3.1 VIC won't connect on Windows 7 after Chrome and FireFox updates. TLS 1.0 and 1.1 deprecated
Default Subject
Problem
I am operating RecTrac 3.1 in Google Chrome Version 84.0.4147.89 Internet browser on a Window 7 PC, and my VIC no longer connects. Other users report similar issue when using Firefox 78.0.02.
Solution
Upgrade your PCs to Windows 10.
Microsoft ended support for Windows 7 in January of 2020. Vermont Systems decertified Windows 7 at that time. We assume Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox did the same.
If upgrading to Windows 10 isn't an option, then continue to the steps outlined below.
Steps For Solution
The following steps provide a temporary workaround until such time as you can upgrade your PCs to Windows 10. Be aware that future updates to Chrome and/or Firefox may invalidate these steps.Performing this workaround will result in an unsecure RecTrac url. This may adversely affect the HTML5 in-browser logic used for RecTrac photo capture.
Each unique Windows user has to perform these steps.
Log in to Windows on the PC and then log in to RecTrac. Start VIC, if it is not running already.
- Open a new Chrome tab and enter https://localhost:65111 for VIC Service or https://localhost:65110 for VIC EXE users.
- Click on Advanced.
- Click on Proceed to Unsafe Site.
- It will open a window with some text.
- Go back to RecTrac and click on the VIC connect icon in the upper right (the chain link icon). VIC should connect.
Additional Information
As of July 2020, Windows 7 users who run Google Chrome version 84.0.4147.89 or Firefox 78.0.2 will have connection issues with VIC if their RecTrac URL is secured with an SSL certificate. This is due to continued efforts by Google and Mozilla to make a more secure internet. One step in doing so is to reduce risk by deprecating features associated with an older Transport Security Layers (TLS). In this case TLS 1.0 & 1.1 are no longer considered secure, and websites, PCs or traffic that use this older TLS 1.0 & 1.1 connection are now being blocked by default.Note: Microsoft Internet Explorer seems to function if TLS 1.0 and 1.1 are enabled in Windows 7, but that opens you up to other security risks. It also limits your photo capture abilities inside the VIC EXE application.