Invalid or Expired Security Certificate?Hi Dave. Maybe you can help me with this problem. Whenever I try to go on a site that requires secure log-in, eg. bank, ebay etc. I get a security warning pop-up saying there is a problem with the sites security certificate. It says "the security certificate has expired or is not yet valid" and gives me options to continue yes/no or view certificate. I am operating Windows ME and IE 6, all updated and I also run AVG free anti-virus and spybot regularly. I have searched the web for answers to this and also asked several PPL including my bank's IT helpline. I have done everything suggested but still get the warning! After thinking about this for a while, I wasn't sure that I had any particularly great solution to propose. My standard response would be to check the security preferences of the Web browser and to try visiting one or more of the sites using a different browser like Firefox. In a private dialog, however, I was pleased to hear that the chap who sent in this question figured out the problem on his own, and it's a beauty: Dave, just so you know, I've figured out my problem with the expired or not yet valid security certificates: the date on my computer was set wrong and it thought I was years in the past! Once I fixed the date and time, all of these problems vanished. This is a simple solution to a vexing problem and, as Sherlock Holmes shared with his colleague Dr. Watson, once you eliminate all other possibilities, what's left, however improbable, must be the solution. Indeed.
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Never miss another useful Q&A article again! Subscribe to AskDaveTaylor with Google Reader. Provided you know what the possibilities are, in the first place. Posted by: ANION at April 7, 2005 9:58 AMHOLY COW!! I have been looking for a fix to this very same problem for days!! I have worked on pc's for years and have been stumped!! I did everything suggested by everyone from tech friends to Microsoft. I compared my laptop settings to my PC's. I tried altering the installed JAVA. Everything short of formating and re-instal of Windows XP Pro. (Im not THAT anal) Nothing worked! Low and behold after reading your posts I check the date of the laptop and it is off by a year!!! I make the correction and the problem is gone. All I can say is....THANK YOU!! Is there any answer that cant be found on google?? LOL Posted by: Tim at August 12, 2005 7:37 PMJust today I started having this same problem and it was making me crazy... turns out I accidentally changed the date yesterday. THANK YOU!! Posted by: AK at November 29, 2005 6:32 AMWhat if the date is not the problem? Posted by: Rhonda Heath at December 12, 2005 7:39 PMI found the same problem. I checked the date and time and they there correct! Somehow I managed to set yesterday's date - and the certificate became valid ! :) Valid for that day. I think that is for the different time zones between USA and Europe. Posted by: Dj_Lord at December 13, 2005 8:39 PMOMG! This has been bothering me for TWO DAYS! I have gone through articles on SSL, ran countless virus and spyware scans, and uninstalled a VARIETY of software packages. FINALLY I found this site and I went to check the date -- some how the system was set 4 months in the FUTURE on this stupid machine and it was causing the error. THANK YOU SO MUCH! I'm naming my next kid Dave Taylor. Sincerely, Robert Griffith Posted by: Robert Griffith at January 2, 2007 5:09 AMWow, I'm glad there is finally a solution to this. Simply a date/time change, never would have thought it. Thanks for the solution (to the man who wrote about it), and Thank You Dave for posting it. =) Posted by: Lauren Dorman at January 6, 2007 5:44 PMThanks for keeping this post alive. I have been working off and on for several days trying to come up with the solution. Thought it was AOL's problem and kept looking there for some sort of fix. Finally tried a different search using XP and found you!!! Thanks for the help!!! Posted by: Bobby Lee at January 25, 2007 12:52 PMThanks a lot, it work perfectly for me. Again Thanks, you saved my day!!! Posted by: nasir khan at February 16, 2007 10:14 AMI own a mac and cannot log on to google .com, gmail, or anything to do with google... it tells me there is a certificate problem and then that it is fixed and to reset the browser, i do so and bam, same thing again....i cannot access anything...please help me.... Posted by: jamie at March 15, 2007 11:20 PMHoly cow. This drove me NUTS. Other sites suggested a corrupted IE. The only easy solution was to figure out Firefox or simmilar, for which I had no energy...then as I said to myself..one more click..I landed up here and... read the fix...then remembered I set the time back to make a freeware program work, never to restore it...THANK YOU ^THANK YOU!!!! Dave, Sadly, it doesnt works in my case. I tried putting the date back...putting it in the future..but still no change. Posted by: Mike at March 23, 2007 4:31 PMMy computer was set 15 years in future. I am wondering who did that, it is for sure that was not me. Posted by: Abhinav at March 31, 2007 8:19 AMthis problem is driving me NUTS!! Posted by: fung-lee at April 4, 2007 10:37 PMWe all can't be this stupid. Something got in and changed the date in our computers. How many people here have replied to this? This is a bug no doubt. I just reset my clock because of daylight savings time, twice. I know I didn't reset my computer to 2008. I c'mon, the date set YEARS in the future said one person? I am unable to connect two XP systems in a workgroup.The error showing is "The Network Path Was Not Found".I have disabled the firewall also. thank you for giving me suggestion to chage date and time. Posted by: firoj at April 17, 2007 12:08 AMSame problem here. I kept checking my date and time and it was correct! Then I noticed that it still read Eastern Standard Time and not Daylight Savings Time. Ahha! Sync with Microsoft time (click on Internet time tab in date and time settings in XP) and all is fixed. Posted by: Sue at April 24, 2007 2:37 PMI can't believe my problem was solved by checking my date. You made my day!!! I've been trying to resolve this security certificate problem for 2 weeks and nothing has worked. I've had all kinds of help & suggestions from people who are pretty knowlegeable. Thought I was going to have to live with it until I purchased a new computer down the road. Such a "simple" fix for what has been a major problem. Posted by: Debbie at May 3, 2007 6:23 PM Hello Every body, i was searching to Solve my problem, finaly i got this page address from google, my problem become ok by chaning my date and time settings. Dave thanks for posting that security fix, and bless that dude that found the fix.so easy so hard. Posted by: bob at June 7, 2007 3:26 PMI checked my PC's Date and Time settings many times. They are exact. Still I get the error. But I solved it by installing the SOME certificates manually in the Trusted Root Publishers List of IE. But I am unable to do that with Google website. It has an expired certificate which I cannot install. I installed only those which I use. I have Windows XP Pro SP 2 and IE 6. My Microsoft Update doesn't run and my PC is unable to synchronise with the Internet Time. This problems are related to the security certificates. Posted by: Ajinkya at July 5, 2007 3:40 AMI am using Vista Pro and IE7 - I was having the same problem but the time and date on my computer was correct. I did enable "Protected Mode" and that helped. Posted by: Everardo at July 15, 2007 8:39 AMA million thanks. Typical; a problem solved by a few mouse clicks. Easy if you know how, and this sort of website tells you how! Posted by: Bryan Murphy at August 18, 2007 5:25 AMHmm... I'd love to buy you a chai, but I'm having this problem too, on my G5 Mac, the Mac Pro, and an iPhone all running Safari. The date on these machines is definitely correct. Anybody else having this problem?? Posted by: Adam Prall at September 22, 2007 7:14 PMOh thank you so much for this post..It really helped me..I'm working with this problem for more than an hour..Then I've reached this site..Wow..Fantastic!The date was set on the 14th of October..Changed the time as usual..Poofs!It resolves my issue..Thank you so much for this post..Thanks for helping people like us..LOL!God bless you guys! Posted by: Mharjie at October 2, 2007 8:52 AMThe system time on my computer is correct, but I am still receiving this error message every time I try to go to ANY website which requires a password. I use Mozilla. It doesn't even allow me to continue to the website temporarily. Any help would be very much appreciated!! Thank you. Posted by: Brian at October 3, 2007 7:00 AM>>> Reply: Brian,what is the exact error message when you browse to the inet using Mozilla?Try also to check the security options under advanced tab of internet options..Just check the settings..Try to uncheck one by one then restart..If still the same,checked it back then uncheck another one,restart again..Just try and try..Good luck.. Posted by: Mharjie at October 3, 2007 11:45 AMi had the same problem what gave it away for me is when i updated adaware and it told me my definitions were 3000 days old...lol Posted by: dave tha slave at October 24, 2007 7:23 PMHello: Had same problem and it was an incorrect date issue as well. Problem solved. Thanks. Posted by: Rob at November 8, 2007 6:07 AMBULLS EYES.... IT WORKED FOR ME AS WELL !!!! Posted by: Yaseen at November 10, 2007 7:59 AMTHANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! I have been working on this and worried about this for a few days now. I was about to take my pc in to have it fixed.....you just saved me MONEY! For me I had been making some calendars and changed the year to 2008 and didn't change it back.......I have ran all kinds of virus scans and defrags and anything I could think of. I thought tonight I'm gonna search the problem and voila you fixed it! OMG -- No one knew what to do. I followed all the "help" suggestions and nothing worked. One million thanks to your chap who figured it out. It worked for me! I almost didn't know where else to turn. And, thanks to you for posting it. I'll definitely check your site again! Posted by: Sheryl at December 15, 2007 8:54 PMconstant security warnings were losing me sleep.BINGO your suggestion to check my clock [i was one year ahead]worked a treat. Merry Christmas on and all!!!!! Posted by: cliffm at December 21, 2007 9:07 AMDate and time are correct. Problem persists. Just another MS bug? Definitions can be 3000 days out of sync? What gives here? Any further solutions for those situations where date adjustment does not work? Posted by: Schweigenthaler at January 2, 2008 3:12 PMI can't believe it was so easy to correct those annoying expiration notices. Thank you, thank you, thank you! The date on my computer was one year ago. How does that happen?????????? Thank you so much...I would have never figured it out on my own!!!! Posted by: SG at January 15, 2008 4:49 PMI can just repeat the same as everyone else. After emailing IT people and getting mad because they kept saying it was coming from my computer and I tried everything that was suggested or I could find. Finally I stumbled onto your post. Thank you Thank you Thank you Now how did the clock get changed is another mystery. Posted by: Lynn at January 19, 2008 10:15 AMI found that if the site is being blocked becuase Vista supposedly thinks that the "Certificate had been revoked" you have the ability to go to Internet Options > Advanced and under security, uncheck the box that says something like, Check if the certificate has been revoked, and UNCHECK it. Posted by: Mike at January 25, 2008 2:40 PMI have tried everything here to fix this security certificate issue which I have been having for almost a week. Nothing is working. Should I do a system restore or is there a virus or corruption on my computer. I am very frustrated with this. Any help would appreciated. Raelyn Posted by: Raelyn at January 31, 2008 6:12 PMI recently emailed you saying that I had tried everything and still had the certificate issue so I went to my date and time and checked it a second time. Well I missed it when I checked the first time. Sure enough the date was wrong. It was set to the wrong month making it one year ahead of the actual date. I changed it and no more certificate issues. I thank you so much for this site. It's amazing how my internet provider and computer company didn't even get it and I found the answer to the problem on your site!! Thanks a million. I really appreciate you!! Raelyn Posted by: Raelyn at January 31, 2008 7:20 PMThank u sir, I too have a same problem of this security certificate. i have changed the date and time in my system tray and now its working. Thank u very much. WOW!!! Incorrect date on my PC resulted in IE7 certificate errors. Many thanks. I am a bit embarrassed because I am highly technical and my forte is troubleshooting! Thanks again. Posted by: CL at February 29, 2008 5:53 AMomg!!!!! Thank you thank you thank you I was about to throw this computer in the trash. Posted by: Eddie at March 3, 2008 1:52 PMUnbelievable! I looked all over for this solution-no luck! After reading it, I wasn't even going to check-it just seemed impossible that I had the wrong date-NO-It somehow changed back a year! Problem solved-this is great-short-sweet-to the point and it works! All of my life should be this easy-thank you!! Posted by: matt at March 4, 2008 6:06 PMSome programs or malware change computer date. it is good idea to regularly synchonize computer time with time.windows.com Posted by: Tahir Jamil at March 10, 2008 11:48 AMWhen the alternate browser suggestion hadn't worked for me I had almost lost hope. Indeed my pc was set the wrong year. Thanks a million! Posted by: Julie at March 19, 2008 8:04 AMTHANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! VERY VERY THANKS, I THOUGHT IT WAS VIRUS....BUT I CHANGE TIME IT WILL OK Posted by: jibin at March 26, 2008 9:34 AMHey Dave I could use your help! When I try to enter my e-mail account which is on hotmail i get a message telling me that the certificate is revoked! It doesnt even let me continue to the website anyway!!! Im goin nuts over this so if you could gimme a hand it would be really appreciated. If it helps im usin Internet Explorer 7 on Windows XP Media Centre. Cheers in advance. Sean Posted by: Sean at March 28, 2008 5:21 PMI can't believe I stumbled onto this forum! I have had that stupid security error for a month and could not figure it out. Just about to trash this laptop because I've had other problems with it....and hallelujah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks soooooo much for your help! Posted by: paige at April 23, 2008 9:54 PMI changed the date and its STILL NOT WORKING!!!!!! whats wrong??? im using IE7..... Posted by: ~theshadowform~ at April 28, 2008 8:04 PMThe fact that this thread has been going on since April 2007 means its really helping. I too want to join the many gratefulls. Thanx alot, I hope to remmember this the next time I come across it. If I dont remmember I will definately find this link again :) Posted by: Jason at May 18, 2008 8:07 AMThank you very much, it work perfectly for me. Again Thanks a lot, you saved my time!!! Posted by: Sana Aziz at June 3, 2008 11:35 PMDitto to all! My time appeared correct but I reset it anyway and now no error message. I've been at it for hours. Thanks to all. Posted by: Michele at June 8, 2008 8:19 AMhi there, hi Dj_Lord.thx 4 ur information. Wow After about 2 hours of trying EVERYTHING but formating my hard drive i came across this answer and you could not belive how rlive i am. thanks a lot dave Thanks for the site mate! worked like a charm it did! Posted by: mathematicus at July 28, 2008 3:53 AMWow! Days of frustration ended when I read this solution and checked my laptop date. It was a month ahead to the day. Fixing it fixed my problem getting into my gmail! Thanks Bunches! Posted by: Tia at August 3, 2008 5:20 PMThanks! Me (stupid) too! I had set my date back this morning to check a date....couldn't get into Ebay this afternoon....immediately thought it was a malicious interloper about to comandeer my communication and identity to buy baseball cards on my dime. The drama was fun while it lasted... Gmail certificate expired pops up. What could be the issue OMG!!! This is amazing, my date was set to like 2002 and i couldnt get on any kind of websites to pay my bills or anything...Thanks everybody!! I love this webite !!!!lol Posted by: Jameelah at August 24, 2008 9:06 PMThank You date and time problem who would have thought being a computer programmer I assumed it was something much more complicate.Goes to show do not overlook the simple solutions Posted by: Glenn Morris at August 25, 2008 8:55 PMhae i reli need ur help...my certificate expired like 2 weeks ago n i can access 2 my windows live messenger..plz tell me wat 2 do? Posted by: peter at September 3, 2008 1:03 AMThis is amazing... been working for Dell, wasnt able to figure this out... you are amazing!!! Posted by: naz at September 3, 2008 3:03 PMOh thank you thank you thank you! I've been struggling with this problem for DAYS!!!!!!!!!! Posted by: Jess at September 5, 2008 8:27 PMthanks you very much dear. i was also facing the same problem. i updated the security certificate and change the different internet options and studied the SSL state but nothing worked. it will be so simple i never thought of it. thank you very much Posted by: Syed Asad Ali at September 11, 2008 9:20 AMThx. This Silicon Valley girl is greatful. Posted by: vic at September 16, 2008 9:06 PMI am using IE 6. I already have the correct time and date for my computer. I adjusted the browser settings but i am still getting the same pop-up for the security certificate. I already disabled my security suite as well. What else can i do? Anyway, the security certificate only pops up when i try to sign in to my msn email. Posted by: Grace at September 18, 2008 7:58 PMThanks for the solution to the certificate error -- so simple! Posted by: Leilani at October 6, 2008 12:28 PMI have the same problem with websites security certificate saying certificate has expired or not yet valiD. Took it too cumputer repair shop they said it was my date and year not set properly but i still get it HELP PLEASE Posted by: j macpherson at October 9, 2008 10:08 AMwhen back and reset the time and date this time it worked Posted by: j macpherson at October 9, 2008 10:15 AMI have a lot to say, but ...
I do have a comment, now that you mention it!
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