advanced panel.
3. Click the Encryption tab.
4. Verify that Use SSL 3.0 and Use TLS 1.0 are check marked.

• • If both boxes are check marked, this section does not apply. You can skip to the next section.
  • If both Use SSL 3.0 and Use TLS 1.0 are not check marked, check mark both of them.

1. Click OK to close the Options windowClick Close to close the Preferences windowClose the Preferences window

Try to access a secure site again. If it still doesn't work, continue in the next section.

Check your proxy settings

Some computers are configured to access the Internet through a proxy.

1. At the top of the Firefox window, click on the Firefox button (Tools menu in Windows XP) and then click OptionsOn the menu bar, click on the Firefox menu and select Preferences...At the top of the Firefox window, click on the Edit menu and select PreferencesAt the top of the Firefox window, click on the Tools menu and select Options...On the menu bar, click on the Firefox menu and select Preferences...At the top of the Firefox window, click on the Edit menu and select Preferences...
2. Select the Advanced panel.
3. Click the Network tab.
4. Click Settings....
5. If Manual proxy configuration is selected, you are using a manually configured proxy server. Verify that all protocols listed in the dialog box are pointing to the address of your proxy server. Contact your network administrator if you don't know this address.

• • If Manual proxy configuration is not selected, this section does not apply. You can skip to the next section.

1. Make any changes, and click OK to close the Connection Settings window.
2. Click OK to close the Options windowClick Close to close the Preferences windowClose the Preferences window

Try to access a secure site again. If it still doesn't work, continue in the next section.

Security software

To use SSL protocol, Firefox needs to make a connection to itself. Some security software can block this connection. For information on how to configure security software to allow Firefox the access it needs, see Firewalls.

Problem with a specific site

You can test your browser for SSL functionality. If your browser passes the test, the problem may be specific to the site you're trying to access.

Based on information from SSL is disabled (mozillaZine KB)