Opera 12 Unable to complete secure transaction
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blackbird71 last edited byHttps sites require certain handshaking to occur between the website server and the browser that determines the most secure protocol and which encryption method that can be mutually used by both the browser and site. It also involves certificates being available locally to the browser (which certs are essentially "authorized" public keys to the chosen encryption methods used by a particular https site, and which therefore must be current and unexpired). In order for https communications to work, all these details must match up perfectly... and you get the message you mention when even one detail doesn't match.
Usually the problem involves the current, proper, officially-issued certificate for a site not being available to the browser (either locally in a browser file or as part of the operating system's record store, depending on browser design). However, if the particular browser in use doesn't support the secure protocols and encryption methods demanded by the site, even a 'current' stored cert can't be used... that is, the encryption keys in the cert won't match the security methods available to the browser. Problematic as this can become for older browsers with lesser protocol and/or encryption options, it's made even more complicated because many site servers will frequently 'sniff' the browser brand/model being used and may simply elect to not even bother offering secure communications to it... and a user again gets the message you mention.
Because certain previously-used secure protocols are now deprecated (because of very recent exploits like Poodle), websites and browsers are dealing with that in various ways. One of the ways is to avoid using exploited protocols and to use tighter encryption methods linked to their remaining protocols, which of course requires that visiting browsers (and certs) accommodate these - but a browser frozen in time has a difficult time doing that. Depending on how the protocol in use and the site's certs are structured, it is still sometimes possible to negotiate a mutual combination of protocols and encryption methods that allow the https to work... in some instances, perhaps by manually adding new cert records copied from another system/browser. But in the end, it will always be a losing battle. Various "tricks" might be found to fool both browser and site to get a problem https site to work... but it's just a matter of time until things evolve so far that no amount of such tricks will resolve it.
At some point, one must ask some basic questions. Among these is how much work does the user want to undertake to constantly plugging the cert holes, and how much reliance can be placed on the ensuing security even then? At what point is it simpler and safer to merely use a newer browser for secure web browsing? I've believed, ever since Opera announced that they were going to stop developing Presto Opera, that eventually what "kills" Presto would be the evolution of web protocols/standards/techniques that finally leaves the browser in the dust, at least for important or demanding usage. That day is now unfolding, in part through the vehicle of evolving https security practices.
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Deleted User last edited by
Opera 12 has many problems with modern SSL ciphers and checking certificates for validity.
There's no workarund and i dont think for this old version it will be fixed.. -
peterx666 last edited by
Thanks for your helpful expanation all .... most useful
But now I am confused as a new post on this section seems to have the same problem with version 26? and a later version of windows than my XP....
"Hi everyone, I'm on Windows 8.1 and using Opera 26; the problem is it's keeping on giving me the message "This web page is not available - the web page ... could be temporarily not reachable or it could have changed address": this's been happening for the last few days both with bookmarked websites and google results: is anyone able to tell me what's going on?"
Further somment appreciated
Incidentally seem to have lost all the graphics and boxes etc on these pages too
Tried uninstalling and re-installing version 12 but it has not made any improvement
Comment appreciated
Pete
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linuxmint7 last edited by
Incidentally seem to have lost all the graphics and boxes etc on these pages too
Tried uninstalling and re-installing version 12 but it has not made any improvementYou haven't enabled any of the style options in Opera by accident ?.
'O-Menu / Page / Style' and make sure 'Author mode' is selected, and any of the style options in that list below 'Author mode' are not ticked.
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Deleted User last edited by
on giving me the message "This web page is not available - the web page ... could be temporarily not reachable or it could have changed address":
That may be: Problems to reach the domain, server problems, problems with domain resolution.
Opera 26 has no problem with SSL (https://) sites, if so i would have recogniezed while surfing.
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linuxmint7 last edited by
Adding to what I already wrote above, have a check of 'O-Menu / Page / Images' and make sure 'Show images' is selected too.
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rseiler last edited by admin
Opera 12 does have problems with a very small subset of https sites (see: https://forums.opera.com/post/54114), but Amazon.com isn't one of them. Something is wrong locally.
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Deleted User last edited by
May be a virussscanner software intercepts SSL web connections. Most oft problems occur with such "security" software breaking secure connections.
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peterx666 last edited by
OK Guys .... I have bitten the bullet and installed version 26 along side 12 (different folders tho)
Must say I am impressed at eh speed of the thing! imported bookmarks from the old one - problem cant find how to "manage bookmarks" as they are all installed on a low level folder but can put up with that wor now
Good news is up to now not found a sit that does not work!
Wow
Impressed
pete
