SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a protocol that enables authentication, encryption and decryption of data you are transmitting over the internet through a browser. The above error directly means that “SSL received a record exceeding the maximum record limit.” It indicates that the server side is not implementing the SSL protocol correctly. So there are only a few things you can do from the user side to resolve the issue.
Causes for SSL_ERROR_RX_RECORD_TOO_LONG
Solutions for SSL_ERROR_RX_RECORD_TOO_LONG
In this article, we have provided for the solutions for this SSL error on Mozilla Firefox while considering the Windows Operating System. You can also use similar methods on other OS if you use those systems.
Incorrect Date and Time settings.Cache containing wrong or outdated information.Third-party antivirus preventing access to the peer.Improper VPN or Proxy settings.Outdated Transport Layer Security protocol at server side.Missing or unreliable SSL certificate on website.
Set Correct Date and Time
Your browsers use security certificates to establish trust with the servers hosting secure websites. This way, it can establish a secure channel to send and fetch data from the server. If your system date and time are incorrect, the browser thinks the certificates are expired or not valid, leading to different types of ssl errors, including this one. So you need to make sure your time and date settings are correct to prevent such issues. To do so,
Clear Cache
It is also possible that the browser cache contains wrong information, leading to the mistake that the ssl certificates are invalid. This situation is especially likely if only one or a few websites show the above error. You can check for this scenario by reloading your page while bypassing the cache.
To do so, press Ctrl + Shift + R on the page.You can also open the web page on a private window to bypass the cache.
If the page loads after this, you need to clear your cache. Here’s how you can do it: Then try opening the web pages again.
Disable Third-Party Antivirus
Some third party antivirus programs may also be responsible for this error. It happens when the antivirus apps block the secure connections when it determines the site to have some problems. You should first try updating the application and resetting its settings to default. If you still encounter the error, you can temporarily disable the antivirus and check again. The steps to do so vary but you need to access its setting and disable real-time/web protection or a similar option. Windows already includes a fantastic antivirus, the Windows Defender or Windows Security app. So, there’s not really a need for third-party products.
Disable Extensions and Add-ins
While it is very rare, you can get this error due to some extensions. The coding for some extensions enforce connecting to a website with HTTPS protocol. If you are accessing a non-HTTPS site, these extensions block the connection. You can check if it is the case by opening the browser in safe mode. If you don’t encounter this issue, you need to figure out the problematic extension using the steps below: This way, you can isolate the problematic extension. You can go to the extension’s page and check any issues and fixes. If not, you need to uninstall it by clicking on the triple-dot icon next to it and selecting Remove.
Reset the Web Explorer
Another way you can remove the problematic extensions and add-ons is by resetting Firefox altogether. However, make sure you only do this if you don’t need to save the customized settings as well as any of these add-ons. Here’s what you need to do:
Update or Reinstall the Web Explorer
You can also try updating the browser to fix any issues with its current software. To do so, If you already have the latest version, you need to reinstall it. Here’s how you can do so:
Check VPN or Proxy Settings
If you use a VPN or a proxy with misconfigured settings, you can also encounter this issue. The VPN or proxy sets up a middle layer with its own security filters. So this layer can also block the connection and cause the error. We don’t recommend disabling the VPN or the proxy altogether. If you can, you should check its settings and make sure everything is alright. If not, you need to contact the admin and have them check the ports, protocols and encryption.
Change Transport Layer Security Preference
Transport Layer Security (TLS) is a protocol that protects your data while transmitting it over the internet. At present, the latest and the most secure TLS protocol is the TLS 1.3. If you have access to the server, attempting to access which shows the above SSL error, you need to update the SSL/TSL library to support this version. And if you don’t, you need to contact the server admin to update the library if possible. If it’s not feasible, you can set the maximum supported TLS version to TLS 1.2. However, we recommend only doing so temporarily and reverting it as soon as you have finished visiting such websites. Here are the necessary steps: Then, try opening the website again and see if you still encounter this error.
Switch to HTTP
HTTP was introduced in the days when the internet had limited usage and there were restrictions for commercial and casual uses. However, nowadays we need internet for everything. So, a more secure HTTPS protocol was introduced for secure data transmission. HTTPS is the standard in the current age and all websites should use this protocol. Certain websites allow switching to HTTP, which you can do to bypass the above error. Nevertheless, this is not a safe option and you would be compromising your security. If you are certain the website you want to access does not contain any threats, you can use the following steps to switch to HTTP:
Get Reliable SSL Certificate
Most browsers have made encryption of all sites through HTTPS compulsory. So if you are hosting a certain website without an SSL certificate, users will encounter the above error while trying to access it. This issue may also occur if you are using a cheap or free certificate.
Contact the Website Admin
This error mostly occurs due to problems on the server side. So there’s not much else you can do. If you continue encountering the issue even after performing all the previous methods, we recommend you contact the website admin about the issue.
