PayPal (35) error:14094410:SSL routines:SSL3_READ_BYTES:sslv3 alert handshake failure

Hello
I have to say that ZenCart is one of the most stable products that I have used. I am in no way a computer person and usually I can fix small things. I have looked through the threads and I see other people have had this problem.

An error occurred when we tried to contact the payment processor. Please try again, select an alternate payment method, or contact the store owner for assistance. () - (35) error:14094410:SSL routines:SSL3_READ_BYTES:sslv3 alert handshake failure

Unfortunately I don't understand how to fix this. My website is completely down. Can someone explain to me in regular speak on how to fix this?

I really appreciate your help!

thanks
Donna

http://www.zen-cart.com/showthread.php?214916-Important-announcement-about-POODLE-and-payment-security

It's a good idea to subscribe to the Release Announcements.

thank you so much for this. I have always been scare to do an upgrade. Is there anything that I should do or know before I do this upgrade?

Before doing an upgrade, you can fix your current symptoms by making the tiny code change explained in that post.

I am having the same problems with same errors.
I changed my scripts as shown in the link provided above. I am running v1.3.9 currently on my "live" site
My server is using PHP 5.4 MySQL is 5.4 as well.

Tonight I went onto my paypal account and asked them if/when they disabled the SSL 3.0 because of the Poodle vulnerability, would I need to initiate a new API account for my site? (I am awaiting their reply on this) but I also have read on the paypal site that they recommend users to change their scripts to read.
PHP Set CURLOPT_SSLVERSION to CURL_SSLVERSION_TLSv1 in your Curl options.

I had a customer try to place and order using the paypal express checkout option and he explained to me that it went to a blank screen with no errors/nothing and sat at the blank screen for a good 5-10 minutes.

So also in my email to paypal I asked them to see if my current settings satisfy their requirements?

I guess what I am asking here. would it disrupt my scripts to set those that I changed according to the above link with the // curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_SSLVERSION, 3); to what paypal is suggesting on their SSL help site?

Thanks,
Russ

Usahog:

I am running v1.3.9 currently on my "live" site

...

Tonight I went onto my paypal account and asked them if/when they disabled the SSL 3.0 because of the Poodle vulnerability, would I need to initiate a new API account for my site? (I am awaiting their reply on this) but I also have read on the paypal site that they recommend users to change their scripts to read.
PHP Set CURLOPT_SSLVERSION to CURL_SSLVERSION_TLSv1 in your Curl options.

I had a customer try to place and order using the paypal express checkout option and he explained to me that it went to a blank screen with no errors/nothing and sat at the blank screen for a good 5-10 minutes.

So also in my email to paypal I asked them to see if my current settings satisfy their requirements?

I guess what I am asking here. would it disrupt my scripts to set those that I changed according to the above link with the // curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_SSLVERSION, 3); to what paypal is suggesting on their SSL help site?
Your blank-screen is a result of you creating a PHP syntax error when doing your edits, and is NOT a result of letting CURL auto-negotiate the best protocol.

But, yes, if you want to force your site into a specific TLS version, you can use 'CURL_SSLVERSION_TLSv1' if your PHP version supports that.

MUCH MORE IMPORTANT would be to get started on an upgrade to the current version of Zen Cart.

About the API question: no, you don't need new API credentials.