Chrome cannot provide a secure connection

[MaskedGeek]

Hi there,

In the last couple of days I've been getting a really annoying error message (screenshot attached) saying that Chrome cannot create a secure connection to mail.google.com.  The error message is ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH.

Before I would clear all browsing history and cache in Chrome, that would work only for the next time I load up Chrome.  After I close that session down and later load Chrome back up the error message would return.  I do use a Chrome extension called HTTPS Everywhere which forces websites to use the HTTPS protocol if available.  I can access other HTTPS sites without any issue (such as https://www.google.com, https://www.youtube.com and https://twitter.com) therefore I know I don't have any network or internet connection issues.  I can even access Gmail on Opera browser.  Whatever the error is, it seems to be purely with Chrome only.

Steps I've already tried:
A)  Clear all browsing history and cache in Chrome settings
B)  Used CCleaner to remove cache from all internet browsing apps
C)  Used IOBit Advanced System Care again to remove cache from all internet browsing apps
D)  Used Revo Uninstaller Pro to completely remove Chrome (followed by another scan CCleaner and IOBit ASC to remove all traces of Chrome from my system)
E)  Re-installed Chrome

Despite my best efforts, and without having to resorting to resetting my Windows 10 installation, I still keep getting the error.  All extensions I have in Chrome are:
1)  Hotspot Shield VPN (free VPN service, but is deactivated so my internet traffic is only encrypted through HTTPS)
2)  Disconnect (doesn't disable ads, but does disable targeted advertising based upon my browsing habits)
3)  HTTPS Everywhere (forces loading of HTTPS of sites that support it over regular HTTP)
4)  Trusteer Rapport (certificate verification to ensure when I visit my bank's website that it hasn't been hijacked and the digital certificate matches that of issuer to prevent phishing)
5)  iCloud Bookmarks (syncs bookmarks I add while browsing on my iPad)
6)  Dropbox
7)  Lastpass Password Manager
8)  Make Trump Tweets Eight Again (fun little extension that changes the font used in Twitter to a crayon style font when viewing any Tweets from Donald Trump)


I use Zonealarm firewall, but I don't believe this is the issue since, as I've mentioned, I can still access Gmail on Opera browser on the same computer.

Any help with efforts to try and resolve this infuriating problem would be greatly appreciated.

Kind regards
Kevin

[Compton]

with all extensions, disable are getting an error?

[MaskedGeek]

Yes, I disabled all extensions and still get the error, though I have found something interesting. Opera Browser comes with its own built in VPN service. With this switched on I can access Gmail in Opera, but with it switched off I get the same error. So trying this with the Hotspot Shield VPN extension in Chrome, switching it on grants me access to Gmail in Chrome, but switching it back off I get the same error.

[Compton]

turn off all vpn reset the router or modem/router

after resetting router then check for error




 Router Reset

Reset Router to Factory Default Settings:

• Typically a reset can be done by inserting something tiny like a paper clip end or pencil tip into a small hole labeled "reset" located on the back of the router.
• Press and hold down the small button inside until the lights on the front of the router blink off and then on again (usually about 30 seconds)
• In order to get to the router's server, type http:\\192.168.1.1 in the address bar and click Enter. You should see the log in window.

[MaskedGeek]

(03-08-2018, 09:21 PM)Compton Wrote:  turn off all vpn reset the router or modem/router

after resetting router then check for error




 Router Reset

Reset Router to Factory Default Settings:

• Typically a reset can be done by inserting something tiny like a paper clip end or pencil tip into a small hole labeled "reset" located on the back of the router.
• Press and hold down the small button inside until the lights on the front of the router blink off and then on again (usually about 30 seconds)
• In order to get to the router's server, type http:\\192.168.1.1 in the address bar and click Enter. You should see the log in window.

I already tried turning VPN options off, but strangely having VPN off I can't access Gmail, but when I turn a VPN service on I can, and this happens across all browsers, not just Chrome.
As for my router, a reboot and a full factory reset didn't resolve my issue.

[Compton]

Fix ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH Chrome Error

[Partha]

Do you use a proxy server by any chance?

[MaskedGeek]

(03-10-2018, 10:03 PM)Compton Wrote:  Fix ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH Chrome Error

Sorry for long delay in replying, been testing a few ways as to what may be causing my issue which took some time.  The above link you posted: I tried all the methods in there, nothing worked.

(03-13-2018, 06:57 AM)Partha Wrote:  Do you use a proxy server by any chance?

I have the Hotspot Shield VPN extension which is the only extension, or software of any type really, that controls proxy settings.  Beyond that no I don't use any manual proxy settings to connect to a proxy server.  And yes I've already tried disabling and even removing the extension but to no avail.

I do have a strange update to all this though, and bare in mind that I've disabled hibernate within Windows 10.  Under the Performance tab in Task Manager you can see how long the system has been running, the "Up time" counter.  If I shutdown or even reboot the PC, this counter doesn't reset.  However long the PC has been running for, the counter will continue from when the system logged out.  But, if I do a hard reset by pressing the reset button on the PC case, when I get back to the desktop and check the Up time counter, it has successfully reset back to zero (if you don't count the few minutes it takes loading the log on screen and getting to the desktop).  It would appear to me as though the system isn't fully clearing the session from RAM on shutdown regardless of whether it is an actual shutdown or software reboot.

If I log in and see the counter not reset, I can't access Gmail.  I also have a separate issue in which games uses a lot of VRAM and also takes more than 8GB of system RAM, after about an hours' worth of playing the display will reset and use the Windows Classic theme similar to when Windows 7 used to complain a process wasn't compatible with the Windows Aero extensions.  But, if I power up and let the PC get to the login screen, then do a hard reset from the reset button on the PC case, once I'm back at the desktop and verified the Up time counter has been reset, I can access Gmail no problem and I have no issues playing my games.

[Britec]

You're ISP has a setting that can be enabled which is a security setting like child safety. If this type of setting is enabled it will restrict access to sites, make sure this is disabled on your account page or router.

[MaskedGeek]

(03-16-2018, 03:33 PM)Britec Wrote:  You're ISP has a setting that can be enable which is a security setting like child safety. If this type of setting is enabled it will restrict access to sites, make sure this is disabled on your account page or router.

Sky is my ISP and yes they have Sky Shield. I have ensured the Gmail is allowed, though I don't see how this could be it. I can access Gmail on my iMac no problem, but the issue only arises on my Windows 10 PC if I don't hard reset as I only recently found out and described in the last post.