[tor-talk] Final report (maybe) on problems connecting to SSL search engines [Was: still unable to reach StartPage or Ixquick]

[Joe Btfsplk]

On 10/10/2013 1:10 PM, Joe Btfsplk wrote:
> On 10/10/2013 11:26 AM, Joe Btfsplk wrote:
>> I assume? most users of WINDOWS TBB 2.3.25-12/13 that have read of my
>> problem, have recently tried Startpage, Ixquick, DDG - & not really
>> having any issues?
>>
>> Would Tor message log posted here have anything useful that more
>> experienced users may spot a problem?
>> I looked at logs (w/ Debug, error, warning, notice turned on) for FAILED
>> connection to Startpage /  Ixquick & Check.torproject VS. good
>> connection to other sites.  Nothing obvious -  others may see something.
For the possible benefit of others, I'm reporting what I finally 
discovered.  It's a strange one.

I reported I'd finally narrowed it to some change (update?) in Kaspersky Internet Security 2014 (KIS), seemed to block access to certain sites in TBB, like the Tor checkpage, Ixquick, Startpage.
All appeared to be using HTTPS port 443.  I think it affected ANY site in TBB using port 443.  But didn't seem to affect regular Fx 23 / 24 on port 443.

* Seems * port 443 was treated differently in TBB VS. Fx.  Don't know whose "fault" it was.
BEFORE the KIS "fix," on the Tor network map, I watched port 443 open, then immediately close, each time an SSL connection was initiated.

The "solution" involved TOGGLING settings in KIS for scanning (or not) encrypted / SSL ports.  Then closing KIS completely & restarting.
Then changing "Scan encrypted connections" settings BACK to original defaults, closing & restarting KIS (again).

In the end, I wound up w/ the EXACT KIS 2014 settings (for this area), as the original defaults.  It's just that THESE original default settings broke TBB, when using port 443.
Other than KIS settings actually stored were different than the GUI showed, have no explanation.  Hope I don't have to repeat this type process anytime soon.