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Why the Error Occurs
Google Privacy Error Fixes
Frequently Asked Questions
Chrome is a popular, free, and reliable web browserdeveloped by Google. Occasionally, you may encounter a message when accessing a web page in Chrome that says, "Your connection is not private." The message warns that attackers may be trying to steal your information. While this sounds alarming, there is likely nothing wrong.
This article explains what can cause this error and how to fix it to get back to browsing.
Causes for a Privacy Error in Chrome
Chrome returns this privacy error when it can't verify the SSL certificate of the site you're trying to reach. SSL is a secure data-encryption method that keeps transmitted data private and safe. Chrome won't load the website because it suspects it is unsafe.
Several things can cause this SSL error. The site could have an expired SSL certificate, one that wasn't set up correctly, or one that wasn't issued by a trusted organization. There may be issues with a Chrome extension, your antivirus software, or settings on your computer.
How to Fix a Privacy Error in Chrome
There's nothing you can do if the problem is on the site's end. However, if the problem comes from your computer or device, there are some easy fixes to try.
See if the site's SSL certificate is expired. If a website's SSL certificate is expired or invalid, there's nothing you can do to fix a Chrome privacy error because it's the site's fault. You can, however, email the site owner to let them know.
Reload the page. This is a quick and easy troubleshooting option. Close and reopen your Chrome browser and load the page again. Something may have been off with your browser, or the site owner might have been reissuing their SSL certificate.
Public Wi-Fi network issues. When you use a public Wi-Fi network, such as in a restaurant or airport, you may receive a Chrome privacy error if you log in to a website before accepting the location's terms and agreement. Navigate to a non-SSL site such as www.weather.com, and the sign-in page should open. Try the website again and see if this solves the problem.
Clear the browser cache and cookies. Clearing the browser cache and cookies is another quick and easy troubleshooting method that may solve the problem.
Open the page in Incognito mode. On a PC or Mac computer, open the page in an Incognito window. If the page opens, it likely means a Chrome extension isn't working right. Disable the extension and open the page again normally.
Check the computer's date and time. An incorrectly set date and time on your device can prevent Chrome from verifying the SSL certificate of the site you're visiting. This is because when Chrome checks the expiration date of an SSL certificate, it compares it to the time on the computer's clock.
Disable antivirus software. As antivirus software becomes more advanced, it adds new features to protect against the latest threats. One such feature is a firewall that blocks sites not secured with SSL. While this is usually good, it can sometimes conflict with your network settings and mistakenly block some SSL certificates and connections. To see if this is the problem, temporarily disable the antivirus software's SSL scanning feature.
Different antivirus software programs place the setting governing this feature in different places, but the process should be similar. Go to your antivirus software's Settings and look for features related to SSL or the web.
Proceed to the website. If you feel confident that the error is on the part of the website, and the website is known and trusted, it's possible to access the site with an insecure connection. To do this, select the Advanced link at the bottom of the error box and then select Proceed to website. This won't solve the error message problem and should only be done if you're sure the website is safe.
FAQ
How do I add Google Chrome to my Mac's Security & Privacy settings?
In the upper-left corner, select the Apple icon > System Preferences. From there, select Security & Privacy > Privacy > choose the service you want to turn on in Chrome. In the right pane, scroll through the list and select Google Chrome.
Why do my privacy extensions and add-ons keep making Chrome crash?
If an extension is making Chrome crash, look for an update and install it if available. If the extension has already been updated, the update itself may be causing the issue—in which case you should temporarily turn off the extension.
A “your connection is not private” error means that your browser can't determine with certainty that a website has safe encryption protocols in place to protect your device and data. You can bump into this error on any device connected to the internet — a computer, smartphone, or tablet.
A “your connection is not private” error means that your browser can't determine with certainty that a website has safe encryption protocols in place to protect your device and data. You can bump into this error on any device connected to the internet — a computer, smartphone, or tablet.
At the top right, click More > Settings > Advanced. On Chromebook, Linux, and Mac: Click Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults and then Reset settings. On Windows: Click Reset and cleanup > Reset settings to their original defaults > Reset settings.
If your browser can't verify a website's SSL certificate, it stops you from visiting by showing the "Your connection is not private" error message. This can happen for a few reasons: Missing or expired certificate: The website might not have a SSL certificate, or it might be outdated and no longer valid.
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.
Clearing cache and cookies fixes many browser errors, including “This Site Can't Be Reached.” Browsers store this temporary data to speed up the connection to websites you previously visited. However, if they expire or become corrupted, cache and cookies can prevent you from loading a website.
NET::ERR_CERT_COMMON_NAME_INVALID error is a result of wrong SSL configuration or browser configuration. The browser fails to verify the SSL certificate in this type of error. It happens due to a mismatch of the domain name, as the Common Name (CN) displayed in SSL certificate does not match with actual domain name.
Sometimes, websites have Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) instead of HTTPS, which means they aren't encrypting or protecting the information sent to your Mac. In such cases, your Mac would show you a "Your connection isn't private” error message to warn you that your connection is vulnerable.
Introduction: My name is Terrell Hackett, I am a gleaming, brainy, courageous, helpful, healthy, cooperative, graceful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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