Connecting to websites and applications securely is crucial for protecting your privacy online. However, you may sometimes encounter privacy connection errors that prevent you from accessing a site or app. Fixing these errors can be frustrating, but is an important step to keep your browsing safe and private.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover the most common privacy connection errors, explain what’s causing them, and provide step-by-step instructions to resolve the issues. With the right troubleshooting, you can get back to seamlessly and securely accessing your favorite sites and apps.
What is a Privacy Connection Error?
A privacy connection error occurs when your web browser or app is unable to establish a secure, encrypted connection to a website or application. This is usually indicated by an error message like:
- “Your connection is not private”
- “NET::ERR_CERT_COMMON_NAME_INVALID”
- “SEC_ERROR_UNKNOWN_ISSUER”
- “NET::ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID”
These errors mean that your browser does not trust the website’s security certificate, which verifies the site’s identity and encrypts the connection. When this verification fails, your browser blocks access to protect your privacy and security.
Some common reasons why you may see a privacy error include:
- The site is using an invalid, expired, or self-signed certificate
- The certificate is not issued by a trusted certificate authority
- The domain name on the certificate doesn’t match the site URL
- Your device’s date, time, and timezone settings are incorrect
Resolving these certificate issues is key to restoring private access to the site.
Step 1: Check Your Date and Time Settings
One of the easiest issues to fix is ensuring your device’s date, time, and timezone are set correctly. Security certificates have a valid time period, so if your device settings are off, the certificate may appear expired and cause a connection error.
On Windows, click the time in the system tray to check your date, time, and time zone. Make any needed adjustments in the Date and Time Settings.
On Mac, go to System Preferences > Date and Time to verify accuracy and adjust if needed.
On iPhone and Android, go into Settings and under General or System check that the date, time zone, and time are correct. Adjust if they are offset.
Once updated, try reloading the website to see if the error resolves.
Step 2: Clear Browsing Data and Cookies
Sometimes corrupt browsing data or cookies can cause issues with security certificates and privacy connections. Clearing this data gives your browser a fresh start and may resolve the problem.
In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Clear browsing data. Select cookies, cached images, etc, and the time range to clear. Restart your browser and test the site again.
In Firefox, go to History > Clear Recent History. Select Cookies and Cache and a time range, then click Clear. Retry the site.
For Safari, go to Preferences > Privacy and choose Manage Website Data > Remove All. Relaunch Safari and test the connection.
On mobile, go into app settings and find the option to clear cookies, cache, and browsing history, then restart the browser.
Step 3: Check if the Site is Down
Sometimes a connection error doesn’t indicate a browser or certificate issue, but rather a problem with the website itself being down or unavailable. The certificate may show as invalid if the domain isn’t active to serve it.
Try checking the website on Is It Down Right Now or Down For Everyone Or Just Me to see if others are reporting problems accessing the site. This may indicate a temporary outage or other server issue.
You can also try accessing the website on your mobile data, on a different wifi network, or using tools like Ping to check if it’s reachable. If the site is down for everyone, you’ll have to wait until it’s back up to access it again.
Step 4: Temporarily Allow Untrusted Certificates
If the site seems to be up and available, the certificate itself is likely causing the privacy error. As a temporary workaround, you can add an exception in your browser to allow access despite the untrusted certificate.
Chrome:
- Click Advanced at the bottom of the error message.
- Click Proceed to [domain name].
- The certificate will now be accepted only for that site.
Firefox:
- Click Advanced > Add Exception.
- Confirm the Security Exception to add.
Safari:
- Click Show Certificate.
- Select Always Trust and confirm.
This bypass allows you to temporarily use the site again, but for ongoing access the underlying certificate issue will still need to be resolved.
Step 5: Install a Trusted Certificate Authority
If the certificate isn’t issued by a trusted authority, installing that CA’s root certificate can fix the untrusted certificate error. Major sites use certificates from well-known CAs like Comodo, Symantec, GoDaddy, etc.
To check the issuer, click the HTTPS padlock icon > Certificate > Issued By. See if the CA has a root certificate available to install from their website or your OS/browser’s certificate manager.
Once added, the CA will be trusted and should resolve the invalid issuer error going forward.
Step 6: Remove Potential Malware
Another possibility is a malware or virus infection causing a redirect to a suspicious site using an untrusted certificate. Run a full system antivirus scan to check for and remove any malicious programs.
You can also use a tool like Malwarebytes for an additional malware check. Eliminating malware could fix the invalid certificate issue if it was intercepting your web traffic.
Step 7: Contact the Site Owner
If you still cannot resolve the certificate error using the above steps, reach out directly to the website’s owner or admin contact.
Explain the specific privacy error you are receiving and that their security certificate appears to be invalid. They can investigate and reinstall a valid trusted certificate for the site to resolve the problem.
For sites with login pages, also check for any notifications about planned certificate renewals or changes. The error may be temporary as they roll out an updated certificate.
When to Proceed Despite Warnings
After exhausting troubleshooting, you have the option to proceed to the site regardless of the untrusted certificate warning. However, this introduces potential risk of your connection being intercepted.
There are some cases where you may need to accept the risks:
- Private corporate sites using internal certificates
- Sites you urgently need to access that aren’t resolvable yet
- Testing sites still in development
For these, add a browser exception as covered above. But avoid doing transactions, accessing sensitive accounts, or sharing private data until the certificate is fixed.
Getting comfortable with dismissing browser warnings can put you at risk for man-in-the-middle attacks. Only proceed when absolutely necessary, and remove the exceptions when they are no longer needed.
How Website Certificates Work
To understand privacy errors, it helps to know what website certificates do behind the scenes:
- Validates site identity – Certificates match the site URL to verify you are on the real site, not an imposter.
- Enables HTTPS encryption – The certificate enables secure HTTPS connections to keep data private.
- Issued by certificate authorities – Trusted CAs digitally sign certificates to validate they are authorized.
- Expires periodically – Certificates must be renewed every 1-2 years to remain valid.
When any part of this certificate chain is broken, it triggers an error refusing the insecure connection.
How to Prevent Future Connection Errors
Once you’ve resolved your immediate privacy error, take steps to avoid recurring issues in the future:
- Keep devices updated – Run latest OS, browser, and security updates which fix vulnerabilities.
- Use antivirus software – Prevent malware infections which can cause problems.
- Don’t ignore warnings – Only proceed past errors when absolutely required.
- Clear browsing data – Reduce potential conflicts in cookies and caches.
- Use strong passwords – Avoid account breaches that could enable man-in-the-middle attacks.
Sticking to best security practices minimizes the chances of running into frustrating certificate errors while browsing.
Summary
Privacy connection errors can temporarily block access to websites, but correcting certificate issues resolves them. Start with simple browser and device troubleshooting like clearing data and updating time settings. For ongoing problems, whitelisting domains, installing missing authorities, and contacting site owners can help. Proceed past warnings cautiously and only when necessary.
With the right troubleshooting steps, these frustrating errors can be fixed or worked around safely. Vigilant browsing habits and site owner communication also helps minimize invalid certificate errors long-term.