How to fix "your connection is not private" error

The web is a wonderful place, but also a point of concern when it comes to security. Many privacy and cybersecurity issues begin when we visit suspect websites or unwittingly provide information to hackers.

In the past few years, popular browsers have begun informing users when they’re about to visit a website that’s not trusted. Most often, it’s because a website is using HTTP rather than the more secure HTTPS protocol. This often means the website was simply not updated to a secure connection, but there’s no point in taking a chance – and your browser doesn’t know whether it’s laziness on the part of developers, or a hacking attempt. 

We’ll walk you through what it means when you see privacy errors in your browsers, and how to make sure your connection to the internet is secure. 

What does “your connection is not private” error mean?

The “your connection is not private” warning is your browser telling you, in no uncertain terms, that the connection to the website you’re trying to visit is not secure, and poses a cybersecurity threat to you and your computer. 

When accessing a website, browsers run a series of operations, one of which being a check to make sure the website’s security certificate is up to date. For most sites, this is as simple as having an HTTPS – or Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure – protocol enabled, which ensures an encrypted communication connection between your computer and the website. This doesn’t mean the site or your browser are totally safe, but it’s a critical first step toward ensuring things are safe and sound. HTTPS is also a way for your browser to verify who owns the website.  

What is an SSL connection error?

A common HTTPS connection certificate is SSL, or Secure Socket Layer. It provides a safe, secure connection between your browser and the website you want to visit. When your browser returns an error warning you the SSL connection is not satisfactory, it is likely for one (or many) of the following reasons: 

• Your browser is not up to date. If you happen to be running a really old browser version, it may not be communicating properly with the website’s SSL.
• There is a server issue. Websites are hosted on servers, which also handle SSL certification checks. If there’s an issue with the server, the SSL check can’t happen, and your browser will think there’s an error.
• Antivirus settings are wrong. If your computer is running antivirus software, it could be interfering with your browser’s secure connection.
• The website has a missing or expired certificate. This is the most common cause for SSL connection errors.

What “your connection is not private” error looks like in each browser

Let’s take a look at the error warning. Depending on a browser, it might look slightly differently for different users, so we need to make sure you recognize it right away. 

Your connection is not private in Google Chrome

When you see your connection is not private Chrome shows the following image:  

Your connection is not private in Safari

When you see this connection is not private Safari will show you this: 

Your connection is not private Firefox

When a Firefox connection is not secure, you will see this Mozilla notification:  

How to fix “your connection is not private” error

First, consider the website you’re trying to visit before taking any of the steps below. If you’re not sure the page is secure, it may be best to avoid it. When your browser is giving you a warning, it’s often best to accept it as a sign to turn back. If you’ve been thinking “great, but  how do you fix your connection is not private on Mac?” it’s sometimes best not to. 

But if you really do need to visit the site that’s returning a warning, there are some common workarounds. There are the answers to your most common query: “how do I fix your connection is not private?” 

Keep in mind we’re discussing privacy error Chrome solutions, but each browser has similar workarounds. Each has a unique fix. 

Reload the page

Many times when this issue appears, Mac computers running any browser simply stop trying. It could be a variety of issues you’re seeing the “your connection is not private” Chrome message, but it could simply be a server timing out.  

To fix the issue, try reloading the page:  

1. In Safari or Chrome, go to View
2. Choose “Reload page”. 

Go incognito

Why does Chrome keep saying your connection is not private when it is? One of the easiest answers to the ‘how do I fix your connection is not private’ question is to go incognito.  

Chrome’s incognito mode doesn’t log sites into your history or cache, and those may be reasons a site won’t load for you. Here’s how to activate incognito in Chrome:  

1. Open Chrome and go to File
2. Choose “New Incognito Window” 
3. Try revisiting the website in incognito.  

You can try and use the same hack for Safari: 

1. Open Safari and go to File
2. Choose “New Private Window” 
3. Try revisiting the website in incognito.  

Check the date and time on your Mac

If your Mac’s date and time don’t match the browser’s understanding of date and time, it can cause the browser to think something is amiss. Here’s how to check the date and time on your Mac:

1. In the Mac menu bar, click the Apple logo on the top left
2. Choose “System Preferences” from the menu
3. Choose “Date and Time”
4. Make sure the date and time on your Mac are accurate

Clear browser cache and cookies

Computers get confused too! If you’re confused, wondering “how do i fix this connection is not private message,” it may be as simple as clearing your browser’s cache and cookies.

The simplest way to get rid of browser clutter is to use CleanMyMac X: 

1. Open CleanMyMac X
2. Go to Privacy and click “Scan” 
3. Choose your browser, then select “Cookies” and “Browsing History” 
4. Click “Remove.” 

Check your WiFi network

Connection matters, and the answer to your “why do I get this connection is not private?” query may be as simple as you changing WiFi networks. Your Mac does a great job of finding the best network for you, but it doesn’t always make sure it’s the right network. 

Two great apps that do a better job of identifying and troubleshooting your WiFi connectivity are WiFi Explorer and NetSpot. These apps identify each connection available for your Mac, and tell you if those connections are strong, secure, and viable options for browsing the web. Critically, they let you know if you’ve migrated to an open network, a common issue for those times WiFi connections are causing issues with navigating to websites.  

We recommend starting with NetSpot that will tell you which spots in your room/office have the best network connectivity potential. Then, you can try WiFi Explorer to scan your network for potential issues and see if anything comes up.  

Proceed with the warning  

If you look closely, you’ll notice that the warning message in each browser gives you an option to ignore it and proceed to your website. This should be done with extreme caution, though. 

If you’re sure the website is safe to visit, here’s how you can override the warning. 

In Chrome: 

1. Click “Advanced” on the error message
2. Click “Proceed”
3. Confirm you want to visit the website. 

In Safari: 

1. Click “Show Details” on the error message
2. Click “visit the website”
3. In the new pop-up, confirm you want to visit the website. 

In Firefox, you should click “Advanced” and proceed with the similar flow.  

Below, we talk about a few good tools you can install on your Mac to make sure overriding the warning message won’t harm your security — a malware scanner, secure VPN, and ad blocker. 

Check your antivirus and firewall

If you have issues visiting certain websites on public networks, you should arm yourself with a VPN tool, such as ClearVPN. This will allow the connection, while keeping your data safe.  

Also, avoid using untrustworthy antivirus and anti-ad software, because those are exactly the types of tools that can mess up your network connection. Here are two secure tools that we can recommend to use instead:  

• CleanMyMac X for regular malware scans
• AdLock for anti-ad and anti-tracking  

CleanMyMac X has specific Malware Removal and Privacy modules you can use instead of relying on fussy antivirus software. Not to mention, the “your connection is not private error” might itself be the result of some virus infecting your Mac — and CleanMyMac X is the best tool to get rid of it. 

AdLock, in its turn, will block annoying, and often malicious, pop-ups, banners, and ads in your browser, so you can avoid viruses and browse the web safely — even on unsecured networks.  

Resolve network issues with Setapp

Stable connection is the backbone of everyday productivity. With Setapp, you can solve the “your connection is not private” challenge, find out where it’s best to put a Wi-Fi router in the place you work from, as well as speed up your Mac in general. 

The apps we mentioned here today are all available for free as part of a seven day trial of Setapp, a suite of productivity apps for Mac and iPhone. In addition to CleanMyMac X, WiFi Explorer, NetSpot, ClearVPN, and AdLock, you’ll get access to dozens of other excellent apps. When your trial is over, and you want to continue enjoying unlimited access to Setapp, it’s only $9.99 per month.