Google Chrome is perhaps the most popular and free web browser. Many people rely on it. Often users notice a message “Your connection is not private” when accessing certain web pages. The message indicates that anyone can steal private data. While it shows threatening but there are ways to fix it.
Let’s have a look at the causes of the error and ways to fix it to browse safely.
The problem does not happen only in Chrome. Rather other browsers such as Safari, Mozilla Firefox also experience the same. The errors are may be little different in other browsers, the troubleshooting methods are the same.
Causes of Privacy Error in Google Chrome
Chrome shows a privacy error when it cannot verify the SSL certificate of the accessing website. SSL is a “secure data encryption” method that keeps user data safe and private. Google Chrome does not load such a website because it makes it vulnerable.
However, several faults can cause an SSL error. Expiration of SSL certificate, wrong set up, not issuing by a trusted organization are some of the causes behind this. Moreover, it may happen due to antivirus software, Chrome extension, and some settings on the computer.
Ways to Fix Privacy Error
Users will not be able to resolve the issue if the problem occurs from the site developers. It is their issue and they have to rectify it. However, if it happens from the computer then there are certain ways to fix it completely. Let’s have a glimpse of it.
1. Check whether the SSL certificate of the site has expired. If the website certificate is invalid or expired a user cannot do much because it is the site’s fault. However, users can email the website developer to let them aware of the situation.
2. Either reload the page or close Chrome, open it and load the page again. Often some things cause disputes in a browser. The website owner might be renewing the SSL certificate. It is probably the most effortless option.
3. When one uses public Wi-Fi in an airport or restaurant and logs in to a website before accepting terms and location sharing, this problem arises. Users can even notice Chrome’s privacy error. Users can navigate to non-SSL sites e.g. www.weather.com and the login page must open. So, try following this method and see if this works or not.
4. Too many cookies and caches often create this problem. Clearing all those things is another effortless troubleshooting that can solve the disturbance. Users can open Chrome, go to settings. Click on the “Safety Check” option and select “Clear Browsing Data”. It will clear history, cookies, caches.
Another method is to download “CCleaner“. Users have to click on “Run CCleaner” to act. It clears all the junk files from the browser and computer.
5. Open the website in “incognito mode“. If it opens then particular extensions are not working properly. Disable extensions one by one and revisit the page to check if it opens or not.
6. Check the date and time on the computer. Chrome will stop verifying the SSL certificate of the visiting website if the date and time are not set properly. It happens because Chrome checks the SSL certificate expiration based on the computer’s date. Hence, both have to be the same to have a hassle-free experience.
7. Turn off antivirus software. After updating to the latest version it adds extra features and blocks the latest threats. One such problem is the “firewall” that prevents non-SSL certified websites from accessing. It is necessary to make computer malware free but, sometimes conflict occurs between computer network settings and certain websites. Even it mistakenly refrains from visiting SSL certified connections. To avoid this disturbance, disable the “SSL scanning feature” of the current antivirus software for some time. However, it is necessary to turn on the feature later.
Different antivirus software has a different location to modify this option. However, the method is almost the same and must be similar. Users need to find specific settings in the software and seek website, browser, or SSL related features to modify.
8. If the above-mentioned methods are not suitable then access the website if it is already known and trusted. Visiting an insecure connection is possible. To make this happen, click on the “advanced” link below the error box. Select “proceed to website”. It will not eradicate error message but one should only perform this action after ensuring the safety of the site.
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