Removed what looked like bogus certificates in my browser, now I get all sorts of cookies blocked messages continuously, any way to repair my mistake?

Hi BadTinkerTec,

It sounds like we may have the option of Blocking Cookies set to "Always". Lets see if this resolves your issue:

Safari 5.1 (OS X Lion): Manage cookies

http://support.apple.com/kb/PH5042

1. Open Safari if it is not already open.

2. Choose Safari > Preferences, and then click Privacy.

3. In the “Block cookies” section, specify if and when Safari should accept cookies from websites. To see an explanation of the options, click the Help button (question mark).

4. If you want to see which websites store cookies on your computer, click Details.

If you set Safari to block cookies, you may need to temporarily accept cookies to open a page. Repeat the above steps, selecting Never. When you’re done with the page, block cookies again, and then remove the page’s cookies.

Thanks,

Matt M.

Do you remember which ones you removed in Firefox? When do the cookies blocked messages appear? Is that only when you're trying to view or log in to an SSL/https ecnrypted site? Can you give the URL of a site where this is happening?

I think FF might block those cookies if the certificates for those sites have been placed on the Revocation List. I'm not certain of this, but there might be a way to move them back as trusted.

Or you might just delete, then reinstall a new FF app. Unless the Certificates are stored in your Profile.

OK, the certificates for Firefox are located in your Firefox Profile>cert8.db. What you can do at least for Firefox is to first download a new Firefox app and put it on the Desktop. Next quit Firefox and navigate to the Firefox folder in your user Library>Application Support. Make a backup copy of the entire folder by Option-click-dragging it to your Desktop, then move the original to the Trash (don't empty the Trash.)

Next open the new Firefox dmg and install it, which will create a new Firefox folder with a new, complete cert8.db. Navigate to the Profile inside the Firefox folder and make a copy of the cert8.db (Option-cick-drag to the Desktop again.) Then trash the new Firefox folder and replace it with the old one (you can just use File>Put Back for this for the one in the Trash) and then finally replace the problematic cert8.db from the old folder with the copy you just made from the new folder.

There probably is a less complicated way of doing this, but I can't think of one right now.

Yes, much easier way. Do this and see if the cookies problem is resolved. (And ignore what I said above about moving items out of the Revocation List. That's something else entirely.)

The file cert8.db in your profile folder may have become corrupted. Delete this file while Firefox is closed.

Open your profile folder:

On the menu bar, click on the Help menu and select Troubleshooting Information. The Troubleshooting Information tab will open.

Under the Application Basics section, click on Show in Finder. A window with your profile folder will open.

Note: If you are unable to open or use Fire​fox, follow the instructions in Finding your profile without opening Firefox.

On the menu bar, click on the Firefox menu and select Quit Firefox

Click on the file named cert8.db.

Press command+Delete.

Restart Firefox.

cert8.db will be recreated when you restart Firefox. This is normal.

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/secure-connection-failed-error-message

For Safari, ask over here.

https://discussions.apple.com/community/mac_os/safari?view=discussions#/?per_pag e=50

Message was edited by: WZZZ

If you are concerned that you removed any legitimate certificates, the instructions in my last post give you a very simple way to get a new, default set. FWIW, I have none in Your Certificates, People, Others. Just in the other categories.