Web Hosting And Domain: SSL Certificates: Your Guide to the ‘Your Connection Is Not Private’ Error

It’s like two kids in a trench coat trying to pass off as an adult for a movie ticket. (In case you didn’t know, these kids actually tried it!) If you get a ‘Your connection is not private’ error when trying to access a website, it could mean the connection to the site isn’t encrypted, even if it claims otherwise.

Of course, just like with those kids, the trick never actually works. Only in the case of a website, your browser issues a boring warning message instead of having a good laugh about it like a good-humored box office clerk.

That being said, ignoring such a warning message can be disastrous for both website visitors and backend administrators. After all, an unencrypted connection is an open invitation to cyber criminals to intercept your website activity for their own nefarious deeds!

Worry not! This guide will tell you everything you need to know to successfully troubleshoot an SSL connection error whenever you see it. We’ll go over the error message, the reasons behind its appearance, and potential steps for permanently getting rid of it.

What Does the ‘Your connection is not private’ Error Mean?

Did you notice a ‘Your connection is not private’ error message popup when trying to access a web page? Worry not, you’re still safe, and your security has not been compromised. However, this is still an alert you should take seriously, as proceeding further into the website could make your device vulnerable to cybersecurity attacks.

When you try to access a website, your browser checks the digital certificates installed on the server to ensure that the site is up to privacy standards and safe to proceed. If there’s something wrong with the certificate, a browser like Chrome or Firefox will stop you from accessing the site with the “Your connection is not private” message. Some common variations include:

Google Chrome: “Your connection is not private. Attackers might be trying to steal your information from [website] (for example, passwords, messages, or credit cards).”
Mozilla Firefox: “Your connection is not secure. The owner of [website] has configured their website improperly. To protect your information from being stolen, Firefox has not connected to this website.”
Apple Safari: “Safari can’t verify the identity of the website [website]”
Microsoft Edge: “Your connection isn’t private. Attackers might be trying to steal your information from [website] (for example, passwords, messages, or credit cards).”
Internet Explorer: “There is a problem with this website’s security certificate.”

Digital certificates are like online identity cards, providing proof that a website is who they say they are. They help protect your personal information, passwords, and payment details by encrypting the connection between the client (your device) and the server (of the website you’re trying to access).

So what do you do if an important website you’re trying to visit hits you with this error? Thankfully, there are ways to troubleshoot the error and browse safely. Some are pretty straightforward and can be done by any visitor, whereas others require intervention from the website administrator or even the hosting provider.

HTTP vs HTTPS: Understanding the Difference

HTTP and HTTPS are both protocols used for transferring information between different systems, like your computer and a website. The main difference between them is that HTTPS is more secure than HTTP.

DreamHost Glossary

HTTPS

HTTPS is a secure version of HTTP. With HTTPS, data sent between browsers and websites is encrypted with the TLS/SSL protocols. That means data can’t be modified or read during transfer.

HTTP sends information in plain text, which means anyone can intercept and read it. This makes sensitive information, like passwords and credit card numbers, vulnerable to hackers. HTTPS, on the other hand, uses encryption to protect your personal data, making it much harder for hackers to steal your information.

HTTPS uses SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) or TLS (Transport Layer Security) to encrypt and validate your data, ensuring that it remains confidential and secure. Websites with HTTPS have a padlock icon and URL starting with https://, signifying a secure connection.

HTTPS is more secure than HTTP, but can also be slightly slower due to the added computation power required for encryption. However, HTTPS encryption is a must-have for transactions that require entering private information.

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SSL Certificates: What Are They Really?

SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer — a technology that helps keep your internet connection secure and protects any sensitive data you send or receive online.

DreamHost Glossary

SSL/TLS

SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer. In short, it’s a protocol for maintaining a secure connection and protecting sensitive data. Transport Layer Security (TLS) is the successor to SSL. It is a cryptographic protocol that provides a safe connection over any given computer network.

SSL certificates are digital certificates that validate the identity of a website and establish a secure connection between your device and the server hosting the website. This ensures that any information you send or receive over the internet is protected from hackers.

When you visit a website with an SSL certificate, you’ll notice that the URL in your browser begins with “https” instead of “http”. In addition, a padlock icon may be displayed in the address bar next to the URL — This indicates that the website has a valid SSL certificate and that your connection is secure.

SSL certificates use a combination of asymmetric and symmetric encryption technologies to secure your connection. Asymmetric encryption uses a pair of keys, one public and one private, to encrypt and decrypt data. This ensures that only the intended recipient can read the data. Symmetric encryption, on the other hand, uses a single key to encrypt and decrypt data, and this key is shared between the sender and recipient.

Depending on the level of validation and protection required, there are different types of SSL certificates, ranging from basic to highly secure.

Definition of SSL Certificates. SSL Certificates are digital certificates that validate the identity of a website and establish a secure connection between your device and the server hosting the website.

9 Potential Causes of an SSL Connection Error

But what really causes an SSL certificate error? SSL errors can be both client-side or server-side, meaning that both your device or the website you’re trying to access could be the culprit. Here’s a list of common causes for the ‘Your connection is not private’ error to help you narrow down your suspect list;

Invalid Certificate: SSL certificates may be invalid when the certificate has been issued to the wrong domain, when the browser sees a self-signed certificate, or when the certificate is otherwise not recognized by the user’s browser, causing the browser to display an error message.
SSL/TLS Protocol: The SSL/TLS protocol is used to establish a secure connection between a web server and a web browser. If there are issues with the protocol, such as outdated or unsupported versions, it can cause an error.
Intermediate Certificates: Intermediate certificates are used to create a chain of trust between the SSL certificate and the root certificate. SSL errors can occur if an intermediate certificate is missing or improperly configured.
Expired SSL: SSL certificates have expiration dates and must be renewed periodically. If an SSL certificate has expired or has been revoked for any reason, it can cause an error in establishing a secure connection.
Antivirus Software: Some browser extensions or antivirus software can interfere with SSL certificate validation, causing the error to occur.
DNS Cache: DNS (Domain Name System) is used to resolve domain names into IP addresses. If there are issues with DNS cache, such as the cache containing outdated or incorrect information, it can cause the error.
Wi-Fi Issues: If there are issues with the user’s Wi-Fi network, such as a weak or intermittent connection, it can sometimes lead to errors in establishing a secure connection between the website and the client. These issues are especially common with public Wi-Fi networks.
Operating System: If the user’s operating system, whether Windows or Mac, is outdated or has corrupted files, it can cause a connection error.’
Client-Side Errors: Client-side SSL errors can occur due to issues with the user’s browser or security settings, such as outdated or unsupported browser versions, or incorrect settings for SSL/TLS.

How to Troubleshoot the ‘Your connection is not private’ Error as a Visitor

It’s always annoying when you’re doing important work (or chasing the latest funny cat video), and a ‘Your connection is not private’ error puts a damper on your plans. However, here are a few quick things you can do as a website visitor to resolve the issue so you can get back to surfing the web to your heart’s content!

Reload the Web Page: Sometimes, an SSL error can occur due to a temporary issue with the website or the user’s internet connection. Reloading the page can sometimes resolve the error. To reload the page, click on the reload button in the browser or press the F5 key.
Check the URL: Make sure that the URL of the website you are trying to access is correct, as a typo in the URL can cause an SSL error. Also, make sure that the URL begins with “https://” instead of “http://” — The “s” in “https” indicates that the website has an SSL certificate installed.
Clear Browser Cache: Clearing the browser cache can sometimes resolve an SSL error. To clear the cache, go to the browser settings and find the option to clear browsing data. Select the option to clear the cache and then try reaccessing the website.
Disable Your Browser Extensions: Some browser extensions can interfere with SSL certificate validation, causing an SSL error. To troubleshoot, try disabling browser extensions one by one and then try accessing the website again.
Disable the Antivirus Software: Antivirus software can also interfere with SSL certificate validation. Try disabling the antivirus software temporarily and then try accessing the website again.
Check Date and Time Settings: SSL certificates have expiration dates and rely on accurate date and time settings to validate correctly. Make sure your computer’s date and time settings are correct based on your time zone, and try accessing the website again.
Try a Different Browser: Sometimes, an SSL error can occur due to issues with the user’s browser. Try accessing the website using a different browser to see if the error persists.
Avoid Incognito Mode: Incognito browsing can sometimes create a breach in the connection between your browser and the website. Try the regular version of your browser, and see if the error persists.
Contact the Website Owner: If none of the above steps resolve the SSL error, it may be an issue with the website’s SSL certificate. Contact the website owner and let them know about the error you are experiencing. They may need to renew or reconfigure their SSL certificate.

How to Troubleshoot the ‘Your connection is not private’ Error as a Site Admin

As a site admin, there’s nothing more frustrating than encountering the “Your connection is not private” error on your website. Not only can it lead to a loss in traffic, but it can also put your website’s and visitors’ security at risk. Luckily, there are several troubleshooting methods that you can use to resolve this error and ensure that your website is secure and reliable.

Check Your SSL Certificate’s Expiration Date: SSL certificates have expiration dates and must be renewed periodically. If your SSL certificate has expired or is about to expire, it can cause an SSL error. To check your SSL certificate’s expiration date, go to the SSL certificate section in your web hosting account or contact your SSL certificate provider.
Confirm That the Certificate was Issued Properly: An SSL error can occur if the SSL certificate was not issued correctly. To troubleshoot this issue, confirm that the SSL certificate was issued to the correct domain name and that the domain name is spelled correctly in the certificate. You can also check the certificate chain to ensure all intermediate certificates have installed correctly.
Run an SSL Server Test for Your Website: An SSL server test can help you identify any issues with your SSL certificate or server configuration that may be causing the SSL error. Several free SSL scan tools are available online, such as SSL Labs or Qualys SSL Server Test. These tools will scan your website’s SSL certificate and server configuration and provide a detailed report of any issues found.
Contact Your Web Hosting Provider for Support: If none of the above steps resolve the SSL error, it may be an issue with your web hosting provider’s server configuration. Contact your web hosting provider’s support team and let them know about the error you are experiencing. They may need to update their server configuration or provide a new SSL certificate to resolve the issue.

Common Error Codes Associated with the ‘Your connection is not private’ Error

SSL errors can occur due to a wide array of factors involving digital certificates, security protocols, cryptographic algorithms, and network connections. However, they also come with an associated error code that can help website visitors and web administrators troubleshoot the issue further. Here’s a list of some of those error codes, along with what they each mean:

ERR_CERT_COMMON_NAME_INVALID: This error occurs when the domain name on the SSL certificate does not match the domain name of the website you are trying to access.
ERR_CERT_DATE_INVALID: This error occurs when the SSL certificate has expired or the date and time on your computer are incorrect.
ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID: This error occurs when the SSL certificate is not issued by a trusted certificate authority.
ERR_CERT_WEAK_SIGNATURE_ALGORITHM: This error occurs when the SSL certificate uses a weak cryptographic algorithm that is no longer considered secure.
ERR_CERTIFICATE_TRANSPARENCY_REQUIRED: This error occurs when the SSL certificate does not meet the Certificate Transparency policy requirements.
ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH: This error occurs when the browser is unable to establish a secure connection due to a mismatch in the SSL/TLS version or cipher suite being used by the server and the browser.
ERR_CONNECTION_CLOSED: This error occurs when the server terminates the connection unexpectedly.
ERR_CONNECTION_RESET: This error occurs when the connection is reset by the server or your network.
ERR_TIMED_OUT: This error occurs when the server does not respond within a certain time limit.

Know When to Contact Your Hosting Provider About an SSL Connection Error

If your website faces a privacy error, your users’ sensitive information, such as login credentials, credit card numbers, or personal data, may be at risk.

If you encounter an SSL connection error on your website, the first thing you should do is to try to diagnose the issue yourself. You can start by checking the certificate status, verifying that the certificate is up-to-date, and ensuring that the domain name matches the certificate. You can also try clearing your browser data or using a different browser to see if the error persists.

If you are unable to resolve the SSL connection error, it is essential that you contact your web host for assistance. Your web host can help you identify the error’s cause and guide you on how to fix it. They may also be able to provide you with a new SSL certificate or help you configure your server settings to ensure that your website is secure.

When contacting your web host about an SSL connection error, provide as much information as possible, including the error message, the URL of the affected page, and any other relevant details. This will help your hosting provider diagnose and resolve the issue more quickly.