The error message “your connection is not private” is a warning from your browser. It shows up on your screen when you try to access a website that is not secure. It is an SSL error and can occur due to missing certificates. This error prevents you from accessing your desired website.

However, you can fix this error with some operations. This guide will look at what this error is, its causes, and five possible solutions to help you fix it.

What does the Error “Your Connection is Not Private” Mean?

This SSL connection error, as the name implies, is a message from your browser informing you that the connection is not secure. It means that hackers can easily access your device if you are not using an antivirus. When you want to access a website, your browser runs a check auntie digital certificates installed on the server. It does this to ensure that the site is safe and up to privacy standards.

When there is something wrong with the certificate, your browser will stop you from accessing the site. When this happens, you will get the “Your connection is not private” message. The certificates, also known as public key infrastructure or identity certificates, provide proof about the website’s identity. With digital certificates, you can protect your personal information, payment information, and passwords.

Most times, your connection is not secure because of an error in the SSL certificate. We will expatiate on this in the next section.

What Does SSL Connection Error Mean?

A Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) Certificate is used for serving websites over secure HTTPS connections. People use HTTPS for security reasons to protect data and safely authorize connections. You will encounter an SSL error connection that occurs when your browser cannot find any secure way to open what you have requested. Your browser tries to stop you immediately from accessing a website when it finds that the connection is not secure.

What Causes this ‘Your Connection in Not Private’ Error?

An SSL connection error can occur due to several reasons. They include the following:

• The certificate is either expired or missing.
• Your browser is out of date.
• Your antivirus settings are wrong.
• Your date and time settings are off.
• There is a server issue. If this is the case, you will need to wait for the owner to fix it.

What a “Your Connection is Not Private” Error Looks Like on Each Browser

When you get this error message, it will take you to a new page. You will get simple messages on some browsers, while others use warning signs and codes. 

Google Chrome

When this error message shows up in Google Chrome, it usually takes you to a privacy error page. On this page, you will see a large red exclamation mark and a “Your connection is not private” message. You will also get a warning that attackers may be trying to steal your messages, passwords, or credit cards. You will also see the option to go to advanced settings, go back to the previous page, or continue to the website.

You are likely to see these common codes if you are using Google Chrome:

• NET::ERR_CERT_DATE_INVALID
• NET::ERR_CERT_COMMON_NAME_INVALID
• NTE::ERR_CERTIFICATE_TRANSPARENCY_REQUIRED
• NET::ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID
• SSL certificate error
• NET::ERR_CERT_WEAK_SIGNATURE_ALGORITHM
• ERR_CERT_SYMANTEC_LEGACY
• ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH

Mozilla Firefox

If you are using Mozilla Firefox, the message is similar. The only difference is that instead of “private,” the message says, “Your connection is not secure.” It also informs you that the owner misconfigured their website. The browser will then give you the option to go to advanced settings or go back. 

You are likely to see these common codes if you are using Firefox browser:

• SEC_ERROR_UNKNOWN_ISSUER
• SEC_ERROR_OCSP_INVALID_SIGNING_CERT 
• SEC_ERROR_EXPIRED_CERTIFICATE
• SEC_ERROR_EXPIRED_ISSUER_CERTIFICATE 
• MOZILLA_PKIX_ERROR_MITM_DETECTED
• SSL_ERROR_BAD_CERT_DOMAIN
• ERROR_SELF_SIGNED_CERT 
• MOZILLA_PKIX_ERROR_ADDITIONAL_POLICY_CONSTRAINT_FAILED

Safari

If you are browsing with Safari, you will see a message on a new page saying, “This Connection is Not Private.” You will also see a warning that the website is probably impersonating the site you want to access. And that your personal or financial information is at risk.

Microsoft Edge

If you are using Microsoft Edge, you will get a similar message to the Google Chrome message. You will also get an exclamation mark, and the “Your connection isn’t private” error message. Also, when the certificate does not match the domain that you want to access, you will get the same code.

You are likely to see these common codes if you are using Microsoft Edge:

• DLG_FLAGS_INVALID_CA 
• NET::ERR_CERT_COMMON_NAME_INVALID 
• Error Code: 0
• DLG_FLAGS_SEC_CERT_CN_INVALID

How to Fix this “Your Connection is Not Private” Error

There are a few different ways for you to fix this error message for each browser.  But before you start, you will need to reload the page first. This operation could be the only solution you need to fix this error. Sometimes, fixing common issues like your internet connections, browser timeouts, and typos can resolve the problem.

Solution 1 – Try Accessing the Site in Incognito Mode

If the operation above did not work, enter incognito mode and try to access the same website. If the website is not secure, it will not work when you switch to incognito. This mode lets you browse without saving your cache or history. If you are still getting there, “your connection is not private” message, then you should clear your cache. 

If you want to access the Chrome browser in an incognito tab, you need to follow the steps below.

• Step 1: – Click on the three vertical dots on the top right of your screen. 
• Step 2: – Access the drop-down menu and click on “New incognito window.” Alternatively, you can press the ctrl + shift + N keys simultaneously on your keyboard.

If you are still not able to fix the problem after accessing the site in incognito mode, move to the next potential solution below.

Solution 2 – Checking the Date and Time

It would be best if you double-checked that the date and time on your computer are accurate. If the date and time do not match the browser, you will get an SSL connection error message. To check the Date and Time on a Mac, follow the steps below.

• Step 1: – Go to the Apple menu in the upper left corner of your screen. 
• Step 2: – Click on System Preferences.
• Step 3: – From there, choose Date & Time.
• Step 4: – Ensure the date and time are accurate. 

To check the Date and Time on Windows, follow these steps:

• Step 1: – Right-click the date and time on the taskbar.
• Step 2: – Click on Adjust date or time.
• Step 3: – Verify the date and time are correct. 

If you are still not able to fix the problem after checking and correcting the date and time, move to the next potential solution below.

Solution 3 – Clearing Your Browser Cache and Cookies

When you are browsing, your computer stores some cache data and cookies, which take up a lot of space on your hard disk. For this reason, your computer might slow down while trying to process all that data. To fix this, you need to access your browser settings and clear up the cache and cookies. 

If you are still not able to fix the problem after clearing your browser cache and cookies, move to the next potential solution below.

Solution 4 – Check the Wi-Fi that you are connected to.

If you are using public Wi-Fi, you might get this message because it is not secure. Some public Wi-Fi has poor configuration and cannot run HTTPS. If you are not sure that your connection is safe, you need to connect to a different Wi-Fi network. Or, you can wait until you can browse safely at home.

You can protect your data when using public Wi-Fi with a Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN hides your traffic and protects your identity while exchanging encrypted data with a distant server. If you are still unable to fix the problem after checking your Wi-Fi connection, move to the next potential solution below.

Solution 5 – Check Your Antivirus or Firewall

If you are using an antivirus on your Windows or Mac, it could be the reason why you are getting this error. The antivirus or firewall is probably overriding your network. You can disable the SSL scan feature temporarily to test this issue.

If the error message you still show, and you need to access your desired website, do so with caution. Your browser shows you this message and advises against continuing for a good reason.

If you choose to proceed, your personal information and payment information may be at risk. And the money and time involved with this risk are not worth it.

After following the steps above, you should be able to fix the “Your connection is not private” error message. If you are getting this error message because the website you are trying to access is insecure, don’t try to bypass it. You may succeed and find what you are looking for, but your personal information will be at risk.  You can use software like Panda Security Dome to protect your digital space. 

Your Connection is Not Private Android

This SSL connection Android error occurs because of some issues with the SSL connection. In most cases, you can fix it by refreshing the page. However, sometimes, the problem might be a little deeper.

If the problem is from the server or the site, you cannot really do anything about it. To learn what to do, you can try accessing other SSL secured websites like Google and Facebook. If they can be loaded appropriately, there must be some issue with the website you are trying to access.

If you can’t access any website, the problem lies in your device. You can fix the issue by going through the following solutions. To resolve the security certificate error on your Android device, you need to follow the guide below.

The first thing that you should do is check that your date and time settings are correct. If the settings are right and you are still getting this error, you need to check your internet connection. Also, ensure that your internet settings are in order. If the error is still there after performing these operations, you need to clear the browsing data. 

Your antivirus may also be the reason why you are getting this error message. If this case applies to you, you need to disable your antivirus to fix it. If it did not work, then you need to perform a factory reset.

It is possible that some malware has infected your phone. In this case, you need to get rid of it before it causes any more damage. To remove malware, you will have to perform a factory reset on your Android phone. You can follow the steps below to do this.

To reset your Android phone:

• Step 1: Open the settings option and locate Backup & reset
• Step 2: Tap Factory reset. Ensure that you backup all your essential files before doing this.
• Step 3: Enter your password and erase all data on your device.
• Step 4: Reboot your device and restore all the data.

This solution is your last resort. Most times, you will not have to perform an operation as drastic as performing a factory reset. One of the easier solutions mentioned earlier should fix the Security Certificate Error on Android.

Conclusion

You may get the error message ‘your connection is not private’ while using the internet. This error occurs when you try to access a website that is not secure. Sometimes you may be able to fix it by clearing your browser cache and cookies. This guide has given you the information required to fix this error, and I believe you can now conquer it.

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