What should I do about SSL certificate errors? Common causes and quick fixes

browsing the website or building an operation site, many people have encountered the browser pop-up security prompt, prompting the page there is an SSL certificate error, which will not only block normal website access, but also make users question the security of the website, and even lead to website traffic loss. In order to help you quickly solve this kind of problem, this article will deeply analyze the common causes of SSL certificate errors, combine the actual scene to give a practical repair plan, and share prevention tips, so that you can easily deal with such security failures.

What are the common causes of SSL certificate errors?

to solve the SSL certificate error, we must first clarify where the problem is, and different trigger reasons correspond to different repair directions.

1, the SSL certificate has expired or is not valid

SSL certificates have a fixed valid period, as short as 1 year, as long as 3 years. Once the valid period is exceeded, the browser will determine that the certificate is invalid and directly pop up the SSL certificate error prompt. In addition, if the newly applied certificate has not yet reached the effective time, it will also trigger the same error prompt. This situation occurs in the scenario of certificate replacement or first deployment.

2, SSL certificate configuration information does not match

SSL the certificate is bound to the domain name, if the domain name corresponding to the certificate at the time of deployment is inconsistent with the currently accessed domain name, for example, the certificate is configured for the second-level domain name, but the user accesses the main domain name, or the domain name scope covered by the certificate does not contain the currently visited subdomains, SSL certificate errors will be triggered. In addition, the encryption protocol configuration error when the certificate is deployed, such as using an old protocol that is not supported by the browser, will also trigger a security prompt.

3, SSL certificates are not trusted by browsers

SSL certificates issued by some niche organizations may not be included in the trust root directory of mainstream browsers. Browsers will determine that such certificates do not have legal security certification qualifications, and then pop up SSL certificate error prompts. In addition, incomplete certificate chains can also lead to trust issues. For example, only server certificates are deployed, and no intermediate certificates are installed. Browsers cannot complete the trust chain verification, which will also trigger errors.

How to repair SSL certificate error?

SSL certificate errors caused by the above different reasons, we can take targeted repair measures to quickly restore normal access to the website.

1, timely update or replacement of expired certificates

first log in to the background of the certificate authority, query the valid period of the current SSL certificate, if it has expired, directly apply for renewal or re-purchase the SSL certificate of the corresponding domain name, download and complete the installation according to the server's deployment guide, restart the server after the installation is completed, and then visit the website to verify whether the SSL certificate error disappears. If it is not a valid certificate, just wait until the effective time before visiting.

2, fix SSL certificate configuration information

first check whether the domain name bound to the SSL certificate is exactly the same as the currently accessed domain name. If it is inconsistent, you need to reapply for an SSL certificate matching the current domain name, or apply for a wild-card certificate containing all the domain names that need to be covered. In addition, check the encryption protocol configuration of the server, give priority to enabling TLS1.2 and above protocols, disable SSL3.0 and other insecure protocols that have been eliminated, and restart the server after saving the configuration to solve the SSL certificate error caused by the configuration.

3, complete the certificate chain or replace the trust certificate

If the SSL certificate error is caused by the incomplete certificate chain, log in to the certificate authority background to download the corresponding intermediate certificate, and deploy the intermediate certificate to the server together with the server certificate to complete the trust chain. If the certificate is not trusted by the browser, it is recommended to replace it with an SSL certificate issued by an authority trusted by mainstream browsers, such as Symantec, Let's Encrypt, etc. After redeployment, the trust problem can be solved.

How can ordinary users bypass SSL certificate errors?

for ordinary browsers, when encountering SSL certificate errors, on the premise of confirming that the website is formal and credible, temporary measures can also be taken to bypass the prompts and access the website content normally.

1 Add browser trust exception

when the browser pops up the SSL certificate error prompt page, find the advanced options at the bottom of the page, click and select Continue to visit the website, some browsers need to manually add the certificate of the website to the trust list, and the SSL certificate error prompt will not pop up when visiting the website later. It should be noted that this method is only suitable for websites that you confirm are safe, avoid using it on unfamiliar websites, and prevent phishing attacks.

2, clean browser cache and certificate information

some cases, the browser cache old certificate information will cause SSL certificate error, then you can open the browser settings page, find privacy and security options, clean the browser cache files and cookies, while deleting the saved old SSL certificate information, then re-visit the website, the browser will re-obtain the latest certificate information, most likely to solve the error prompt.

4. How to prevent SSL certificate errors from happening again?

resolve SSL certificate errors, taking preventative measures can avoid the recurrence of such problems and reduce the impact on website operations and user access.

1, set SSL certificate expiration reminder

open the expiration reminder function in the background of the certificate authority, and you can add an expiration reminder 30 days in advance in your calendar tool, so that you can complete the renewal and replacement of the SSL certificate in time before the expiration of the SSL certificate, and avoid SSL certificate errors caused by the expiration of the certificate. For wild-card certificates, pay attention to whether the subdomain covered is new, and timely update the certificate coverage.

2, regularly check the certificate configuration and status

regularly use the online SSL certificate detection tool every month to check the valid period, configuration information, trust chain integrity of the certificate, etc. Once the configuration abnormality or trust problem is found, make timely adjustments. At the same time, pay attention to the update requirements of the browser for the encryption protocol, adjust the protocol configuration of the server in time, ensure that the configuration of SSL certificates always meets the security standards of mainstream browsers, and reduce the occurrence of SSL certificate errors from the root cause.

To sum up, SSL certificate errors are common security failures in website access. The incentives cover multiple dimensions such as the certificate itself, configuration, and trust, and the corresponding repair and preventive measures also have their own focuses. Whether it is website managers or ordinary users, as long as the cause of the error is clear, corresponding solutions can be quickly taken to solve the problem. At the same time, through regular inspections and expiration reminders, the probability of SSL certificate errors can be effectively reduced, and the security and smoothness of website access can be guaranteed.