How to Fix Connection is Not Private Error in Chrome

Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team

1. Introduction

Security warnings while browsing can be frustrating. In many cases, they are caused by a website that's not configured properly, but there are a few computer and Chrome browser settings we can check to ensure the problem isn't happening because of a mistaken setting.

This guide will take you through the basic settings to ensure your computer and Chrome aren't the cause of these security errors. We will check:

  • Computer date and time
  • Chrome cache and cookies

Tools You'll Need:

  • A paperclip
  • iPhone charging cable
  • Access to a computer with iTunes installed
  • Any other non-consumable tools needed
  • Comment out tools section if no tools are necessary

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Supplies You'll Need:

  • Zip ties
  • Any other consumable supplies
  • Comment out supplies section if no supplies are necessary

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Before You Begin:

  • You must have access to a computer with iTunes installed.
  • You must have that thing for the other thing so you can do the thing.

You must have this thing before you whatever.

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Chrome security warning.

A Quick Fix

One quick way to correct this issue may involve your antivirus. You can temporarily disable your antivirus to test it if was blocking access to the website.

2. Make Sure Date and Time are Correct

Security certificates are used by our web browsers and computers to make sure a particular site is safe. If the date and time are wrong, certain web pages may give security warnings and secure programs such as work VPNs, banking apps, and most social network apps will not function. Since iOS devices (iPhones and iPads) and Android set their time automatically, you don't usually need to check those.

If you notice that your Date and Time keeps becoming unsynced, you should speak to the manufacturer about replacing your CMOS battery.

How to Verify the Date and Time on a Mac

  1. Select the time display in the top-right corner of your screen.
  2. Make sure both the date and time are correct.
Mac Menu Bar with time menu and date highlighted.
  1. If the time is incorrect, select the time display in the top-right corner of your screen, then select Open Date & Time Preferences.
Time display with Open Date and Time Preferences highlighted.
  1. Select the lock in the bottom-left corner to make changes.
Date and Time preferences with lock highlighted.
  1. Enter your username and password, then select Unlock.
Unlock prompt with user name, password, and unlock button highlighted.
  1. In most cases, letting your Mac take care of setting the time is the best choice. Make sure there is a check for Set date and time automatically, and make sure a time server close to you is chosen.
Date and Time preferences with Set date and time automatically highlighted.
  1. If you want, you can set the time manually. Remove the check for Set date and time automatically, then enter the correct date and time. Press Save when done.
Date and Time Preferences with Set date and time automatically unchecked, with calendar, clock, and save button highlighted.
  1. Select Time Zone, then select your closest region on the map, and refine it by choosing the city you are in, or the city closest to you, from the list below.
Date and Time Preferences with Time Zone, Map, and Closest City highlighted.

How to Verify the Date and Time in Windows

  1. Look at the date and time shown in the system tray. This is usually in the bottom right corner of the screen.
Windows 10 Taskbar with Date and Time highlighted.
  1. If the date or time are wrong, it can cause issues. To fix:
  2. Windows 10
  3. Right-click on the date and time.
Windows 10 Taskbar with Date and Time highlighted.
  1. Select Adjust date/time.
Context menu for clock with Adjust date time highlighted.
  1. For most, letting Windows manage the date and time, as well as automatically setting it is the best choice.
  2. Make sure Set time automatically and Adjust for daylight saving time automatically are both turned On.
Date and time settings with Set time automatically and Adjust for daylight saving time automatically highlighted.
  1. Make sure your time zone is selected for Time zone.
Date and time settings with Time zone highlighted.
  1. If you want, you can manually set the Date and time.
  2. Make sure Set time automatically is set to Off, then select Change for Change date and time.
Date and time settings with set time automatically off, and change date and time highlighted.
  1. Set the Date and Time correctly, then select Change.
Date and time dialog with date, time, and change button highlighted.
  1. Other Windows Versions
  2. Right-click on the date and time.
Windows 7 task bar with date and time highlighted.
  1. Select Adjust date/time.
Date and time context menu with Adjust date time highlighted.
  1. Make sure the proper Time zone is selected.
Date and time settings with Time zone highlighted.
  1. Select Change date and time.
Date and time options with Change date and time highlighted.
  1. Correct the Date and Time, then select OK.
Date and time settings with calendar, time, and OK button highlighted.
  1. You may wish to have Windows set the date and time for you in the future.
  2. Select the Internet Time tab at the top, then select Change settings.
Date and time with Internet Time tab and Change settings highlighted.
  1. Make sure Synchronize with an Internet time server is checked, then select OK.
Internet time settings with Synchronize and OK button highlighted.

3. Check for Updates

Check for Updates on a Mac System

  1. Select the Apple menu, then App Store.
macOS Mojave Apple Menu with App Store highlighted.
  1. You will now see the app store pull up. Select Updates.
  2. macOS 10.14 Mojave or Later
App Store side bar with Updates highlighted.
  1. macOS 10.13 High Sierra or Earlier
  2. Any version of macOS 10.7 (Lion) or older can check for available updates through the Apple Menu and Software Updates.

Check for Updates on Windows Systems

  1. Open the Start menu and select Settings.
click start then settings
  1. Select Update and Security.
Updates and Security Settings
  1. Select Windows Update on the left, then select Check for updates.
Update and Security with Windows Update and Check for updates highlighted.
  1. Once the system has finished checking for updates, it will automatically download and install the latest applicable updates.
  2. The system also may prompt you to restart, if it does, please do so at your earliest convenience, otherwise the update process will not complete.If you system was already recently updated, chances are that no further updates are available and your Update status will indicate: Your device is up to date.

4. Turn Off Problematic Chrome Extensions

Extensions provide extra features to Chrome. Sometimes they aren't coded well or they break after a Chrome update and begin to cause problems. Disabling or removing unneeded or unwanted Extensions can help resolve these problems.

Using Incognito Mode, See if Disabling Extensions is Needed

  1. Open Google Chrome.
Google Chrome
  1. Click the menu button.
The menu button on the right side of Chrome
  1. Select the New Incognito Window.
New Incognito Window
  1. Test the webpage you were trying to reach by trying to access it with the Incognito Window.
  2. If you can reach the webpage with no issue then you most likely have an extension causing your problem.

How to Turn Off Chrome Extensions

  1. Open Google Chrome.
Google Chrome
  1. Select the Menu in the top right corner.
Menu button highlighted and pointed out in Google Chrome.
  1. Then, point to More tools, and select Extensions.
Chrome menu with More tools and Extensions highlighted.
Toggle Off
  1. Disable an Extension
  2. Select the toggle in the bottom right of the extension.
Extension with Toggle highlighted.
  1. Repeat this for each extension you want to disable.
Delete
  1. Delete an Extension
  2. Select Remove for the extension.
Extension with Remove highlighted.
  1. Select Remove to confirm.
Remove confirmation with Remove highlighted.
  1. Repeat this for each extension you want to delete.

5. Clear History and Cached Browsing Data

If you're still having issues on a particular website, your browser could be holding onto some outdated or bad data in the form of an old cookie, cached version of the website, etc. Clearing this data allows your browser to load the website freshly as if it had never been there before.

  1. Open Google Chrome.
Google Chrome.
  1. Select the menu at the top.
Menu button highlighted and pointed out in Google Chrome.
  1. Click More tools, then select Clear browsing data.
Chrome menu with More Tools and Clear Browsing Data highlighted.
  1. Select Advanced at the top. For Time range, select All time. Place a checkmark next to each item you'd like to clear, then select Clear data. We recommend selecting everything we've shown here except passwords and autofill form data.
Chrome settings showing how to delete history

  1. Browsing history
  2. Recommended
    This clears the memory of the pages you've browsed to.
  3. Download history
  4. Recommended
    This clears the memory of files you've downloaded.
  5. Cookies and other site data
  6. Recommended
    Pages store small data to remember you between visits to their pages. These are called cookies. This option clears cookies.
  7. Cached images and files
  8. Recommended
    Pages are downloaded and saved to your computer, so they are faster to display. This option clears cached copies, which can resolve many problems you may have.
  9. Passwords and other sign-in data
  10. Not Recommended
    The browser saves usernames and passwords for sites you sign into. There's no need to clear this, normally.
  11. Autofill form data
  12. Not Recommended
    Your browser stores other form data, such as your address, common search terms, and other things you type often on sites. There's no need to clear this, normally.
  13. Site Settings
  14. Recommended
    Checking this will clear specialty site settings you may have save.
  15. Hosted app data
  16. Recommended
    Some sites, especially Google apps, store extra app data that will automatically re-download when needed. Clearing this will cause a very small wait and solves problems with those apps.

6. Try the Webpage Again

With your browser's website data removed, try to visit the website again. If you still receive security warnings, the issue is with the website itself, and not your device or its web browser. In this case, there is nothing you can do to resolve the error. Once the website owner/manager resolves the issue, you will stop receiving security warnings when you visit the website.