Troubleshooting the “Your Connection Is Not Private” Error: A Guide for the Stumped Techie

Hello, readers!

Today, I want to delve into an issue that many internet users have encountered at some point: the frustrating “Your connection is not private” message. This message typically indicates a problem with the website’s security certificate, and even seasoned tech support professionals can find it confounding.

I recently faced a particularly perplexing situation while working on my own PC, and I hope sharing my experience can assist others who find themselves in a similar predicament.

The Problem Encountered

While using an Ethernet connection, I was unable to access any website without receiving a warning stating:

“Your connection is not private”
Certain attackers might be attempting to steal your information from [website URL] (for instance, passwords, messages, or credit card details). Learn more
NET::ERR_CERT_COMMON_NAME_INVALID

Despite my experience in tech support, this issue left me completely stumped.

Troubleshooting Steps Taken

Determined to resolve the problem, I systematically approached potential solutions, which included:

• Verifying Date and Time Settings: Ensured that my system clock was accurate.
• Clearing Browser Data: Wiped cache and cookies across multiple browsers and attempted access in incognito mode.
• Testing Different Browsers: Switched between different web browsers to isolate the issue.
• Resetting Winsock and Flushing DNS: Performed network resets to refresh connectivity.
• Restarting the Router: Attempted to re-establish the connection by cycling the router power and experimenting with different Ethernet ports.
• Manual IP and DNS Configuration: Set fixed IP and DNS addresses to ensure proper network routing.
• Reviewing Proxy Settings: Checked for any misconfigurations in proxy settings.
• Clearing SSL State: Cleared any stored SSL state in the browser.
• Reinstalling Network Drivers: Updated drivers to ensure compatibility and performance.
• Excluding from Antivirus: Disabled Windows Defender and ensured there was no interference from other security software.
• Chrome Shortcut Modification: Tried adding a command to ignore certificate errors in Chrome.

The Setup in Question

To give context, my setup included:

• Motherboard: Asus B450-F Gaming
• CPU: Ryzen 2700x
• Operating System: Windows 10 x64 (