Firefox can't load websites but other browsers can
Firefox now won't load any websites, and Chrome will just fine. This just started a day ago on the Mac running Yosemite 10.10.1
I updated to the new Firefox 50 and restarted it and still no go.
About a few weeks ago, Firefox ad pop-ups started coming in periodically from the right side of the screen, and I'm wondering if maybe that could have a vulnerability or some bug?
Firefox just keeps saying "Connecting" at the top of the browser tab and the Firefox load wheel just keeps turning with out resolution.
This is the first time that Firefox has behaved like this.
I searched the forum and the troubleshooting page and don't see a similar issue described yet.
I ran Malwarebytes and it found nothing on a scan and won't update when i try to, for some reason. It says "an error occurred in retrieving update information. try again later".
Please help!
All Replies (6)
What's your computer system and current Firefox version? What if any messages do you see?
Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web Link} by holding down the <Shift>
(Mac=Options) key, and then starting Firefox.
A small dialog should appear. Click Start In Safe Mode (not Refresh).
Is the problem still there?
Please provide a public link that we can check out.
There is security software like Avast, Kaspersky, BitDefender and ESET that intercept secure connections and send their own certificate.
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-cant-load-websites-other-browsers-can
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-and-other-browsers-cant-load-websites
When I tried to restart Firefox by holding down the SHIFT and OPTION keys on the mid 2014 MacBook Pro 2.8GHz 16GB and Firefox version 50.0 latest, Firefox asked for re-start restore the previous open tabs. So it did not start in safe mode.
Avast "virus definitions download fail". Also, adwcleaner, iDoctor, and adsfix "cannot be extracted with this unarchiver". With Kaspersky, it says "failed to activate the application."
So there appears to be something going on that's preventing Firefox from connecting to the internet, yet Chrome connects fine. And I can download the security applications, but not the final parts to make them work.
To clarify about Firefox's Safe Mode, you can either:
- Quit Firefox completely, then hold down option/alt when you start it up again
- Use Help > Restart with Add-ons Disabled on the menu bar (from inside Firefox)
Either way, when Firefox does restart, a small dialog should appear. Click "Start in Safe Mode" (not Refresh).
One potential difference between Chrome and other browsers is that Chrome may bypass your service provider's DNS servers (set either in Mac settings, or in the router you use to get on the internet) and use Google's DNS servers. You can switch your Mac over to using Google Public DNS as a test to see whether that enables Malwarebytes to update itself as well as Firefox to connect.
I opened Firefox in Safe Mode and still the pages won't load.
I know this isn't a Firefox issue, but is there a MAC DNS virus that you know of?
firefoxwork said
I know this isn't a Firefox issue, but is there a MAC DNS virus that you know of?
As a Windows user, it doesn't ring a bell.
Maybe you can use Chrome to download some updated scanners just in case.