FireFox Net Policeman?????

[RedRock]

I'm suddenly getting stopped by FireFox from going to my usual web pages. I'm getting an image of a polceman figure and the words "This Connection is Untrusted." I have to click on "I Understand the Risks" and it opens up a security type preference panel and I have to click on something like (paraphrasing) "allow an exception to the security rule and allow (lamronsplayground, etc. etc. etc.) to connect with an untrusted security certificate, etc." Until I clear my cookies, I don't have to do that again, but I clear my cookies, etc. daily.

I can't find in FireFox where to turn this crap off--I just want to navigate to those sites I already know and trust without having to allow exceptions, and if I've clicked to go to any other site, it's because I'm not worried about going there in the first place and likewise don't want to have to click extra buttons.

Does anyone know how to turn this off? I think it came with my latest FireFox upgrade. I'm using v. 21.0 for Windows.

Of course of course of course, this does not happen on my Mac (thank God), only with Windows.

[Lamron]

Here's some info on it: support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/connection-untrusted-error-message

You may actually have a problem with your connection that Firefox is right to protect you from. I'm not getting that warning on anything.

[RedRock]

Lamron, even google and your mozilla link get the same "untrusted connection" message. It's happening to everything now that I haven't added an exception to, and again, once I clear my cookies for the day, I get to do it all over again the next day.

[Lamron]

Start running malware and virus scanners on that computer. Here's one to try: www.malwarebytes.org/ Something has inserted itself between your browser and your internet connection, probably for the purpose of redirecting you to spoof sites or recording your information.

Firefox is trying to protect you. You need to find and fix the problem, not keep adding exceptions!

[RedRock]

OK, thanks, I DL'd and ran that malwarebytes and it found PUP.bundleinstaller.bt and 3 registry data changes (PUM.Disabled.SecurityCenter)and removed those. But that wasn't the problem, it was my employer and changes it made about 2 weeks ago (I vaguely remembered something from an email then, and looked it up; didn't understand it then, a little better now, but I did what they wanted and downloaded a CA file and now all is ok):

In order to address security concerns and tighten cyber security, [your employer's IT Dept.] is changing its Internet Filtering Policy to include secure/SSL/https websites on the [employer's] internal network.



The changes will go into effect on Monday June 24th at 9pm.



Generally, no impact is expected.



Personal devices and tablets should only be used on the [employer] Public wifi.



Other [employer]-owned non-Windows or non-Domain joined devices will need to install 2 [employer] issued certificates in order to avoid web browsing popups and possible application misbehavior. Please find attached tip sheets on how to install the certificates. Also, visit for access to download the required certificates.



Any questions or concerns can be discussed with the IT Dept. @ xxx-xxx or by putting in a ticket @



Thank you for your support in protecting [our] network.

IT Security Officer

I thought this would only affect me when I went to the intranet for my employer, but just using my employer's internet from my desk pc was requiring that certificate. Its title is "How to Install [Employer] Root Certificates on FireFox." The document says

If you access a secure website without the [Employer] Root Certificates installed, then the (website's) certificate is deemed to be invalid. You may encounter pop-up windows similar to the example below. Result: A pop-up notification appears for you to make a decision to continue and to show the certificate.

That popup window is the one I kept getting and had to allow an exception for.

So I did it all, and now all is working as it did before the change.

So, I'm probably ok. But that malware scared me. My employer runs MacAfee OAS on my pc and I have no control over it, and I assumed that would also handle Malware. Thanks much for the reference to MalwareBytes. I'm going to pay for the full version and keep it going.

But may I ask you for another reference, for a second similar program to run, to double check for malware?

Thanks, Lamron!!!

[Lamron]

I've been using AVAST as my anti-virus for many years and have been very happy with it. I doesn't hog system resources like Norton and MacAfee do. It just wakes up and scans any program that starts, then goes back to standby. Best part is its FREE, which is nice not only for $$ reasons, but it doesn't waste time with a bunch of DRM stuff to prevent you from using an unlicensed copy of it. Norton is particularly bad at that. It seems like it puts more effort into making sure you pay for it than it does actually protecting your system.

Also, if you are clearing your cookies that often, you might want to try using CCleaner. It will let you see the list of cookies and choose which to keep when you erase everything else.