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The “Your connection is not private” error message is your browser’s way of telling you it’s not safe to proceed. Seeing this connection-privacy error message may be alarming, but there’s no need to panic. Keep reading to find out how to fix the error. And install a secure browser to strengthen your privacy wherever you go online.
The “Your connection is not private” error means your browser can’t establish a secure connection with the website you're trying to access. The error message displays when your browser is unable to confirm that the site has a valid SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate.
Digital certificate issuers such as Let’s Encrypt enable the encryption and secure sharing of data between web servers and web browsers via Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS). But if the certificate can’t be verified, perhaps because it doesn’t exist or has expired, an HTTPS connection cannot be established. That leaves web traffic to the site at risk of being intercepted.
“Your connection is not private” error messages usually mean a website’s SSL certificate has expired, can’t be authenticated, or is missing entirely. But in some cases, it could be caused by snags on your end.
Here’s how to fix the “Your connection is not private” error:
Reload the webpage. Sometimes, the error is caused by minor glitches like a browser timeout or an unstable internet connection. Reloading the web page may be all that’s needed.
Check your Wi-Fi. A weak Wi-Fi signal or other network issues can prevent a secure connection with websites. Try moving closer to your router or switching to another network. Some public Wi-Fi networks may not support HTTPS connections at all — make sure you know how to stay safe on public Wi-Fi and use a VPN to encrypt your connection.
Check the date and time on your device. If your computer’s date and time aren’t synced to your browser, a connection error may occur. Check and correct the date and time in your device settings, then refresh the page to resolve the issue.
Go incognito. Using a private browsing mode such as Chrome’s Incognito mode can help determine the problem. If you don’t get the error with browser cookies disabled using incognito mode, then try clearing your browser cache and cookies.
Clear your cookies and cache. Cached data and cookies are designed to make accessing websites quicker and easier. But too much of this data can result in slowdowns and other issues. Try deleting browser cookies and clearing your cache.
Check your antivirus software. Your antivirus software firewall may be interfering with your browser’s security protocols. To troubleshoot, temporarily disable the SSL scan feature and check whether that fixes the issue.
Update your operating system. If your operating system is outdated, your device may be unable to authenticate updated websites and SSL certificates.
Proceed with caution. As a last resort, you can bypass the “Your connection is not private” error on Chrome by clicking on the “Advanced” button on the error page and opting to proceed to the domain. You can also bypass the error on other browsers. But before you proceed and risk exposing your data, use a browser that protects your privacy or the best encryption software available.
If the site you want to visit doesn’t have a valid SSL certificate, then it’s impossible to fix the “Your connection isn’t private” error and establish an HTTPS connection. Here’s how to make your connection private and boost your online security, instead:
Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication to protect your online accounts.
Use the best security and privacy extensions for Google Chrome or your favorite browser.
Always keep your operating system, browser, and other software updated.
Use a trusted VPN like Avast SecureLine VPN to protect all of your internet data with military-grade, end-to-end encryption.
Enable the strictest privacy settings in your browser.
Don’t share credit card details or other sensitive data online unless you see a padlock on the left of the browser address bar, which indicates that your connection is secured by HTTPS.
The padlock on the address bar indicates an HTTPS connection.
Most browsers include an error code with the warning message to help you troubleshoot the problem. Here’s a glossary of the most common privacy error codes on Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge:
ERR_CERT_SYMANTEC_LEGACY
The website has an unsupported Symantec-issued certificate.
NET::ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID
The website’s SSL certificate can’t be authenticated.
NET::ERR_CERT_DATE_INVALID
The date and time on your device don’t match your browser.
SSL certificate error
There is a generic or unspecified problem with the website’s SSL certificate.
If you’re using Safari on a Mac, you’ll see the message “This Connection Is Not Private.” To see more information, you need to click Show Details, then view the certificate.
ERROR_SELF_SIGNED_CERT
The SSL certificate is self-signed and cannot be trusted.
SEC_ERROR_EXPIRED_CERTIFICATE
The website’s SSL certificate has expired.
SEC_ERROR_UNKNOWN_ISSUER
The digital certificate issuer is unknown.
DLG_FLAGS_INVALID_CA or DLG_FLAGS_SEC_CERT_CN_INVALID
The website's certificate is not valid, or malicious activity has been detected.
Error Code: 0
The website’s SSL certificate is not secure.
NET::ERR_CERT_COMMON_NAME_INVALID
The certificate’s domain name doesn't match the address bar.
While it’s possible to modify your settings to make your browsing more private, that’s not an ironclad solution, and it can be a tricky process. A better solution is to use a dedicated private browser, like Avast Secure Browser, which automatically protects your privacy whenever you browse.
Avast Secure Browser automatically enforces HTTPS encryption and comes with a comprehensive suite of privacy and security tools — including a VPN, an ad blocker, anti-tracking tools, and a webcam guard. Download Avast Secure Browser today — completely free.
