What does "Your connection isn't private" mean, and is it safe to continue?
It means your browser checked the website's security certificate and something didn't match, so it stopped before sending anything. Sometimes it's a harmless mistake, sometimes an attack, and the page can't tell you which. The safe choice is Back to safety, especially on any site where you'd sign in or pay.
A certificate is a site's digital ID card. It proves the site is who it claims to be and lets your browser scramble what you send. The warning appears when that ID is for a different address, has expired, or comes from an issuer your computer doesn't trust. Chrome and Edge say "Your connection isn't private". Safari says "This Connection Is Not Private".
If the warning shows on almost every site, the problem is probably your computer's clock. A wrong date makes good certificates look expired. If it shows on just one site, especially on public Wi-Fi, someone could be sitting between you and the site. The Advanced button can let you continue anyway, but never do that on a bank, shop or sign-in page.
- Click Back to safety or Go back
- Check your date and time. On Windows: Settings, Time & language, Date & time, turn on Set time automatically. On a Mac: System Settings, General, Date & Time
- On public Wi-Fi, switch to your phone's data or wait until you're home
- Type the site's address yourself, or use its official app
How secure is your computer overall? Take the 2-minute checkup →
Certificate Warnings
From the HTTPS & Certificates course. Understand the warning page, its common causes, and the safe choice.
Try it on the practice computer Read the full lesson
The reading is free. The hands-on lab is part of Pro.