Troubleshooting SSL Issues: A Family Tech Dilemma

Being the designated “technology expert” in my family can sometimes feel like a heavy mantle to bear. Recently, I found myself traversing the city to assist my aunt with an issue she encountered on a travel agency’s website. The culprit? A persistent message from Google Chrome indicating, “The connection is not secure.”

Although I wouldn’t label myself as a tech wizard, I have a fair understanding of navigating the digital landscape. Upon investigating, it appeared that my aunt’s issue was likely tied to an SSL certificate problem on the website she was trying to access, BrightSun Travel.

When I arrived, she explained her predicament: every time she logged in and attempted to book a flight, a warning appeared in the address bar. After that, the form she was using would malfunction, leaving her unable to complete her booking. There was, however, a peculiar note—occasionally, a green button would show up in the address bar whenever the form stopped working.

Faced with a vague description of the issue, I felt a bit lost. The “not secure” warning typically suggests that the SSL certificate, which secures the connection between the user’s browser and the website, may be either misconfigured or expired. With that in mind, I had a couple of immediate steps in mind.

First, I planned to check whether her Chrome browser was updated to the latest version. Browser updates often include security enhancements that could mitigate this type of issue. If Chrome remained problematic, I considered recommending an alternative browser, like Internet Explorer, for her next attempt.

At this juncture, I was eager to learn if there were additional troubleshooting steps I could explore or if there were common solutions related to SSL certificate issues that other readers might recommend. If you’ve faced something similar or have insights to share, your advice would be greatly appreciated. After all, family tech support can sometimes lead us down unexpected paths in our quest for solutions!