A user receives this error message:
What is the cause? What is the cause?
A SSL certificate is invalid or self-signed
B User needs to change the URL to http://from https://
C Web server doesn’t support HTTPS sites
D Domain is improperly configured at the registrar
E User’s browser doesn’t support secure websites
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is A. SSL certificate is invalid or self-signed.
Explanation:
SSL (Secure Socket Layer) certificates are used to secure the connection between a user’s browser and a web server by encrypting data exchanged during the session. When a user encounters an error message saying, “SSL certificate is invalid or self-signed,” it generally points to issues with the website’s SSL certificate.
Here’s why A is the correct answer:
- SSL Certificate Issues: An SSL certificate ensures the legitimacy of a website by validating its identity. If the certificate is invalid, it could mean the certificate has expired, is misconfigured, or hasn’t been issued by a trusted Certificate Authority (CA). Websites that use SSL certificates need to have a certificate issued by a recognized CA to confirm that the site is legitimate.
- Self-signed Certificates: A self-signed certificate is one that is created and signed by the website owner, not by a trusted CA. While self-signed certificates can technically encrypt communication, they are not trusted by browsers, which is why they trigger warnings. Browsers expect certificates to be issued by a trusted third-party authority to verify the site’s authenticity.
- Security Concerns: If a browser encounters an SSL certificate that is either invalid or self-signed, it will typically block access to the site, showing a warning message. This is a security measure to prevent users from engaging with potentially unsafe websites.
Other Answer Choices:
- B. User needs to change the URL to http://: This is incorrect because switching to HTTP from HTTPS would remove the security provided by SSL certificates, making the website less secure.
- C. Web server doesn’t support HTTPS sites: This would result in a different error, typically a connection error, not an SSL certificate issue.
- D. Domain is improperly configured at the registrar: This could affect domain resolution, but it’s not directly related to SSL certificates.
- E. User’s browser doesn’t support secure websites: Modern browsers generally support secure websites. An SSL issue would more likely be a problem with the certificate itself.
In summary, the error message is caused by an invalid or self-signed SSL certificate that the browser cannot trust, preventing secure access to the website.