Fixing SSL errors: How to establish a secure connection

You probably know the situation: You open a website and suddenly the message “SSL error” or “This connection is not secure” appears. At first, you wonder whether your internet connection is going haywire. It’s even more unpleasant if it’s your own website. This quickly gives the impression that your website is not secure. As a result, visitors quickly lose confidence and may cancel their visit.

In this article, we’ll show you what’s behind SSL errors, how to recognise and fix them and how to permanently protect your website from such problems.

What is behind an SSL error?

Typical error messages range from “An SSL error has occurred” to messages such as “Connection not private” or “Security certificate expired”. Problems like these have a deterrent effect on visitors and can also result in your website not even loading in the browser.

Why SSL is essential for your website

Without SSL, there is no encrypted connection. Without encryption, your visitors’ data is vulnerable. SSL certificates are based on the Secure Sockets Layer, better known as the SSL/TLS protocol, which ensures secure communication between the client and web server. This secures confidential information such as login data, payment details or contact forms.

A correctly installed security certificate signals to your visitors: This connection is secure, your data remains private. This basis of trust is crucial, especially in e-commerce or for sensitive forms.

How SSL certificates work in practice

An SSL certificate is installed on the website’s web server and ensures that all information between the client – i.e. your browser or device – and the website is transmitted securely and encrypted.

The process looks like this: As soon as you call up a page, your browser starts a so-called SSL handshake. This checks whether the certificate is valid, belongs to this domain and was issued by a trustworthy authority (certificate authority). The connection is only established if everything matches.

Common causes of SSL connection errors and how to fix them

If an SSL error has occurred, you want to know as quickly as possible where the problem lies and how you can fix it. Here we show you the most common causes and give you specific tips on how to fix them – whether you are a website operator, admin or just an annoyed user.

1. expired SSL certificate

An expired SSL certificate is one of the most common causes of an SSL connection error. Browsers check whether the certificate is still valid each time they are visited. If this is not the case, an error message appears and the secure connection is blocked.

How to fix the problem:
Log in to the provider of your certificate, check the expiry date and renew the certificate. Make sure that the installation on the web server has been completed correctly. Also check for automatic renewals so that the problem does not recur.

2. faulty or incomplete installation

If something goes wrong during installation, the browser cannot check the certificate correctly. This leads to an SSL certificate error and makes your website inaccessible.

Solution:
Check whether all certificate files – especially intermediate certificates – are correctly integrated. Use tools such as “SSL Labs” or the certificate check of your hosting provider. A complete configuration is crucial for the Secure Sockets Layer to work reliably.

3. server settings or incorrect URL

The server configuration can also cause problems. If, for example, an unsecured HTTP URL is called up even though an HTTPS certificate is available, this leads to incorrect forwarding.

Troubleshooting tip:
Make sure that your web server settings are correct and that all internal links and redirects point to HTTPS. Also check that the certificate matches the domain and that there is no subdomain error.

4. obsolete or incompatible protocols

Some SSL errors, especially older messages such as “Connection failed”, are related to outdated SSL/TLS protocols. This mainly affects older browsers or devices.

Solution:
Update the configuration of your server and deactivate old SSL protocols such as SSL 2.0 and SSL 3.0. Activate modern TLS protocols (TLS 1.2 or higher) instead. This will ensure that only secure connections are allowed.

5. the SSL certificate is not trustworthy

If the browser does not recognise the certificate, a warning often appears that the page is insecure. This is usually because the certificate does not come from an officially recognised certificate authority.

What you can do:
Only use certificates from recognised authorities. Free does not automatically mean dubious – many platforms offer trustworthy, free SSL certificates, such as Let’s Encrypt. It is important that your certificate is correctly installed and up-to-date.

6. SSL handshake error

The SSL handshake checks whether the client and server can find a common language for encryption. If something goes wrong here, a connection error occurs – particularly frequently on mobile devices or with slow networks.

This is how you proceed:
Check your server settings, activate the latest TLS versions and make sure that no ports are blocked. The problem can also lie on the client side: an outdated browser, an incorrect time or unstable network settings can prevent the handshake. It is best to test the connection on different devices and platforms such as iPhone, Mac or Windows.

Best practices to avoid SSL errors in the long term

If you not only want to fix SSL errors, but also avoid them from the outset, it’s worth integrating a few basic measures into your workflow. Here you will find tried and tested best practices for more security and a stable SSL connection.

Check your SSL certificates regularly

Many SSL errors occur because certificates expire unnoticed or become invalid. This results in error messages that can directly deter your visitors.

Make sure that you regularly check whether your SSL certificates are still valid. Create fixed times for this in your calendar or use a monitoring tool that automatically reminds you. This will help you avoid the nasty surprises that often occur with SSL errors in online banking or at the savings bank.

Use wildcard and multi-domain certificates

As a website operator with several subdomains or different projects, it can be particularly useful to use a wildcard certificate or a multi-domain certificate. This allows you to protect all relevant pages with a single certificate.

This is not only practical, but also reduces the risk of an SSL error occurring unnoticed on one of your pages. It also saves you administration work and helps you keep a better overview.

Automate the management of your certificates

If you don’t want to check every detail manually, automating SSL management is a real relief. Tools such as Certbot or integrated solutions from your hosting provider ensure that certificates are renewed on time and correctly integrated.

Automation helps you to keep the padlock symbol permanently visible in the browser – and to offer your visitors a trouble-free, secure connection. This is particularly helpful if you operate several websites or make frequent changes to the server page.

Create knowledge through clear processes and training

Even if many things can be automated, certain tasks remain with you or your team. It is therefore worthwhile clearly defining internal processes and organising training if necessary.

Provide your users with a clear guide on how to handle SSL certificates, what to look out for when setting them up and how to avoid the most common sources of error. New team members in particular will benefit from a good guide and will know how to react in an emergency if an SSL error occurs.

Avoid SSL errors with Raidboxes hosting

Many SSL errors can be avoided if the technology works reliably in the background. This is exactly what Raidboxes provides with an automated SSL service that takes a lot of work off your hands as a website operator.

SSL is automatically activated for every box – whether single or multisite. As soon as you connect your own domain, a free Let’s Encrypt certificate is integrated and updated automatically if required. This ensures that no SSL errors occur simply because a certificate has expired.

A valid certificate is also provided for demo boxes. If you prefer to use an external certificate, you can have this set up for a flat-rate service fee. All the necessary steps are documented and you will receive clear answers from support if you have any questions.

This saves you time, increases security and ensures that your visitors can access your site at any time via an encrypted connection – without any annoying error messages.

Try Raidboxes now for free and see for yourself with lightning-fast WordPress hosting, automatic SSL management and real support at eye level.

Conclusion: Recognising SSL errors early and rectifying them in a targeted manner

Whether you are surfing the web, using online banking or visiting your own website – SSL errors cause uncertainty, a poor user experience and, in the worst case, a loss of trust. This makes it all the more important to recognise typical causes such as expired certificates, incorrect time settings or faulty installations at an early stage and rectify them in a targeted manner.

With a little technical know-how and the right tools, almost any SSL error can be rectified. Even if, for example, a message suddenly appears on a Mac or when accessing a savings bank website that an SSL error has occurred, you can quickly find a solution with clear steps.

Make sure that you regularly check your SSL certificates, use secure protocols and define clear processes within your team. This not only protects your users, but also ensures that your website is perceived as trustworthy on the internet.

SSL is not an option, it’s standard. For website operators, companies and anyone who wants to provide their visitors with a secure connection.

Frequently asked questions about SSL errors

What is an SSL error?

An SSL error means that a secure connection to the website could not be established. This is usually due to an expired or faulty certificate. Users then see warning messages and often cancel their visit.

How can I rectify certificate errors?

To rectify a certificate error, you should check the SSL certificate, renew it if necessary and install it correctly. Make sure that the certificate matches the domain and that the server is configured correctly. Many SSL errors are caused by simple setup problems.

What does connection via SSL not possible mean?

The message shows that the browser was unable to establish an encrypted connection. The cause may be an expired certificate, an incorrect time or a faulty configuration. SSL errors like this often also occur on the Mac.

How can I activate SSL?

As a website operator, you usually activate SSL via your hosting provider. A certificate can be integrated there, which is then automatically linked to your domain. SSL errors can often be rectified if the certificate is set up correctly.