How to Fix the “PR_END_OF_FILE_ERROR” Secure Connection Error
Technology is wonderful, but sometimes it doesn’t work quite as we’d expect. Imagine you’re hard at work online. Suddenly, you’re presented with a security warning and the scary-looking message PR_END_OF_FILE_ERROR. This would be a little alarming to most users.
In reality, this semi-common error with the Firefox browser is usually not warning you about an actual security threat. Instead, it tends to be caused by issues with the browser itself. In this article, we’ll walk you through what the error means, what might be causing it, and how to fix it. fix firefox error
An Introduction to the PR_END_OF_FILE_ERROR
First, some background. A cipher suite is an algorithm or set of instructions used to secure a network connection over the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) or Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocol. Your browser has a list of cipher suites it can use to try to connect to a website secured with SSL or TLS. It will run down this list and try each cipher until it’s able to connect. If it can’t, you get a secure connection error.
PR_END_OF_FILE_ERROR is a secure connection error that occurs in the Firefox browser. It happens when Firefox isn’t able to establish a secure connection to a site due to the browser’s “cipher suites” failing. In other words, it’s reached the end of the file containing the cipher suites and none have worked (hence the error name). While it doesn’t appear all the time, it generally affects all sites the user tries to visit when it shows up.
Normally a secure connection error would be cause for concern, but in the case of the PR_END_OF_FILE_ERROR, the problem actually lies with the configuration of either the browser or some third-party service that’s coming in between the browser and the site, rather than a genuine security issue.
Causes of the PR_END_OF_FILE_ERROR
There are a number of potential causes for this browser error, but most of the time it’s one of four unrelated things:
- Virtual Private Network (VPN) or proxy connections. If you’re using a VPN or proxy to browse the web anonymously, it could be the cause of this error. These types of services intercept your connection and function as a kind of middle-man between the browser and the site you’re visiting, but they don’t always work perfectly.
- Incorrect cipher variants. It’s possible that the cipher variants Firefox is using are not supported by either the browser itself or by the site you’re trying to visit. This is most likely to happen if you’ve tried to modify your browser’s SSL settings.
- A corrupted Firefox browser profile. A relatively common cause of this error is a corrupted Firefox profile. There are a number of reasons why your profile might have become corrupted, but one of the more common ones seems to be Firefox Sync issues between the desktop browser and the mobile version.
- Third-party security software. Security suites like Avast, Kaspersky, and BitDefender can sometimes be overly aggressive about blocking traffic. While these antivirus programs can do a lot to keep your computer safe, they’re also a frequent cause of seemingly random problems like this.
In the next section, we’ll look at how to troubleshoot and fix each of these issues.
How to Fix the PR_END_OF_FILE_ERROR Secure Connection Error (3 Things to Try)
Once you’ve identified some of the possible causes of the PR_END_OF_FILE_ERROR, it’s time to correct the problem. Fortunately, these are all relatively simple fixes. You should try each process in the order they’re presented, and only move on to the next if you’re still experiencing the error.
1. Disable Your VPN or Proxy Server, and Antivirus
If you’re using a VPN or proxy to connect to the internet, the first thing you should do is disable it and see if the error persists. For VPNs, you can either turn it off to test or uninstall it entirely if you want to be really sure. The procedure for turning a VPN off varies depending on which program you’re using, but should be as simple as flipping a switch in the settings.
If you’re using a proxy server to connect, you can easily disable it from settings. For example, on a Windows 10 PC, click the search bar and type in “proxy”. You should see a shortcut to Proxy Settings. Click it to open up the settings pane:
Scroll down until you see the section for Manual proxy setup and toggle Use a proxy server to off. Then, reboot your computer. For Mac users, Apple has detailed instructions on configuring proxy settings.
Once you’ve disabled your VPN or proxy, visit the same website you received the error on and see if it happens again. If you’re still seeing the Secure Connection Error, head to the next section.
You should also deactivate or uninstall any antivirus or security software you’re using, given the simplicity in this method. The specific feature you want to deactivate is called “real-time protection” (or something similar).
The exact procedure here will vary depending on the online security suite you’re using, but typically there’s an option to disable it if you click the icon in your Windows taskbar or Mac menu bar.
Call 1-856-514-8666 for help and support of fix firefox error.
Comments
Post a Comment