It’s essential to make sure the websites you’re browsing are safe. There are several ways to check this out. One of them is to check the browser in the address bar for the presence of a symbol with a lock. But the browser may also show the message “Your connection is not secure.” If you ignore messages with such a mistake, you are putting your online information at risk.
- What does “your connection is not protected” error mean?
- What is an SSL connection error?
- How the “Your Connection Is Not Protected” error looks like in different browsers?
- How to fix a “Your connection is not secure” error?
Thus to help you stay safe online, we’ll explain why the “your connection is not secure” error may appear on your screen and how to fix it.
What does “your connection is not protected” error mean?
A message that said, “Your connection is not secure,” means that the connection is not secure. This means that if you don’t use antivirus or encryption, your device could become a “golden estate” for hackers.
To access the website, your browser must check the digital certificates installed on the server to ensure that it meets privacy standards and is safe for future use. If your browser detects something wrong with the certificate, it will prevent you from accessing it. It is at this point that you will see the message “Your connection is not protected.”
These certificates are also referred to as open vital infrastructure certificates or identity cards. They provide evidence that the site being opened is indeed the site it claims to be. Digital certificates help protect your personal information, passwords, and payment information. When your connection is not secure, it is usually due to an error in the SSL certificate.
What is an SSL connection error?
The Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate is designed to serve websites through protected HTTPS connections. HTTPS is a security barrier used to secure connection authorization and data protection. An SSL connection error occurs when your browser doesn’t have a safe way to open the site you’re requesting. When the browser sees that the connection is not secure, it will try to stop you from accessing this website.
There are several different causes of the SSL error:
- The certificate is missing or has expired
- Your browser is not updated
- Your antivirus or set-up date and time is off
- Server error
If an error causes the message on the server, you will have to wait until the server’s owner corrects the error.
How the “Your Connection Is Not Protected” error looks like in different browsers?
When you receive an error message like this, it takes you to a new page. Some browsers use simple messages, while others use codes and warning signs.
Google Chrome
When you receive this error message on Google Chrome, it takes you to a Privacy Error page. The browser will show a significant red exclamation point and the message, “Your connection is not protected.”
It will warn you that attackers may try to steal your passwords, messages, or credit cards. The message will allow you to return to the previous page, go to additional settings, or try to continue working on the site.
Also, the page will have an error code. Here are some of the most common:
- NET::ERR_CERT_COMMON_NAME_INVALID
- NET::ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID NTE::ERR_CERTIFICATE_TRANSPARENCY_REQUIRED
- NET::ERR_CERT_DATE_INVALID
- NET::ERR_CERT_WEAK_SIGNATURE_ALGORITHM
- ERR_CERT_SYMANTEC_LEGACY
- SSL certificate error
- ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH.
Mozilla Firefox
In Mozilla Firefox, this message looks similar, but it sounds a little different: “Your connection is not safe.” It is reported that the owner of the site incorrectly set it up. You also have the option to go back or move on to additional settings. The most common error codes you can see in Firefox:
- SEC_ERROR_EXPIRED_CERTIFICATE
- SEC_ERROR_EXPIRED_ISSUER_CERTIFICATE
- SEC_ERROR_UNKNOWN_ISSUER.
- SEC_ERROR_OCSP_INVALID_SIGNING_CERT
- MOZILLA_PKIX_ERROR_MITM_DETECTED
- MOZILLA_PKIX_ERROR_ADDITIONAL_POLICY_CONSTRAINT_FAILED
- SSL_ERROR_BAD_CERT_DOMAIN
- ERROR_SELF_SIGNED_CERT
Safari
If you are a Safari browser user, you will receive a message on a new page saying that the connection is not secure and that the website you are opening may impersonate the site you would like to access to steal your personal or financial information.
Microsoft Edge
If you use Microsoft Edge, you’ll see a message that looks almost identical to a Google Chrome post with an exclamation point and the message “Your connection is not secure.” If the certificate doesn’t correspond to the domain you’re trying to connect to, you’ll see the same code.
The most common error codes you can see in Microsoft Edge:
- NET::ERR_CERT_COMMON_NAME_INVALID
- DLG_FLAGS_INVALID_CA
- DLG_FLAGS_SEC_CERT_CN_INVALID
- Error Code: 0
How to fix a “Your connection is not secure” error?
There are several different ways to correct or bypass this error message. Reboot the page, of course; this seems like the most natural solution, but sometimes rebooting the page eliminates browser time-out glitches, Internet connections, etc.
- Try incognito mode
- Check the date and time
- Clean the cache and cookies in your browser
- Notice what Wi-Fi is used
- Check your antivirus or firewall
- Be careful
Try incognito mode
The next thing you can try is to turn on the incognito mode and access the same website. If a website does have security issues, it shouldn’t work once you switch to incognito mode because this mode allows you to browse the site without saving the story or cache. If the browser still says, “your connection is not secure,” you should try to clear your cache.
To open the Tab in incognito mode in Chrome, press the three-point button in the top right corner, and then select “New Window in Incognito Mode” (the same can be achieved by pressing The Ctrl and Shift-N).
Check the date and time
Double-check the correctness of the date and time on your computer. If they don’t match the browser, you may experience an SSL connection error.
How to check the date and time on the Mac
- Go to the Apple menu in the top left corner of the screen
- Click on System Preferences
- Here’s the pick Date and Time
- Now Check the date and time are correct
How to check the date and time in Windows
- Click the right button on the taskbar’s date and time (usually in the bottom right corner of the screen)
- In the drop-down menu, select “Set a date and time.”
- Check that the date and time are correct
Clean the cache and cookies in your browser
While browsing the web, your computer stores cookies that collect data and take up a lot of space on your hard drive, when your computer tries to process all this information, it can start to run slower.
Try going into the settings and clearing the caches and cookies in your browser. Removing all this information will speed up your connections.
Notice what Wi-Fi is used
You may receive this error message when using public Wi-Fi, which is not secure. Some public Wi-Fi has a poor configuration and does not operate under the HTTPS protocol. If you’re not sure about the security of your connection, find another Wi-Fi network or wait until you can safely browse the sites at home.
The best way to protect your data when connected via public Wi-Fi is to use a virtual private network (VPN). A VPN helps hide your traffic and protect your online identity while sharing encrypted data with a remote server.
Check your antivirus or firewall
If you have an antivirus installed on your Mac or Windows device, you can also receive an error message because the antivirus or firewall is redefining your network. Check for this problem by temporarily disabling the SSL scanning function.
Be careful
If you still see the message “Your connection isn’t secure,” but you need to open the site you want, do so with the utmost care. Your browser shows you this message and advises you not to continue for a good reason.
If you choose to continue, you may put your personal information and payment information at risk of being compromised. The time and money associated with this risk are not worth it. If you follow our recommendations, you can fix or bypass the “your connection is not secure” error message. Keep in mind that you get this message as a result of the fact that the website you are trying to access is not considered safe. If you can’t fix the problem by ignoring it, you’ll be able to open the site and find what you’re looking for, but you’ll also risk your personal information.
How to Fix a “Your connection is not secure” Error?Click To TweetThere is software such as the Panda Antivirus that you can use to protect your digital life. Your online information is of great value, so be reasonable when searching the Internet so that your information is not in the wrong hands.
