If you see the message “Your connection is not private” or something similar in Safari, Chrome, or another browser, it’s warning you not to visit that web page. That’s because the absence of a security certificate means the website doesn’t meet required security standards, putting your online security at risk. Read on to learn what to do if you see this message and how to increase your privacy on the internet with Avira Phantom VPN.
What does the error message “Your connection is not private” mean?
If you visit a website that doesn’t have a valid SSL certificate, your browser will display the message “Your connection is not private” or something similar. This means that the data transferred between the web server and the web browser is not encrypted using the Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) scheme. As such, your browser can’t establish a secure connection to the website.
Among other things, this gives cybercriminals the chance to intercept the website’s internet traffic. If you browse an unsecured site, hackers can also gain access to your personal data such as passwords or payment information — or even access your device itself. The same goes for if you just browse the site without buying anything. It’s therefore essential that you always check the website’s security.
How can I fix the message “Your connection is not private”?
Typically, an invalid SSL certificate is the reason why your browser displays the message “Your connection is not private”. It’s also possible you mis-typed the URL. To be certain, check and correct the URL you entered one more time. If that doesn’t help, there may be an issue with your device. In the following, we describe possible causes and how to fix the issue in each case.
Check your internet connection and refresh the web page
Interruptions such as an unstable internet connection or other network issues can cause the error message. So check your Wi-Fi signal and restart your router if necessary. A browser timeout may also be behind the error message. Whether it’s a weak internet connection or a timeout, most of the time the issue is easily fixed if your browser’s reporting that the connection isn’t private: Simply reload the web page.
Check the date and time on your device
If the date and time on your computer do not match the time information in your browser, the connection might fail. Therefore, check the information in your device settings and correct it if necessary. Then reload the web page. If the date and time were the cause, you should no longer see the message “Your connection is not private”.
Surf in incognito mode, delete cookies, and clear the cache
When troubleshooting, you can use your browser’s incognito mode. as this deactivates all cookies. If you don’t have the issue in private mode, you should clear your browser cache and clean your browser cookies. Cache data usually makes it easier to access web pages, speeding up the process because the pages don’t need to be reloaded every time. That said, it can cause issues if your browser accumulates too much data. This makes it worth clearing your cache if your browser shows you the privacy error “Your connection is not private”.
Check your antivirus solution and firewall
Occasionally, there may be conflicts between an antivirus tool’s firewall and your browser’s security protocols. To fix this, temporarily disable the SSL scanning feature of your antivirus solution. If you no longer see that this connection is not private, the firewall is causing the issue. If so, it’s best to adjust the settings.
What do connection errors look like in different browsers?
One of the most common causes of a connection error is a missing or expired SSL certificate, meaning the browser can no longer verify a website’s identity. To protect your device from malicious web pages, the browser denies access automatically. Depending on your browser, different codes provide information about the exact error.
“This connection is not private” in Safari
If you have a Mac or iPhone, you may see a message in Safari that the connection is not private. For more information, select Show Details. The error message may indicate that the web page may only be pretending to be the one you want to visit and is instead trying to steal personal information. You should take the warning seriously and avoid the web page.
By the way: Thanks to its built-in VPN, with Avira Free Security for Mac you can surf more anonymously and securely. The tool detects and blocks cyberthreats in real time — for safe surfing.
Error codes in Chrome
There can be various reasons why your browser can’t connect to a website. Each code reveals why:
- ERR_CERT_SYMANTEC_LEGACY: This error indicates that the website has a certificate issued by Symantec that’s unsupported.
- NET::ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID: If you receive a message saying that your connection is not private and this code appears, the site’s SSL certificate cannot be authenticated.
- NET::ERR_CERT_DATE_INVALID: If the date and time on your device do not match those in your browser, you’ll receive this error message.
- SSL Certificate Error: This error indicates that there’s a general issue with the site’s SSL certificate without going into further detail
“Your connection is not secure” — error codes in Edge
If you see a message in Edge that your connection is not secure, the following codes indicate why:
- DLG_FLAGS_INVALID_CA: The website’s certificate is invalid.
- DLG_FLAGS_SEC_CERT_CN_INVALID: The browser has detected suspicious activity on the website.
- Error code: 0 This code appears when the website’s SSL certificate is not secure.
- NET::ERR_CERT_COMMON_NAME_INVALID: If the domain name for the certificate does not match the name in the address bar, you’ll see this error message.
Error messages for unsecured connections in Firefox
Common error codes that the Firefox browser displays when the connection is not private include:
- ERROR_SELF_SIGNED_CERT: If the browser detects an untrustworthy, self-signed SSL certificate, it displays this error code.
- SEC_ERROR_EXPIRED_CERTIFICATE: You’ll see this if the SSL certificate of a website is no longer valid.
- SEC_ERROR_UNKNOWN_ISSUER: The browser warns you if the issuer of the digital certificate is unknown.
How can I protect my online privacy?
If a website’s SSL certificate is invalid or absent, you cannot fix the error message yourself. However, there are ways you can still protect your online security and privacy, and still open a page that says “This connection is not private”.
- Protect your online accounts: Strong and unique passwords for your online accounts make it harder for hackers to access them. You can further strengthen your defenses by using two-factor authentication (2FA).
- Add extensions: Use extensions to add protection features in Opera, Chrome, or any other browser of your choice.
- Customize your privacy settings: You can customize the privacy settings in your browser. In doing so, use the strictest criteria possible.
- Update your operating system: Always keep your operating system, browser, and other software up to date to plug possible security holes.
- Check your connection: To avoid the “Your connection is not private” error message, make sure you only disclose sensitive information like your credit card details online when your connection is secured over HTTPS.
Also use a VPN — especially when surfing on public Wi-Fi hotspots. Avira Phantom VPN encrypts your data traffic and routes it through a secure tunnel, so third parties can’t snoop on what you do online. The tool also assigns you different IP addresses that can’t be traced back to you. Among other things, this prevents advertisers from tracking your IP address and showing you targeted ads so you get to enjoy greater privacy when surfing. Avira Phantom VPN is available for all common operating systems. These include a VPN for Windows, a VPN for iOS, and a VPN for Android.