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This article goes over the solutions to the error message: Could not initialize the browser security component.

This article deals with the causes of the message "''Could not initialize the browser's security component. The most likely cause is problems with files in your browser's profile directory. Please check that this directory has no read/write restrictions and your hard disk is not full or close to full. It is recommended that you exit the browser and fix the problem. If you continue to use this browser session, you might see incorrect browser behavior when accessing security features.''" For information on other messages received when attempting to load websites, see [[Error loading web sites]]. {/for} {for fx13} {note}'''Note:''' [[Template:reset-fx]]{/note} {/for} __TOC__ = Hard drive space = Check your hard drive's free space. {for win} # Open '''My Computer''' # Right click on the '''C:''' drive # Choose {menu Properties}. A dialog will come up. # Go to the {menu General} tab. {/for} {for mac} # Go to your Desktop. ** Press {key F11} # Select '''Macintosh HD'''. # Press {key command}+{key I} to display the Macintosh HD info window. {/for} {for linux} # Click the {menu Places} menu, and select {menu Computer}. # Right-click on '''Filesystem'''. # Choose {menu Properties}. A dialog will come up. # Go to the {menu Basic} tab. {/for} If it reports less than 1MB free space available, you'll need to make more room. = File permissions = Check the file permissions in your Firefox profile folder. The file named {filepath cert8.db} must not be read-only. {for win} #[[T:profileFolder]] #[[T:closeFirefox]] # Right-click on the file named {filepath cert8.db}. # Choose {menu Properties}. A dialog will come up. # Go to the {menu General} tab. # Make sure the '''Read-only''' checkbox is ''not'' checked. # Press {button OK}. {/for} {for mac} #[[T:profileFolder]] #[[T:closeFirefox]] # Select the file named {filepath cert8.db}. # Press {key command}+{key I} to display the cert8.db info window. # Expand the Sharing & Permissions section. # Make sure your Mac user account is set to '''Read & Write'''. # Close the cert8.db info window. {/for} {for linux} #[[T:profileFolder]] #[[T:closeFirefox]] # Right-click on the file named {filepath cert8.db}. # Choose {menu Properties}. A dialog will come up. # Go to the {menu Permissions} tab. # Make sure Access is set to '''read and write'''. # Press {button Close}. {/for} Restart Firefox and the problem may be fixed. = Corrupted file = The file {filepath cert8.db} in your profile folder may have become corrupted. Delete this file while Firefox is closed. #[[T:profileFolder]] #[[T:closeFirefox]] # Click on the file named {filepath cert8.db}. # Press {for mac}{key command}+{/for}{key Delete}. # Restart Firefox. {note}'''{filepath cert8.db} will be recreated when you restart Firefox. This is normal.'''{/note} = New profile = Your settings may have become corrupted due to changes in your system or a lack of hard drive space at one point. Create a new profile with the [[Managing profiles|Profile Manager]]. If the problem goes away, you can then [[Backing up your information|move your settings to the new profile]]. If the problem remains, you can go back to your original profile. <!-- MZ credit --> <br/> <br/> '''''Based on information from [http://kb.mozillazine.org/Could_not_initialize_the_browser_security_component Could not initialize the browser security component (mozillaZine KB)]'''''