What Does It Mean If Your Connection Isn’t Private—and How Can You Fix It?

What does “Your connection is not private” mean?

When you see this error while you’re browsing the Internet, it’s because your Internet browser cannot confirm whether a website is safe for you to visit. This warning message is meant to prevent you from visiting the website because to do otherwise is to risk your personal information.

If you visit a site that shows this error without the protection of antivirus software, you may be opening yourself up to attacks from malware and hackers.

Microsoft Defender

Stay safer online with one easy-to-use app<sup>1

1</sup>Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscription required; app available as separate download

Learn more

Why does “Your connection is not private” appear?

Before a website loads on your smart device or computer, your browser checks the site’s digital certificates to ensure safety and legitimacy. These checks make sure that the site in question will protect your private information like passwords and payment information, usually with some form of encryption. If a website doesn’t pass inspection and your browser finds an error in its digital certificate, the error will appear.

These digital certificates are also known as public key infrastructure and provide proof that a site is who it says it is. They help to protect passwords and personal data. When your connection to a website isn’t secure, it is likely due to an SSL connection error.

SSL Connection Errors

SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer and is a type of certificate for websites that operate over secure HTTPS connections. HTTPS differs from HTTP in that there is an extra layer of security to authorize connections and protect your data. When an SSL connection error occurs, it’s because there isn’t a secure way for your browser to open the page you’ve requested.

These errors that make “Your connection is not private” appear include:

• The SSL certificate is missing or expired
• Your browser hasn’t been updated and can’t read the certificate
• Your antivirus settings may be incorrect
• Your computer’s date and time may be off
• There is a server error with the website

How to fix a “Your connection is not private” error

The first option is to simply reload the website in question. This might refresh the certificate or fix a glitch like a browser timeout or a slow internet connection.

A second option is to use incognito or private browsing mode. This method of internet browsing lets you visit websites without saving your history or cache. If you’re still receiving an error while in private browsing mode, you may want to try clearing your cache.

Another suggestion sounds silly at first but may make an impact. Check your computer’s date and time. If they aren’t correct or if they don’t match your browser, you may experience an SSL connection error, and be informed that your connection is not private.

If you’re using public Wi-Fi, you may see this warning because the connection isn’t as secure as a private network. Some public Wi-Fi networks are poorly configured and may not be secure at all. While it’s always best to use a private, password-protected network, using a VPN to hide your identity and web traffic is a good idea.

If you still see the “Your connection is not private” message but still wish to proceed, do so with caution. You’re seeing this message for a good reason because the website you’re trying to visit may be compromised and has not been deemed secure.