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The Upper Saddle River Library

Databases Troubleshooting

Cannot Access Databases from home	Norton Internet Security and Personal Firewall
Microsoft Internet Explorer Configuration	URLs for trusted sites - Databases

Cannot access databases from home

As internet users become more aware of viruses and other threats, more and more are using firewalls and security software to protect their computers.

Remote access to our databases uses referring URL authentication to keep unauthorized users from getting into the system. Referring URL authentication checks the information transmitted by your browser to make sure that you are connecting through an authorized institution. If the referring URL is absent you will get an error, usually because of a firewall or other security software.

If your computer is running a personal firewall or other security software that stops your browser from sending the referring URL, you need to configure your personal firewall to stop it from blocking the referrer information. Most firewalls will allow you to set up a trusted site, and once it's been set up you will be able to access the database.

Microsoft Internet Explorer configuration

Improper browser configuration settings may also cause remote access issues. Below you will find the instructions to verify and change one such browser configuration setting within Microsoft Internet Explorer, version 6.0 and higher.

1. Open a new Microsoft Internet Explorer browser session.
2. Click on the Tools drop-down menu and select Internet Options…
3. When the Internet Options window appears click on the Privacy tab, then the Advanced… button.
4. When the Advanced Privacy Settings window appears, place a check in the checkbox next to ‘Override automatic cookie handling’.
5. Click OK on the Advanced Privacy Settings window and Internet Options window to close.

Norton Internet Security and Personal Firewall

If your computer is running Norton Internet Security, Norton Personal Firewall, or other security software, it could be this software that is stopping your browser from sending the referring URL. You will need to configure your personal firewall to stop it from blocking the referrer information. Most firewalls will allow you to set up a trusted site. Once you set up a trusted site in your firewall, you will be able to access the site.

If using Norton Internet Security 2005 or 2006, try the following steps first:

1. Open Norton.
2. Go in to the Privacy control section.
3. Click on Configure.
4. Click on Custom level.
5. Uncheck Enable browser privacy.
6. Click on OK and close out of Norton.

If you are still unable to access the database you need after making the suggested changes we have listed above, try following the additional configuration settings below for the version of Norton Internet Security that is installed on your computer.

If using Norton Internet Security 2005, follow these steps:

1. Open Norton Internet Security 2005.
2. Click on privacy control.
3. Click on configure.
4. Click on advanced.
5. Click on add site.
6. Enter in the name of the trusted site.
7. Click on ok.
8. Click on the name of the trusted site in the panel on the left.
9. On the right, uncheck all the boxes under the Global settings tab.
10. Choose permit for all the radio buttons.
11. Under the User Settings tab, uncheck all the boxes.
12. Choose permit for all the radio buttons.
13. Click ok and log back into the database you want to access via your library's web site.
14. Repeat steps 1-13 and include the other domain names. (if necessary)

If you are using Norton Internet Security 2003/2004, follow these steps:

1. Open NIS or NPF.
2. Do one of the following:

In NIS/NPF 2003, click Options, then Internet Security or Personal Firewall (this step is not always needed), and then click the Web Content tab.
In NIS/NPF 2004, double-click Privacy Control, and then click Advanced.

3. Click Add Site. A new site/domain box appears.
4. Enter the name of the name of the trusted site that you want to receive the referrer information and click OK.
The site name appears in the left frame of the Options window.
5. Click the name of the new site.
6. Click the Global Settings tab.
7. In the Information about visited sites section, clear Use default settings.
8. Click Permit.
9. Click OK to close the Options window.
10. Repeat steps 1-9 to include the other domain names. (if necessary)

If you are using Norton Internet Security 2002, follow these steps:

1. Open Norton Internet Security
2. Click Options at the top of the screen
3. Click Advanced Options at the bottom of the screen
4. Click Add Site at the bottom of the screen
5. Enter the domain name of the name of the trusted site
6. Click OK
7. Click on the name of the trusted site in the window on the left side of the window
8. Click the privacy tab
9. Check the box next to use these rules for the name of the trusted site.
10. Change cookies to permit
11. Change email to permit
12. Click Active Content Tab
13. Change all pull down menus in this window to Allow.
14. Repeat steps 1-13 and include the other domain names. (if necessary)

If you have followed the above instructions, but are still unable to resolve your connection issues, you should check the Symantec website for Norton AntiVirus and Norton Internet Security Product Support. Symantec also provides Home and Home Office/Business Support, where you can find troubleshooting tips, how-to-instructions and answers to common support issues.

Or you can call Symantec Customer Service toll-free at 1-800-441-7234.

URLs for trusted sites – databases

If you need to configure your personal firewall to stop it from blocking referrer information, you will need to set up a trusted site. Most firewalls will allow you to set up a trusted site. Below is a list of the URLs you will need to add as a trusted site, depending on which database you are trying to access.