unable to access secure websites

I am using Windows 98SE with IE5, and have recently been unable to access any secure websites. My ISP is AOL, which isn't working particularly well in versions 8 or 9. I have tried to correct my security settings, as advised by AOL, but nothing seems to help. I have run Hijackthis and there may be problems on my computer, but I don't know what I should be looking for. Also my computer only has 128mb ram. Can anyone help please?

 

Try updating IE to ver 6.x to see. I could be that AOL has your system to locked down also.

 

Message reads:- 220-smtpauth01.mail.atl.earthlink.net ESMTP Exim 4.34 #2 Mon, 20 Jun 2005 11:48: 18- 0400 220-No UCE. Earthlink does not authorize the use of its computers or network 220 equipment to accept,transmit,or distribute unsolicited e-mail. 421 smtpauth01.mail.atl.earthlink.net: SMTP command timeout- closing connection ( I could not copy and paste this message, so I had to type it manually. ) This is all greek to me, hope it means more to you. Have checked cipher strength and it is 128 bit. Many thanks.

 

AOL is a skin over IE and doesn't like to access secure sites on my PC. The best way I found to access secure websites was to start IE after I had logged onto AOL. I use AOL version 7 and IE 6. I fire up IE only when I want to access secure sites. Hope this helps although it sounds like you may have other problems, as well, if HiJackThis has found something. Go to MG spyware forum

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/forumdisplay.php?f=35

and carry out their "sticky" tutorial first

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=38752

before you post your log. Bazza
===

 

The message comes up as "Page cannot be displayed - try refresh button, etc." I have just discovered that I seem to be able to access at least some secure websites using Mozilla Firefox. Now I am even more confused !!

 

Secure websites are generally not on port 443. So you still can't rule that out.

 

If you have a firewall, please uninstall it.

Otherwise, go through this if that doesn't help.

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=813444

Edit: The article is for XP, but may still help.

 

Similiar to the test kaula did, try this.

First:

https://www.microsoft.com

and

http://www.microsoft.com:443/

See if you can browse to either.

 

Sorry, I don't know what that means.

 

Websites are accessed via ports, and secure websites are more often port 8080.

Just try the suggestions

 

I'm having the same problem with secure websites though I don't use AOL. I tried logging into those two sites and failed miserably. I also don't know any technical jargon such as ports, etc.

 

Please start your own thread, instead of dredging up one from ancient times.

Thanks.