Could not initialize the browser security component

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This article deals with the causes of the message "Could not initialize the browser's security component. The most likely cause is problems with files in your browser's profile directory. Please check that this directory has no read/write restrictions and your hard disk is not full or close to full. It is recommended that you exit the browser and fix the problem. If you continue to use this browser session, you might see incorrect browser behavior when accessing security features.".

For information on other messages received when attempting to load websites, see Error loading web sites.

Table Of Contents

Hard drive space

Check your hard drive's free space.

Windows:
  1. Open My Computer
  2. Right click on the C: drive
  3. Choose Properties. A dialog will come up.
  4. Go to the General tab.
Mac OS:
  1. Go to your Desktop.
    • Press F11
  2. Select Macintosh HD.
  3. Press Cmd+I to display the Macintosh HD info window.
Linux:
  1. Click the Places menu, and select Computer.
  2. Right-click on Filesystem.
  3. Choose Properties. A dialog will come up.
  4. Go to the Basic tab.

If it reports less than 1MB free space available, you'll need to make more room.

File permissions

Check the file permissions in your Firefox profile folder. The file named cert8.db must not be read-only.

Windows:
  1. Open your profile folder:
    1. (Firefox 3.6): At the top of the Firefox windowOn the menu bar, click on the Help menu and select Troubleshooting Information.... The Troubleshooting Information tab will open.
    2. Under Application Basics, click on Open Containing FolderShow in Finder.
  2. From the menu at the top of the Firefox windowbar, select FileFirefox and then select the ExitQuit FirefoxQuit menu item.
  3. Right-click on the file named cert8.db.
  4. Choose Properties. A dialog will come up.
  5. Go to the General tab.
  6. Make sure the Read-only checkbox is not checked.
  7. Press OK.
Mac OS:
  1. Open your profile folder:
    1. (Firefox 3.6): At the top of the Firefox windowOn the menu bar, click on the Help menu and select Troubleshooting Information.... The Troubleshooting Information tab will open.
    2. Under Application Basics, click on Open Containing FolderShow in Finder.
  2. From the menu at the top of the Firefox windowbar, select FileFirefox and then select the ExitQuit FirefoxQuit menu item.
  3. Select the file named cert8.db.
  4. Press Cmd+I to display the cert8.db info window.
  5. Expand the Sharing & Permissions section.
  6. Make sure your Mac user account is set to Read & Write.
  7. Close the cert8.db info window.
Linux:
  1. Open your profile folder:
    1. (Firefox 3.6): At the top of the Firefox windowOn the menu bar, click on the Help menu and select Troubleshooting Information.... The Troubleshooting Information tab will open.
    2. Under Application Basics, click on Open Containing FolderShow in Finder.
  2. From the menu at the top of the Firefox windowbar, select FileFirefox and then select the ExitQuit FirefoxQuit menu item.
  3. Right-click on the file named cert8.db.
  4. Choose Properties. A dialog will come up.
  5. Go to the Permissions tab.
  6. Make sure Access is set to read and write.
  7. Press Close.

Restart Firefox and the problem may be fixed.

Corrupted file

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

  1. Open your profile folder:
    1. (Firefox 3.6): At the top of the Firefox windowOn the menu bar, click on the Help menu and select Troubleshooting Information.... The Troubleshooting Information tab will open.
    2. Under Application Basics, click on Open Containing FolderShow in Finder.
  2. From the menu at the top of the Firefox windowbar, select FileFirefox and then select the ExitQuit FirefoxQuit menu item.
  3. Click on the file named cert8.db.
  4. Press Cmd+Delete.
  5. Restart Firefox.

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

New profile

Your settings may have become corrupted due to changes in your system or a lack of hard drive space at one point. Create a new profile with the Profile Manager. If the problem goes away, you can then move your settings to the new profile. If the problem remains, you can go back to your original profile.




Based on information from Could not initialize the browser security component (mozillaZine KB)


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Page last modified on Thursday 19 of November, 2009 14:58:14 PST.
Contributors to this page: Chris_Ilias , michro , Bo , AliceWyman and np .
- This is a support/troubleshooting article -