How to Fix “Your Connection Is Not Private” Error in Chrome

NET::ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID or a similar error message appears with “Your connection is not private”? You are unable to access necessary websites because of this annoying Chrome error. Fortunately, it can usually be fixed in less than two minutes. We’ll get you back on the internet.

This security alert may actually increase your productivity whenever you need to access your business dashboard, make an online purchase, or visit your favorite websites. These alerts are shown by Chrome to shield users from dangerous websites that use incorrect SSL certificates. Legitimate websites, however, may also produce these errors because of outdated settings, misconfigured systems, or connectivity problems, all of which are typically simple to fix.

We, as web hosting experts at HostingRaja, deal with such problems related to SSL certificates often and have devised a sure-fire method of assisting both the people visiting the site and the site owners in troubleshooting privacy issues effectively. This thorough guide will take you through systematic solutions, give you an idea of what different error codes represent, and help you understand whether it is safe to proceed or if you should be more cautious about the problem.

Try These First – 2-Minute Fixes

These shortcuts eliminate 70 percent of privacy mistakes on the spot. This simple troubleshooting step should be taken first before proceeding to more complex ones.

Windows: Right-click clock → Adjust date/time → Enable “Set time automatically” → Click “Sync now” Mac: Apple menu → System Preferences → Date & Time → Check “Set date and time automatically”

Why this works: SSL certificates have specific expiration dates with exact validity periods, and having secure hosting ensures that the latest certificates are always deployed. Even small time discrepancies can trigger privacy warnings because Chrome can’t properly validate whether a certificate is currently valid. This is one of the leading causes of SSL certificate errors worldwide.

Steps: Press Ctrl+Shift+N (Cmd+Shift+N on Mac) → Visit the site again

Why this works: Bypasses stored cookies, cached information, and extensions that could obstruct SSL certificate validation. The problem is with your browser’s data if the website loads properly in incognito mode. If the error continues, there is probably a network or system-level issue.

Steps: Chrome menu → Settings → Privacy and security → Clear browsing data Select: Cached images and files + Cookies and other site data + Hosted app data Time range: All time

Why this works: Particularly after websites update their certificates, corrupted cache files or out-of-date cookies may cause issues with SSL certificate validation. In order to make sure visitors see the most recent security credentials, website owners who use HostingRaja’s hosting services frequently need to clear their browser data after SSL certificate renewals or domain changes.

What Your Error Code Means

Knowing your unique error code enables you to apply the appropriate fix more quickly and omit pointless troubleshooting steps:

The most frequent error is NET::ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID, which can most often be sorted out with the fast fixes listed above. All these error codes need unique solutions, and knowing enough about the problem at hand will enable you to select the most reasonable solution to keep with the best security practices.

When Quick Fixes Don’t Work

If the 2-minute quick fixes did not resolve the problem you experienced, one of these advanced solutions is aimed at more in-depth system and network-related problems that require further advanced troubleshooting.

Antivirus/Firewall Issues

Chrome’s certificate validation process may be hampered by the scanning of SSL connections by numerous security programs. These features can result in false positive privacy warnings even though they offer extra protection.

Common culprits: Avast, Kaspersky, Bitdefender, Norton, AVG

Important Security Note: Never forget to re-enable SSL scanning after checking. These attributes are useful as a defense against malicious websites and must be retained even during extensive, normal browsing.

Chrome-Specific Fixes

SSL certificate processing may be hampered by advanced Chrome configurations, particularly experimental features and corrupted browser settings.

Network-Level Fixes

Network configuration problems can cause SSL certificate validation failures across all devices on your network.

For home users:

Restart router: Wait for the indicator lights to stabilize and the full startup to occur after unplugging the power cable for 30 seconds and then reconnecting it.

• Windows: Open Command Prompt as administrator → Type ipconfig /flushdns → Press Enter
• Mac: Open Terminal → Type sudo dscacheutil -flushcache → Enter password
• Linux: Type sudo systemctl flush-dns → Press Enter

1. Access router admin panel (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1)
2. Find DNS settings (often under “Internet,” “Network,” or “WAN”)
3. Replace ISP DNS with Google or Cloudflare DNS servers
4. Save settings and restart router
5. Reconnect all devices and test

Bypassing the Warning (Use Caution!)

WARNING: Only do this if you absolutely trust the website
Understanding when it is safe to ignore the privacy warning and continue accessing the required websites is important in ensuring security in browsing.

These typical SSL certificate problems may be impairing your website’s usability and user confidence if visitors complain about privacy errors.

Certificate expired → Renew immediately through your hosting provider or certificate authority. Most certificates have 90-day (Let’s Encrypt) or 1-2 year validity periods.

Wrong domain on certificate → Get a certificate that matches your exact domain name. A certificate for “www.example.com” won’t validate for “example.com” without proper configuration.

Self-signed certificate → Replace with a proper SSL certificate from a trusted certificate authority to eliminate visitor warnings.

Intermediate certificate missing → Install the complete certificate chain. Many SSL certificates require intermediate certificates to establish trust with root certificate authorities.

Mixed content issues → Ensure all resources (images, scripts, CSS files) load over HTTPS. Mixed HTTP/HTTPS content triggers security warnings.

Need reliable SSL hosting? HostingRaja includes free SSL certificates with automatic renewal, proper intermediate certificate chain configuration, mixed content detection and resolution, 24/7 monitoring for certificate expiration, and expert support for complex SSL configurations – eliminating these common problems for your visitors.

To properly fix SSL certificate problems, different operating systems call for different strategies.

Avoid This Error in Future

Prevention techniques preserve the highest level of browsing security and lessen the possibility of running into privacy errors.

Keep Chrome updated: Enable automatic updates in Chrome settings (Chrome menu → Help → About Google Chrome)

Maintain correct system time: Use automatic time synchronization and verify time zone accuracy regularly

Review antivirus settings: Configure SSL scanning exceptions for frequently visited trusted sites to prevent false positives

Avoid public WiFi for sensitive sites: Use mobile data or VPN services for banking, shopping, and confidential browsing

Bookmark correct HTTPS URLs: Save complete URLs including “https://” to avoid insecure redirects and mixed content issues

Regular maintenance: Clear browsing data monthly, monitor certificate expiration notices, and update browser extensions regularly

Troubleshooting Flowchart

Follow this systematic approach to resolve privacy errors efficiently:

Still Stuck? Final Options

When standard troubleshooting fails to resolve the privacy error, these alternative approaches may provide access while you work toward a permanent solution.

Try different browser: Test Firefox, Safari, Edge, or other browsers to determine if the issue is Chrome-specific or affects all browsers equally

Use mobile data instead of WiFi: Bypasses local network configuration problems, proxy settings, or DNS issues that might require router reconfiguration

Access through VPN: Temporarily use a reputable VPN service to bypass geographical SSL configuration problems or local network restrictions

Contact website owner: Report the specific error code, your location, and browser version for faster resolution of server-side SSL issues

Wait 24 hours: Certificate renewal, DNS changes, or server updates may resolve the issue automatically as changes propagate across the internet

Security Best Practices and Expert Recommendations

Even though such fixes will resolve most of the privacy problems, remember that Chrome can show these notifications to protect you against potentially harmful websites. Such a mistake is not just a nuisance, but an attempt by your browser to enforce safety rules concerning internet safety.

Protecting user data and upholding trust are two more reasons why website owners should make sure their SSL configuration is correct, in addition to preventing visitor errors. Security is a top priority for expert hosting companies like HostingRaja, who provide automated SSL certificate management, correct setup, and round-the-clock monitoring to avert these problems.

Based on our experience at HostingRaja helping thousands of websites maintain secure connections, we recommend:

Professional hosting with managed SSL certificates keeps the highest security standards while removing the majority of privacy errors that visitors may encounter. When SSL is operating properly, your visitors can safely and securely access your content without ever seeing these annoying alerts.

Select a host that takes security seriously, automatically applies best practices, and offers knowledgeable assistance for SSL problems. Getting SSL setup right the first time, every time is essential for the security of your visitors and the reputation of your website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Chrome say your connection is not private?

Chrome displays this warning when it cannot verify a website’s SSL certificate due to expiration, misconfiguration, network interference, or security software conflicts. It’s a protective measure against potential security threats.

Is it safe to proceed to the website anyway?

Only proceed if you completely trust the website and it’s not requesting sensitive information like passwords, payment details, or personal data. Never bypass warnings for banking, shopping, or email sites.

How do I fix NET::ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID?

This error usually resolves by checking your system date/time accuracy, temporarily disabling antivirus SSL scanning, clearing browser data, or switching to reliable DNS servers like Google or Cloudflare.

Why does this happen on WiFi but not mobile data?

WiFi networks may have DNS issues, proxy configurations, firewall settings, or router-level SSL inspection that interferes with certificate validation. Mobile data bypasses these local network configurations.

Can antivirus cause connection not private error?

Yes, antivirus programs with SSL scanning features commonly cause these errors by intercepting and re-encrypting web traffic. Temporarily disabling SSL scanning often resolves the issue.