Thanks, Simon:
My Mac is old -- a hand-me-down -- and all attempts to upgrade are useless. Went to different "how-to-fix" sites where users complained of their browsers being outmoded but Mac incapable of allowing a Safari upgrade. For some reason I cannot upload Chrome, which I use on my DELL.
Other https sites are fine. My equally old but dependable DELL is getting me through to you now.
I appreciate the explanation.
THANKS MUCH.
CC