A user receives this error message:
larr? ?C ? ?Not Secure || ?
What is the cause?
? ?Domain is improperly configured at the registrar
SSL certificate is invalid or self-signed
Web server doesn’t support HTTPS sites
User’s browser doesn’t support secure websites
? ?User needs to change the URL to http:// ?from https://
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The error message likely indicates that the SSL certificate is invalid or self-signed.
Explanation:
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates are used to secure data between the user’s browser and the web server, ensuring that the communication is encrypted. Websites that use SSL certificates are identified by the https:// prefix in their URLs, where the ‘s’ stands for ‘secure.’ The error message the user is receiving suggests a problem with the website’s SSL configuration or certificate.
Common Causes of the Error:
- SSL Certificate is Invalid or Self-Signed:
- A self-signed certificate is one that is issued by the same entity that owns the website, rather than a trusted Certificate Authority (CA). Browsers cannot trust these self-signed certificates by default, which often triggers security warnings or errors like the one in the message. An invalid certificate could also mean that the certificate has expired or is not correctly linked to the domain.
- Domain is Improperly Configured at the Registrar:
- This could be related to DNS (Domain Name System) misconfigurations. If the domain is not correctly pointed to the right server or the server doesn’t have the correct SSL certificate set up, users will experience errors when trying to access the site using
https://.
- Web Server Doesn’t Support HTTPS Sites:
- Some older or misconfigured web servers might not support HTTPS. This could happen if the server doesn’t have SSL/TLS properly configured or if it’s not running the necessary software to handle secure connections.
- User’s Browser Doesn’t Support Secure Websites:
- This is less common but could occur if the user is using an outdated browser version that does not support modern encryption protocols required for secure websites.
Recommended Solution:
If the website owner has control over the server and domain, the first step is to check the SSL certificate. They should ensure that the certificate is valid, issued by a trusted CA, and correctly installed on the server. If using a self-signed certificate, it should be replaced with a certificate from a reputable CA. For users, changing the URL from https:// to http:// would bypass the SSL security and allow access without encryption, though this is not recommended for sensitive information.