#9 Ways to Fix – This Site Can’t Provide a Secure Connection

Receiving a warning indicating something needs to be fixed while accomplishing crucial tasks, such as remaining secure online, may be annoying. If you notice the warning “This site can’t provide a secure connection,” you may be perplexed and concerned. This may be a significant issue, especially if you’re using MAMP to test things on your machine.

This problem usually occurs when your web browser or website’s certificate is malfunctioning. Fixing it is typically simple. You might only need to clean your web browser.

In this post, we will discuss why this error message appears frequently and discuss the possible methods to fix the issue

Chapter 1

Understanding the “This Site Can’t Provide a Secure Connection” Error

This part will show you all about mistakes. It’ll tell you what they are, when they happen, and where we can find them.

What is this Error?

When you encounter the notification “This Site Can’t Provide a Secure Connection,” it indicates that there may be an issue with the site’s security. This might occur due to incorrect time settings, problems with stored information, issues with the secure connection, or if the site lacks the appropriate security certificate. 

It is often called “ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR“, which signifies the same thing. HTTPS-enabled websites are safer than those without. Browsers like Google Chrome will not allow you to visit websites that are not HTTPS. For a website to be secure, it requires an SSL certificate.

If a website claims to be HTTPS but cannot confirm it has an SSL certificate, browsers will display the message “This Site Can’t Provide a Secure Connection.” This notice urges users not to visit particular websites because they may be harmful.

Remember: The error “This Site Can’t Provide a Secure Connection” often stems from a fault with the website’s security certificates. Most web browsers, including Google Chrome, verify a website’s security certificate before allowing you to view it. If a browser cannot discover a security certificate, it displays this error message.

“This Site Can’t Provide a Secure Connection” Error Variations

One important thing to know about this mistake is its appearance, which can vary depending on your browser. But no matter what, the message will always talk about safe connections.

Google Chrome

When you try to go to a website on Chrome, and it doesn’t have the right security stuff, Chrome says, “This Site Can’t Provide a Secure Connection chrome“. It also says that the target host sent an invalid response.

Chrome gives three ways to fix the problem: checking the connection, looking at the proxy settings, and running Windows Network Diagnostics. Here’s what the message looks like in Google Chrome:

Mozilla Firefox

If a website has an invalid SSL certificate, Firefox might show a page that says “Secure Connection Failed.” This means the browser couldn’t confirm the website’s identity. It’s like not being able to check someone’s ID before letting them into a party.

Firefox also gives more details. It says the browser couldn’t confirm the data it got from the website. It suggests telling the website owner about the problem.

Microsoft Edge

Here’s how it appears in Microsoft Edge.

Most web browsers give a limited amount of information about error messages. Firefox offers a bit of direction, but it’s still unclear. Don’t worry – the rest of this article will explain everything clearly.

Chapter 2

Causes of “This Site Can’t Provide a Secure Connection” Error

Sometimes, when a website says it can’t make a safe connection, its security must be fixed. But occasionally, it’s not the security problem; it’s your internet program. Or it’s how your computer is set up to work with websites.

To try to fix this, you can check if the website works on different internet programs. If it works on one but not another, the issue might be with your program. Let’s see why you might see the “This Site Can’t Provide a Secure Connection” message.

1. Outdated SSL Cache

The first reason for this error is an outdated SSL cache. Browsers store SSL cache so they don’t have to load it whenever you visit a site. But if the cache is old, the browser will keep loading the old version, causing this error.

2. No SSL Certificate

If a website doesn’t have an SSL certificate, it could show a message saying something went wrong. That’s because when you send or get stuff from that website, it’s not all safe and scrambled up like it should be. This makes it possible for third parties to intercept information passed between the website server and the browser, putting the site at risk of malware and attacks.

3. Inactive HTTPS Option

Sometimes, the HTTPS option must be enabled even with an SSL certificate installed. This forces the browser to open the site in HTTP, which isn’t secure, leading to an error.

4. Inaccurate Time and Date

If your browser has the wrong time and date settings, it can’t authenticate the website properly, showing you this error. However, this is an easy fix by setting the time correctly.

5. Extra Protective Antivirus Software

Antivirus software is excellent for protecting your system. However, sometimes, it can be too protective and show an error for no real reason. If you suspect that your antivirus software is causing this issue, you can also Run ClamAV Antivirus Scan from cPanel for further troubleshooting.

6. Faulty Browser Extension

A faulty browser extension could also be the cause of this error. Browser extensions add features to your web experience. However, an outdated or faulty extension could contain a virus or threat, causing this error. That’s why it’s essential to remove unnecessary and old extensions.

7. Error due to Quic Protocol

The error could also be due to the Quick Protocol. This protocol enhances your browsing experience by reducing connection time and improving congestion control and transport extensibility. It’s usually enabled on Google Chrome by default, which could sometimes be the reason for the “This Site Can’t Provide a Secure Connection” Error.

Pro Tip: Fortunately, “this site can’t provide a secure connection bypass” is available. It happens when a security certificate called an SSL certificate is missing. You only need to install an SSL certificate to solve it.

Chapter 3

#9 Ways To Fix This Site Can’t Provide a Secure Connection

Now that we know why we’re seeing this problem. Let’s see How to Fix This Site Can’t Provide a Secure Connection. Here are the 9 ways to make it work again.

1. Check the Website Address

Before we get into the essential protocol for fixing the “This Site Can’t Provide a Secure Connection” problem, let’s review one of the most critical approaches. This error might occasionally occur due to a spelling issue in the URL address.

So, check the URL of the website you intend to visit. If you’re sure the site URL is correct, keep reading to discover more about how to resolve this issue.

2. Clear Browsing Data

Your browsing history might be to blame if you see an error message. Over time, stored cache files can build up and cause unexpected errors. To fix this, try clearing your browser data. Here’s how:

• Open Chrome and click on the three dots at the top right corner (Customize And Control Chrome).
• Select “More Tools.”

• Click on the “Clear browsing data” option.
• Check all the boxes, including “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files.”
• Lastly, click on “Clear Data.”

Sometimes, it helps to go back to the website. If the problem keeps happening, try these other ways to fix it.

3. Fix Date And Time

A simple fix can sometimes solve the “This Site Can’t Provide a Secure Connection” Error. One easy hack is to fix the date and time on your device.

• If your system has the wrong date and time, it can cause problems accessing websites, which might be why you see this error. To fix it, update your date and time settings and revisit the site.
• If the problem continues, try the following method.

4. Install SSL Certificate

Now that the reader has explored some convenient methods, it’s time to learn about the primary protocol for fixing this error. First, installing an SSL Certificate is perhaps the best way to eliminate this error. Most “The Site Can’t Provide a Secure Connection” errors happen because of an SSL problem.

5. Reinstall the SSL Certificate

If someone’s website shows “Can’t Provide a Secure Connection,” it might be due to an invalid or broken SSL installation. To fix this, the SSL certificate should be reinstalled. Here’s how it can be done on Cpanel:

• Open the Hosting dashboard.
• Go to Advanced and select SSL.
• Choose the domain, click the three-dots button, and select Reinstall.

6. Force HTTPS Connection

Sometimes, a website has an SSL Certificate installed but doesn’t use HTTPS. This means that when you visit the site, it runs on HTTP and shows an error. The website must be forced to use HTTPS to fix this error.

7. Clear SSL State

If someone tries forcing an HTTPS Connection and it doesn’t fix the problem, they might need to reset the SSL cache on their computer. Some people might mix this up with clearing their browser history and think that clearing history will also clear the SSL cache, but that’s not true. The operating system manages the SSL cache, so it needs to be removed separately. Here’s a simple guide to clearing the SSL Cache:

• Type “Cpanel” in the search bar on your Windows computer and open it.

• To find the Network and Internet settings, go to the Start menu and open Control Panel. Next, click on Network and Internet and select “View network status and tasks.”

• Afterward, they should click “Internet options,” which are located on the lower left side of the Control Panel (Cpanel).

• When you open a new tab, go to the “Content” tab and click “Clear SSL State,” a new tab will open.

• After clearing the SSL Cache, they should try to revisit the website. If the problem keeps happening, they should move on to the next step.

8. Disable Browser Extensions

Faulty browser extensions can occasionally generate this error. Browser extensions are tiny helpers that bring new functions to your browser. However, if your browser is outdated or the extensions must be patched, it may behave strangely. This can lead to the “This Site Can’t Provide a Secure Connection” error.

One approach is to turn off your browser’s extensions. Here’s how you can do it.

• Open Chrome and click the three dots in the top right corner.
• Choose “More tools” then “Extensions.”

• You’ll see a list of extensions. To turn off an extension, simply toggle the switch next to it to the off position.

• By turning off your browser extensions, you can solve the problem and browse the web more securely.

9. Disable Quick Protocol

To connect to servers quickly, internet browsers employ a unique protocol known as QUIC. This protocol allows them to communicate more rapidly, resulting in speedier page load times. However, QUIC can occasionally cause issues with connections.

To circumvent these difficulties, disable QUIC in your browser. Here’s how you can accomplish it:

• Open your browser and navigate to the web address bar.
• Enter “chrome://flags/#enable-quic” and press enter.
• Look for the Experimental Quic protocol at the top of the list.
• In the bottom corner, find the menu with the down arrow and turn it off.

• The website is ready to use again! You can visit it now.

Remember: If an extension you added to your computer isn’t working right or is too old, it might cause a problem. You might see error “This Site Can’t Provide a Secure Connection” message because of this. Deleting any old or not needed tools is vital to avoid these errors.

Conclusion

These instructions can help you resolve the ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR, often known as the “this site cannot establish a secure connection” issue. If you’ve tried these remedies and still encounter the problem, the website you’re attempting to visit may require a valid SSL certificate or be installed appropriately. 

You should notify the website’s owner about the situation. In certain situations, you may still be able to use the website.

FAQs

Do browser extensions also cause the “This Site Can’t Provide a Secure Connection” Error?

Yes, If an extension you added to your computer isn’t working right or is too old, it might cause a problem. You might see an error message because of this. Deleting any old or not needed tools is vital to avoid these errors.