SSL connection error in Chrome on Nexus 7

InsideTheParker

persists in error
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Jul 15, 2005
40,371
Pioneer Valley
I have a couple of Nexuses, only one of which has worked for years. But even that one was unbelievably slow and frustrating to use. So I restored them both to factory settings, being determined only to use Chrome for the internet, including my mail. No updates, no apps. These are for us to use in bed, to check email, scores, news, Sosh,etc.
The first one I did, which was really the worse of the two, restarted beautifully after the factory reset, and I was able to use it last night to check Sosh, NYTimes, email, etc. The second one, which had been the "better" one, also reset and allows me to use Chrome to some extent, but on a number of sites, including Sosh, I get SSL connection error 107. Naturally, I have Googled that and tried some of the "remedies," but nothing has worked so far. Some directions are hard to follow. They say, for example, to press Menu or Options on Chrome, and I can't find them. It's odd: I can get my email, NOAA weather, even videos that I have arrived at via Google. But no Sosh, no New Yorker, no Guardian, New York Times. What these all have in common for me is that I have log-ins with them. But Amazon loads, and I was able to get it, and then log in. And I can't get patspulpit, for which we don't have a log-in. Does anyone have any ideas about solving this problem? TIA!
 

InsideTheParker

persists in error
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Jul 15, 2005
40,371
Pioneer Valley
If you did a factory reset, have you made sure to update the Chrome app to the latest version?
Is the browser the same as the app? I didn't do anything in the Nexus that is working properly besides click on Chrome on the front page.
I may try that on the "bad" Nexus, but the factory reset took me back to 2012 (I think), and it should work well with the Chrome it came with. No?
 

cgori

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Oct 2, 2004
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SF, CA
No, you definitely want to upgrade the browser (Chrome) to whatever will run on the factory reset firmware image (which might not be the newest Chrome but it will be newer than the reset version).

Browser security has improved since 2012 by a fair bit so you're missing out on all of that potentially.
 
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Couperin47

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SoSH Member
Is the browser the same as the app? I didn't do anything in the Nexus that is working properly besides click on Chrome on the front page.
I may try that on the "bad" Nexus, but the factory reset took me back to 2012 (I think), and it should work well with the Chrome it came with. No?
No. Browsers back then don't play well with https connections, don't include the latest forms of security and encryption, nor do they support html5 and other current video standards. At the very least update Chrome to the latest. While your at it you might consider using Vivaldi instead, and thereby reduce everything that Google is tracking via your browser.
 

InsideTheParker

persists in error
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Jul 15, 2005
40,371
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No. Browsers back then don't play well with https connections, don't include the latest forms of security and encryption, nor do they support html5 and other current video standards. At the very least update Chrome to the latest. While your at it you might consider using Vivaldi instead, and thereby reduce everything that Google is tracking via your browser.
As soon as I found out that Vivaldi was an Opera product, I went to download it, but it doesn't seem to be available for Android. I can't find the "more" button I'm supposed to touch at the top of Chrome, so maybe I already have the newest one.?
EDIT: Just downloaded Opera on Nexus and apparently having no problems. The Vivaldi suggestion led me to the solution, thanks!
 
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Couperin47

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As soon as I found out that Vivaldi was an Opera product, I went to download it, but it doesn't seem to be available for Android. I can't find the "more" button I'm supposed to touch at the top of Chrome, so maybe I already have the newest one.?
EDIT: Just downloaded Opera on Nexus and apparently having no problems. The Vivaldi suggestion led me to the solution, thanks!
Vivaldi is NOT an Opera product. The Founder of Opera, a Norwegian, sold Opera to a Chinese company c. 4 years ago. Today it is owned 100% by the Chinese company and all development seems to be done by a group in Poland. 100% controlled by the Chinese, it's a Chrome clone that is NOT to be trusted. The Norwegian, von Tetzchner, then founded Vivaldi. Simply go to the Google Playstore on your phone and search Vivaldi, it will bring up Vivaldi Browser with Ad Blocker as the first option. I do NOT endorse the current Opera, instead of being constantly tracked and mined for info by Google, the odds are high you are being tracked by the Chinese with the current Opera product.
 

InsideTheParker

persists in error
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Jul 15, 2005
40,371
Pioneer Valley
Vivaldi is NOT an Opera product. The Founder of Opera, a Norwegian, sold Opera to a Chinese company c. 4 years ago. Today it is owned 100% by the Chinese company and all development seems to be done by a group in Poland. 100% controlled by the Chinese, it's a Chrome clone that is NOT to be trusted. The Norwegian, von Tetzchner, then founded Vivaldi. Simply go to the Google Playstore on your phone and search Vivaldi, it will bring up Vivaldi Browser with Ad Blocker as the first option. I do NOT endorse the current Opera, instead of being constantly tracked and mined for info by Google, the odds are high you are being tracked by the Chinese with the current Opera product.
OK, but when I was at the google playstore and tried to download Vivaldi, it gave me a choice of windows, mac or linux. No android in the drop-down boxes. If you are sure that's wrong, I'll try again the next time I'm awake. I am typing this on Opera, by the way. I have been using it on my computer for 20+ years, so I am already being tracked all the time. I do not get ads but perhaps I am getting emails as a result, but mostly I get emails from everyone in the Democratic party. Is this evidence of tracking: The other day on Sosh I made some positive remarks about Duolingo, and a couple of days later got emails from them. I do get emails from time to time, but the timing got my attention. So they are reading what I write on Sosh, yes?
 

Couperin47

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SoSH Member
OK, but when I was at the google playstore and tried to download Vivaldi, it gave me a choice of windows, mac or linux. No android in the drop-down boxes. If you are sure that's wrong, I'll try again the next time I'm awake. I am typing this on Opera, by the way. I have been using it on my computer for 20+ years, so I am already being tracked all the time. I do not get ads but perhaps I am getting emails as a result, but mostly I get emails from everyone in the Democratic party. Is this evidence of tracking: The other day on Sosh I made some positive remarks about Duolingo, and a couple of days later got emails from them. I do get emails from time to time, but the timing got my attention. So they are reading what I write on Sosh, yes?
When you go to the Playstore on any Android phone it is assumed you want the Android app, right below the main heading there is large button to INSTALL. Nothing to choose. Vivaldi has had an Android version for 3 years. Anything you search on any platform via Google (no matter what browser you use, is tracked and mined for data by Google. If you use Gmail that is also tracked. When you use Chrome everything you do using the browser is also tracked and mined. Most Chrome clones (technically they are using the open source engine: Chromium), either track for themselves or don't track at all. Most of the clones have little or no serious development crew or funds and are just copies, Vivaldi does and has many extensions, features and customization options unavailable with most Chromium-based clones.
 

InsideTheParker

persists in error
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
40,371
Pioneer Valley
Found and clicked on Vivaldi for Android, and got the message, "Sorry your device is not compatible with this version." It might work on my phone, which is much newer, and I think I'll check that out. But I can never remember to take my phone up to the bedroom, so having the Nexus there for very occasional, limited use with Opera is okay for now.
 

InsideTheParker

persists in error
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
40,371
Pioneer Valley
Since doing the factory reset, have you done all the operating system updates?
Actually no, because I did all of them before and it seems to me in my ignorance that that caused my problems. I even got messages that I didn't have room for the most recent operating systems---I think I'm good for now, want to enjoy using before I screw things up again. Compared to my phone, which is a moto g5, I think, the Nexus is primitive.
 

InsideTheParker

persists in error
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
40,371
Pioneer Valley
Vivaldi is NOT an Opera product. The Founder of Opera, a Norwegian, sold Opera to a Chinese company c. 4 years ago. Today it is owned 100% by the Chinese company and all development seems to be done by a group in Poland. 100% controlled by the Chinese, it's a Chrome clone that is NOT to be trusted. The Norwegian, von Tetzchner, then founded Vivaldi. Simply go to the Google Playstore on your phone and search Vivaldi, it will bring up Vivaldi Browser with Ad Blocker as the first option. I do NOT endorse the current Opera, instead of being constantly tracked and mined for info by Google, the odds are high you are being tracked by the Chinese with the current Opera product.
I want to thank you for teaching me about Vivaldi. While I was not able to download it on my Nexuses, which I don't use very often, I was able to use it on my laptop and my phone. So far I am learning how to use it, and right off the bat I am noticing how fast it is. I still haven't figured out how to override AdBlocker when I want to read a short piece from a new newspaper, but it's a learning process and I reckon I will figure everything out in time. So, thanks!
 

Couperin47

Member
SoSH Member
I want to thank you for teaching me about Vivaldi. While I was not able to download it on my Nexuses, which I don't use very often, I was able to use it on my laptop and my phone. So far I am learning how to use it, and right off the bat I am noticing how fast it is. I still haven't figured out how to override AdBlocker when I want to read a short piece from a new newspaper, but it's a learning process and I reckon I will figure everything out in time. So, thanks!
Under Settings you can set Ad Blocker to No blocking, just Block tracking or Block ads & trackers. You can also add sites to manage separately. This is kinda clumsy and their Blocker is just OK. I suggest you install the uBlock Origin addon, a much better blocker, which will put an icon on your Controls at the top (a red shield) then there will be a large blue circle that allows you to turn off or on blocking on each site as you open tabs and click on that shield icon (it also allows an insane amount of control as to what gets blocked, which will overwhelm all but the most serious techies...but you can just ignore this, just turn on or off each site as you open a tab....)