[robawalsh]

I am using Firefox 3, but the problem is also with IE7.

Whenever i try to access sites like Amazon.co.uk, eBay.co.uk, Apple.com etc. i get a blank page and it sits there loading forever.
Since i think these are all SSL connections, and have researched a bit around some forums, i think the problem is related to connecting to secure sites.
It's odd that both Firefox and IE7 react the same, but Mozilla SeaMonkey works fine...

Looking around the web, i have found some possible solutions which didn't work; although i havn't found anywhere where the problem is actually solved. Hopefully you people can help!!
I have changed my MTU settings to 1492 (broadband connection), I have set my DNS settings to 'Automatically detect' and have typed into the address bar 'about:config', filtered IPV6 and changed it to 'true'. I have reinstalled Firefox which didn't work, and have also removed all addons and cleared cookies, cache etc. I have updated to the latest version of Java.
I have also gone completely mad. This is really bugging me!

I never used to have this problem, and i havn't done anything major that may have caused it, so i am really puzzled by this.
Does anyone have any ideas/solutions?


Help much appreciated
Rob W

[tomdkat]

Amazon.co.uk and Apple.com don't use SSL (at least not for the home pages) so there must be something else at work. Let's look at what you posted above:

• The problem happens with both Firefox 3 and IE7
• Seamonkey DOES work with these same sites
• You didn't have this problem in the past
• Reinstalling Firefox didn't fix anything

Since you didn't have this problem in the past, something has changed on your system. Since both Firefox AND IE are impacted there must be some other application or software involved which is causing you problems.

So, here are some questions for you:

• What version of Windows are you running?
• Which firewall are you using?
• What other protective software are you running?
• When is the last time you scanned your system for viruses and spyware?
• Which tools did you use to scan your system for viruses and spyware?

Peace...

[robawalsh]

Thanks for help

• What version of Windows are you running?

Windows XP

• Which firewall are you using?

Norton AntiVirus

• What other protective software are you running?

none but i have in the past had spybot, spyware doctor, AVG free and some others (all gone now)

• When is the last time you scanned your system for viruses and spyware?

every weekend.
it nearly always finds something though - some adware that i don't notice anyway - i clear that but it doesn't have any effect

• Which tools did you use to scan your system for viruses and spyware?

Super AntiSpyware free

[tomdkat]

Does SuperAntiSpyware find the stuff or does Norton find the stuff? Are cookies the only thing being found?

Can you boot your system in safe mode WITH networking and see if you can access the web?

EDIT: Do you have Norton Internet Security installed or just Norton Antivirus?

Peace....

[robawalsh]

SuperAntiSpyware finds the stuff
i told you it finds stuff like Adware.Generic.yattah yattah sometimes, but i quarantine it - no difference
Safe mode doesn't work either for those sites (remember 80% of the web is fine)
and no i don't have Norton internet Security

[robawalsh]

hey i think i might have solved it but i'll check in a few days to make sure...

I just turned off everything to do with Norton (not sure how to uninstall it as it's a special IBM version) and rebooted; now everything seems to be working fine AND my system seems faster!!

Do you think i could just use AVG Free instead of Norton from now on and continue my weekly virus checks and stay safe from viruses?

[tomdkat]

Great job in disabling Norton. Having you boot in safe mode was something I was hoping would have prevented Norton from loading to see if it was interfering. Looks like you proved it was.

You could use AVG free edition, Avast!, or AntiVir for free virus protection. If you look in the general security forum, there are many threads looking for recommendations on anti-virus software.

Peace...

[robawalsh]

i dont want to start a whole new post in the right forum so i'll ask you:

to disable norton i right clicked the firewall icon in taskbar and click Open Symantec Client Firewall then clicked on options and click start manually not on system startup. Then i clicked OK and clicked Turn off under security and closed the window.
Then i went Start > All Programs > Symantec Client Security > Symantec AntiVirus and then clicked configure at the side. Then i clicked File auto protect and unchecked 'enable file auto protect' and at the side again clicked Internet and email and turned that off. Then i rebooted.

After rebooting i couldnt get rid of the symantec firewall icon in the taskbar so eventually just right clicked on Start then clicked properties then Taskbar 'customize' and chnged symantec to always hide.
From the actual way to do it (right click in taskbar, open, options, uncheck 'show in taskbar') everything was grayed out (no idea why)

anyway, getting to the point....
I couldn't help thinking that because the icon was still there it is not really turned off properly.
How can i make sure it's really off completely without uninstalling it??

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by robawalsh

anyway, getting to the point....
I couldn't help thinking that because the icon was still there it is not really turned off properly.
How can i make sure it's really off completely without uninstalling it??

Not sure. The presence of the icon doesn't necessarily reflect the actual running state of the firewall. One thing you can do is look at the Windows Security Center and see what it lists in the firewall section. If it lists the "Windows firewall" is active, then the Symantec firewall should be inactive. The Symantec firewall is known for sometimes blocking the sending of "referrer" information from the browser which can cause problems accessing websites.

I believe there is a Symantec support rep who reads the forum so maybe you could start a "how do I disable the Symantec firewall" thread in the general security forum and he'll see it and respond.

Personally, I would suggest uninstalling all the Symantec tools and using either ZoneAlarm or Comodo for firewalling, if you're not comfortable using the Windows firewall.

Peace...

[robawalsh]

i have had zonealarm before but i remember there was a problem (dont remember what it was tho)

do i need a firewall or can i just use avg free?

[tomdkat]

AVG free edition doesn't do firewalling. It will scan for viruses and some spyware only.

So, your firewall options are:

• Use the Windows firewall
• Use a third party firewall like ZoneAlarm, Comodo, some other one
• Install a hardware firewall that sits between your computer and your broadband modem (cable or DSL)
• Stick with Symantec's firewall (yuck)

If you don't use any third party firewalls, the Windows firewall should be automatically enabled unless you manually disable it. Search the general security forum for "firewall" and see the recommendations and comments people are making about the various firewalls out there. Keep in mind, all the firewalls suck and all the firewalls work without problems for at least one person.

Peace...

[robawalsh]

ive got comodo
i just did a scan with it and it found a backdoor trojan!!! yikes!!!

[tomdkat]

Ok, since your machine seems to still be infected with something I would suggest starting a thread in the malware removal forum and get help with disinfection.

Peace...

[keepitsimple14]

I'm actually having the exact same problem with Firefox 3 and IE7. I when I try to access Google, Yahoo, Facebook, etc. the screen just sits on a loading page, but the rest of the web works. It first started happening at the end of June. All I know is I left one evening and when I came back it wasn't working. Then about four days later, I went to work and when I came back it was working. Now, its busted again and has been for about a week. I saw that yours was working in Seamonkey, so I downloaded it and it seems to be working here as well. I don't have Norton on my computer so that can't be it. Any ideas? I've used Adaware and Mcafee Virus Scan, but they don't really find anything that seems to be causing it.

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by keepitsimple14

I don't have Norton on my computer so that can't be it. Any ideas? I've used Adaware and Mcafee Virus Scan, but they don't really find anything that seems to be causing it.

Nope, it can't be Norton so it must be McAfee.

Seriously, I would see if McAfee is interfering in a similar fashion as Norton was on the other poster's system. When you can with Ad-Aware and McAfee, which versions are you using and what kinds of things do they find?

Peace...