Firefox 4: error code sec_error_untrusted_issuer

Submitted by admin on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 18:54

Per the upgrade to Firefox 4 (from 3.6.16) I ran into an issue on both Windows and Linux systems. When accessing my websites, that use self signed certificates, the certificates are rejected. With Firefox 3.x I could add an exception easily, but that option is not shown in Firefox 4. It took a while to find a procedure that works for me:

  1. Select menu Edit --> Preferences (Linux), or Tools --> Options (Windows)
  2. Select tab Advanced - Encryption
  3. Press button View Certificates --> tab Servers
  4. Press button Add Exception
  5. Enter the name of the website/domain that it concerns
  6. What should work, according to Mozilla: Get Certificate, check "Permanently store this exception" and press button Confirm Security Exception
    1. This does not work for me, not on Windows or Linux
    2. When you have the same issue, please continue
  7. Do most of the previous step, but press button View after Get Certificate
  8. On tab Details, Export the certificate; location and especially type can be left default
  9. Close the windows to get back to the window of step #3
  10. Press button Import and import the exported certificate
  11. Select the imported certificate in the list and press button Edit Trust
  12. Choose option "Trust the authenticity of this certificate"
  13. Close all and retry to access the secure website
    1. This works in my case, or many cases to be exact (5 systems; 4 Linux and 1 Windows)