HTTPS

Microsoft has released Windows updates over the weekend that resolve an issue where insecure GOV.UK web sites could no longer be accessed using Internet Explorer 11 and Microsoft Edge.

With the release of the May 2019 Patch Tuesday updates, Microsoft added the GOV.UK top level domain to their HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) preload list. This caused Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge to only connect to GOV.UK sites using HTTPS.

It turned out that there were some GOV.UK sites that do not support HTTPS and thus Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer could no longer connect to them.

To fix this issue, Microsoft released Windows updates over the weekend for Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and different versions of Windows 10 so that these sites could be accessed again.

"Addresses an issue that may prevent access to some gov.uk websites that don’t support HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) when using Internet Explorer 11 or Microsoft Edge."

The Windows 7 and 8.1 update is KB4505050 and is titled "Cumulative update for Internet Explorer: May 18, 2019" and the Windows 10 version 1809 update is KB4505056  and is titled "2019-05 Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1809".

Windows 10 version 1809 KB4505056 Update
Windows 10 version 1809 KB4505056 Update

Once these updates are installed, you will need to reboot your computer for the fix to take effect.

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