
How to Fix SSL Connection Errors on Various Browsers and Platforms
How many times have you received an SSL connection error message when you tried to visit your favorite website? Most of the time, it’s because the site has been improperly configured, but fortunately, there are several quick fixes you can use to resolve the problem and access your site again. The fix that works best for you will depend on which browser and operating system you use, so we’ve created this list of different ways to fix SSL connection errors on various browsers and platforms.
What is SSL
SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer. SSL is a protocol that’s been around since the early days of the web. It’s designed to encrypt data being sent back and forth between two devices, meaning that anyone who intercepts it won’t be able to read it. The data can also only be decrypted with a cryptographic key, which not just anyone can get their hands on. This type of encryption is what’s used by banks, email providers, credit card companies, etc. when you buy things online.
What is an SSL Certificate
SSL Certificates are used for establishing trust between a browser, such as Chrome or Safari, and a website. If you have an SSL Certificate installed on your website, the green padlock appears next to the URL bar in your browser. This indicates that the communication between your computer and the server is encrypted using 256-bit encryption.
A certificate is valid for one year from the issue date before it needs to be renewed. You will be notified by your hosting company if this time period is nearing its end so that you can purchase another certificate. You can also buy a new SSL Certificate from them at any time. The price of certificates varies depending on their type, the number of domains included, and the company that issued them.
What are SSL Connection Errors
SSL connection errors can range from being a mild annoyance to a complete show-stopper. When an error occurs, the browser will display a warning message that your login session has expired or been closed by the server. The message will look something like this: The connection was interrupted because the remote computer terminated the remote control program. There are many reasons why this might happen, but they all boil down to one of two scenarios: either there is an issue with your internet connection or there is an issue with your browser and its settings. Regardless of which case it is, it’s important that you know what steps to take when encountering this type of error so that you can get back online as quickly as possible. Below is a list of some common causes of an SSL connection error
- Try changing your password
- Update your operating system
- Check the URL
- Ensure that you’re using https:// in front of any website address
- Restart the browser
- Disable any security extensions
How to Fix the SSL Connection Error in Google Chrome
Follow the steps below to fix the SSL connection error in Google Chrome.
- Click on the lock icon in the address bar of your browser.
- Click Advanced from the drop-down menu.
- Select Manage certificates.
- Find your certificate, right-click, then select Examine certificate.
- In the window that pops up, you should see a number next to Valid from that says (not set).
- Enter today’s date into this box then hit OK or enter whichever date is applicable for you and hit OK again.
- Now type chrome://flags/#ignore-certificate-errors in the search bar at the top of your browser and press Enter.
- Now turn off Secure Connections (Beta) by clicking on it and hitting Disable – yes, disable it!
- Restart your computer/browser
- Log back into Chrome
- Check if there are any more errors with OpenSSL
- If there are errors, follow step 7 – otherwise, you’re all good!
How to Fix the SSL Connection Error in Firefox
If you are a Firefox user who is experiencing an SSL connection error, there are a few steps that you can take in order to fix it. First, close out of the browser completely by using the File menu in Windows or the Exit option on Mac OS X. Next, open up Firefox again and type about: config into your address bar. This should bring up a list of settings for Firefox. You may be prompted with a warning message that these settings can be dangerous for your computer. Hit I’ll be careful, I promise! to proceed. Search through the list for security.enterprise_roots_CA_list (without quotes). Double-click on this setting to change its value from (without quotes). Once you have made this change, hit okay. Your window will then refresh and show you a message saying Successfully saved. Close out of Firefox and try connecting again.
How to Fix the SSL Connection Error in Safari
In order to fix the SSL connection error in Safari, you’ll first want to make sure your device is running at least iOS 8.1 or higher. Next, go into your settings app, then into general. Scroll down until you see Reset and tap it. After that, you will need to enter your passcode if you have one set up already. Finally, after tapping Reset Network Settings, wait a few seconds before opening Safari again and checking if the error has been fixed. If it hasn’t been fixed yet, repeat this process until it does work!
How to Fix the SSL Connection Error on Android
If you’re trying to browse the internet through your Android device and get an SSL connection error, there are a few things that you can try. Some of them may not work for you, but hopefully one will.
- Make sure that your browser is up-to-date. There could be a more recent version available that has fixed the issue. Keep in mind that when you update your browser, it will reset all of your settings back to default which means you’ll have to go back into advanced settings and change things back to how they were before the update if they don’t work for you now.
- Check to make sure that you’re using a secure network by looking at the little lock icon at the top left of your screen or checking the https next to the address bar (it should be green).
- Clear cache and cookies by going into settings -> apps -> google play services -> clear cache & data.
- Reset your phone as another way to fix SSL errors (remember what we said about all settings being lost after updating).
- Change networks (turn off Wi-Fi and use cellular data). You can also use airplane mode for 30 seconds then turn it off again. Sometimes this can resolve the SSL connection error without having to do any other steps.
- Open up a different web browser.
- Go offline by clicking on Fetch in Google Chrome, clicking offline on Safari, or hitting F5 on Internet Explorer. These three browsers allow you to see cached pages while still experiencing an SSL connection error so that you can access some of your favorite sites while working around the problem from within your browser window instead of switching completely over to another platform like Gmail, YouTube, or Google Play Store for example just to bypass it temporarily.
In conclusion, keep in mind that SSL connections aren’t perfect! There’s always a chance that your website could fall victim to a man-in-the-middle attack, which means someone might have been able to intercept your data during communication between your computer (or mobile device) and the server. This could lead to security issues, like exposing sensitive data or stealing information from your site. To avoid these problems and improve the overall reliability of your web traffic, it’s important to address any potential risks with a thorough review of your SSL certificate and TLS settings.