You visit a client or other website and, instead of the site itself, you encounter a security certificate error. If you are using Windows and Internet Explorer, the browser generates this error when it attempts to open a website that has a problematic security certificate. It could be that the certificate is outdated or was issued by an entity that Internet Explorer does not trust. In any case, if you know the website is trustworthy, there two methods you can try to get past the certificate error: update the date and time on your computer or simply accept the certificate. If you aren't sure whether the site is trustworthy, Microsoft recommends that you not continue to the site.
Fix Date and Time
- If your computer's clock is set to a date or time that is after the website's certificate expired, you can change your clock settings. Click the date in the bottom right corner of your computer's Desktop.
- Click "Change date and time settings" to open the Date and Time dialog.
- Click "Change date and time..."
- Enter the correct "Time" and select the correct "Date."
- Click "OK" on both dialog boxes to change the date and time on your computer.
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Accept the Certificate
- Select "Continue to this website (not recommended)."
- Click "Certificate Error."
- Select "View Certificates," then "Install Certificate," and confirm that you want to install the certificate.
References
- TroubleFixers: Security Certificate Error While Opening Web-sites
- Northern Illinois University IT Services: What is a Security Certificate?
- Microsoft Windows: About Certificate Errors
- Microsoft Support: "There is a problem with this website's security certificate" When You Try to Visit a Secured Website in Internet Explorer
- Windows 7: The Missing Manual; David Pogue; 2010
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Warnings
- Be certain that you trust the website if you choose to accept the certificate. You could open your computer to malware if you accept a certificate from an untrustworthy site.
Contributor
Andrew McClain has been writing since 1994. He has written several articles for various websites and writes user guides and software manuals for several freelance clients. He has a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from the University of Missouri.
