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!

Dave's Answer:

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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Categorized: Windows PC Help (Article 3946, Written by Dave Taylor)
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Reader Comments To Date: 415

Kathie Givens said, on December 23, 2012 5:15 PM:

I have an old Certificate of Authenticity and software cd for Microsoft Works, and my new PC will not accept the Product Key!!!! so I can load Works. It's not a 2010 version, probably right before that date. Can I please use this? I purchased it with the old PC!

Kathie Givens 330-666-5683

ed parauka said, on January 5, 2013 10:48 AM:

Wow, it worked. setting the correct time and date solved my security cerificate error. What a site. Ed

sonu harnot said, on January 17, 2013 11:02 PM:

server certificate has expired so what i do

sonu harnot said, on January 17, 2013 11:11 PM:

ram is ddr sd 512mb i want to upgrade 2gb

p. graney said, on February 27, 2013 12:46 PM:

Thank you. Thank you. My wife was having trouble with this on her computer. I had the same problems, but several years ago and couldn't remember how to solve it. I look at the date and, sure enough, she had transported to the year 2099! Thank you Dave Taylor. I will save this site in my favorites!

Dave Cowan said, on March 13, 2013 5:18 PM:

I am thinking the date change thing is why I can't access iTunes for a new version or to download songs...but I purposely set my date back a year to avoid the crashing of a very expensive program I have that had a 'kill switch' program set to go off Jan 1 2013 (to force an upgrade). Any way around the 'invalid certficiate' issue?

Bill said, on March 15, 2013 11:53 AM:

Thanks so much.

Lewis said, on March 27, 2013 11:56 AM:

Several people have asked ... what if it's not the date/time?

John H said, on March 28, 2013 11:33 AM:

Some b****d changed the year on my computer from 2013 to 2813! Killed access to all secure sites and took me nearly all day to spot it

Probably going to be linked to a scareware scam so when you get a "Certificates out of date" message take the magnifying glass to the calendar date then run your virus checker.

praneeth said, on April 23, 2013 12:05 PM:

i am using windows 7 ultimate O.S in my system.now my systam is not opening gmail & some web sites. but i will contacted my network administer also then he give replied to me " IT IS NET CIRTEFCETES PROBLEM " so, what I Do?

please give me best reply!!!
thank U sir!

praneeth said, on April 23, 2013 12:17 PM:

thank U sir..
my problem is solved
and also one or more times i am check and fixing correct time so, after restarted my system,
it is repeating same problem in time, so what i do?

steve c said, on April 26, 2013 7:02 AM:

just spent an hour with aol helpline no joy came on here and in 5 mins fixed it cheers and thank you

praneeth said, on April 27, 2013 11:26 AM:

hai sir my system dvd drive is not working so i am started a hardware scan also so there is not showing error for that problem but servent are telling U can replace UR drive is it right or no?
so what i do?

John said, on May 1, 2013 7:52 AM:

Many thanks! We were having the same problems with security certificates and I thought it might be a virus of some sort. The computer clock was set to 2005!

Cheers

John

J said, on May 17, 2013 12:47 PM:

WOW! It was a date issue for me too. Changed it and all is good!!!!!! THANK YOU!!!

I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!

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Invalid or Expired Security Certificate?

Reader Comments To Date: 415

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