Computer help

[Gilbert Scales2]

My computer will not let me check e-mail or get to sites that I must log in. I get a message stating that ther ia a problem with this websites security cerfiticate. I have run AVG, Spybot search and destroy, and Malware.



Bubby

 

[Rich Stern]

Gilbert, the problem with the security certificate may be that it is expired, or not properly authenticated.



Security certificates do two things:



1) Verify (to some degree) that the web site you are visiting is what it says it is.



2) Let's you know that the site you are visiting is being transmitted to you encrypted, and anything you send to the site is also encrypted. The data travelling between your PC and the web site gets scrambled before it is sent between the two machines, to prevent eavesdropping and theft of private data.



Even with the expired certificate, the encryption still works. The web address shown in your browser's address bar shows it is visiting an "https" (secure) page, rather than a regular "http" page.



Let the web site publishers know the certificate is expired. In the meantime, you can choose to ignore the certificate expiration and go ahead and visit the site.

 

[Gilbert Scales2]

Thanks Rich. It is happening with several sites. Ny bank account, web mail, even Bass pro it I try to order online. Is it one web site publisher or several that I contact? Hate to sound dumb, I have no idea what to do. My computer knowledge, like with most things is very limited.



Bubby

 

[Rich Stern]

Gilbert, check your computer's clock and make sure it is set to the right date and time.



After you check the date and time on your PC, try the link below. I just verified that the American Express web site has a valid certificate. See if you get the security warning when you visit their site.



What browser are you using?



<a href="https://home.americanexpress.com/">https://home.americanexpress.com/</A>

 

[Greg Meyer]

As Rich suggested, it is usually a date set wrong make sure that uou have the right month, day and year. Sometimes it helps to clear/clean cookies. From the IE Toolbar tools> Internet Options "Delete". Finally, SOME versions of popular AV cause peoblems.

 

[Gilbert Scales2]

Thanks Rich, it is all cleared up!!!!!!!





Bubby