Err Msg: Internet Explorer Can Not Load the Internet Site

ID: Q182044

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 3.0, 3.01, 3.02, 4.0, 4.01 for Windows 95
Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 3.0, 3.01, 3.02, 4.0, 4.01 for Windows NT 4.0
Microsoft Internet Explorer version 3.02a for Windows 3.1

SYMPTOMS

When you try to view a secure Web site with Internet Explorer 3.x, you may receive the following error message:

   The Internet site you are trying to view uses a security certificate
   that was signed by an unknown Authority. This page cannot be viewed.

If you click OK, you may receive the following error message:

   Internet Explorer can not load the Internet Site. The operation
   completed successfully.

When you try to view a secure Web site with Internet Explorer version 4.0 or 4.01, you may receive the following message:

   You are about to begin viewing pages over a secure connection. Do you
   want to continue?

If you click Yes, you may receive the following message:

   This page requires a secure connection, which includes a server
   authentication. The Certificate Issuer for this site is untrusted or
   unknown. Do you wish to continue?

If you click Yes, the Web page loads normally.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur in Internet Explorer 3.x for either of the following reasons:

The security certificate on the Web site is not a root authority or a known authority.
The security certificate is not correctly installed on your computer.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, upgrade to Internet Explorer 4.01. To install Internet Explorer 4.01, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

   http://www.microsoft.com/ie/

MORE INFORMATION

There are two types of security certificate issuers: root authority, and non-root authority. A non-root authority security certificate issuer is trusted by, and issues certificates on behalf of, a root authority. A root authority security certificate issuer is a certificate issuer that verifies the safety of the content on a Web site. For a browser program to use a security certificate, the program must "know" the issuing authority. In Internet Explorer versions 3.x, 4.0, and 4.01, a group of authorities are "known" by default. New authorities may be added according to the issuing software.

Additional query words: 98 95

Keywords          : kbenv kberrmsg msiew95 msient msiew31 
Version           : WINDOWS:3.0,3.01,3.02,4.0,4.01
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: March 18, 1999