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What an SSL warning means
A browser certificate warning reports a validation failure; it does not identify a single cause. The browser may be unable to confirm that the certificate is valid for the site you meant to visit, or that it can trust the certificate issuer. Google lists causes such as an inaccurate device clock, a self-signed or unrecognized certificate, a corrupted or expired certificate, or a certificate name that does not match the website’s hostname. A Wi-Fi sign-in portal or a work or school HTTPS-inspecting proxy can also be involved. Google Chrome Help and Google Search Console Help describe these issues.
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Common messages include “Your connection is not private” and codes such as NET::ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID, ERR_CERT_COMMON_NAME_INVALID, and ERR_CERT_DATE_INVALID. The exact text and where the error occurs help narrow down what to check; none makes a bypass safe by itself.
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Tell a certificate warning from a Safe Browsing warning
A certificate warning is about whether the browser can validate the connection’s certificate. A full-page red Safe Browsing interstitial is a separate warning: Chrome has flagged the site for unsafe behavior, such as phishing or malware. Google’s guidance is not to use a site flagged as dangerous and not to enter personal information there. Google Chrome Help: Check if a site’s connection is secure.
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Do not treat either warning as a routine obstacle. An exception only lets you attempt to continue; it does not establish that the destination is legitimate or fix the underlying issue.
Troubleshoot without bypassing the warning
- Check the device clock. Confirm the date, time, and time zone are accurate, and correct them if they are not.
- Complete public Wi-Fi sign-in. On a public network, open a plain HTTP page to prompt the Wi-Fi sign-in portal, then complete its sign-in and retry the site.
- Compare a private window and update the system. Retry in an Incognito or private window. If the site works there, investigate browser extensions. Also install available operating-system updates.
- Check HTTPS-scanning security software carefully. If security software scans HTTPS connections, use the vendor’s documented diagnostic steps and restore protection afterward. Chrome notes that this type of software can interfere with browser security.
- Contact your work or school administrator. A managed proxy may inspect HTTPS traffic, and its certificate may be missing or incorrectly configured. Do not install a certificate yourself. Google says, “It isn’t recommended that you install a certificate on your own, as it’s usually a security risk.”
- Contact the site owner if the issue is site-specific. If local and network checks do not resolve an error limited to one website, its owner may need to replace or correctly configure the certificate.
These troubleshooting steps follow Google Chrome’s guidance for common error messages; certificate configuration issues are also covered in Google Search Console Help.
Use the pattern to decide who should investigate
Compare the exact error, how widely it occurs, and the connection context. These are diagnostic clues—not evidence that it is safe to continue.
- One website, across devices or networks: The site’s certificate or configuration may need attention; contact the site owner.
- Many websites on one device: Check its clock, browser extensions, operating-system updates, and security software.
- Many websites on one network: Look for a Wi-Fi sign-in portal or, on a managed work or school connection, ask the administrator about proxy inspection and certificates.
- The warning appears only on a managed connection: Ask the network administrator to check the proxy and its certificate rather than installing one yourself.
Google lists device time, network sign-in, security software, proxy configuration, and certificate validity or configuration among possible causes. Chrome Help; Search Console Help.
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What not to enter on the warned page
While the certificate error is unresolved, do not type passwords, payment details, or other sensitive information into the page. A bypass does not remove the risk that the connection is not the one the browser could verify. If Chrome instead displays a red Safe Browsing warning, follow its guidance: avoid the site and do not enter personal information. Google Chrome Help.
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