- Is it safe to click 'Proceed anyway' on an SSL error?
- Generally no. The SSL error means Chrome cannot verify the site's identity. Proceeding on a site you don't fully trust could expose your data. Only proceed if you recognise the site and have a specific reason to believe the error is a configuration issue rather than a security threat.
- What does NET::ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID mean?
- This means the site's security certificate was issued by an authority that Chrome does not recognise or trust. It can indicate a self-signed certificate, an expired root certificate, or — less commonly — an attempt to intercept your connection.
- Why does this happen on a site I use every day?
- SSL certificates expire and must be renewed. If a website owner forgets to renew their certificate, Chrome will show this error even for completely legitimate sites. The error usually resolves on its own once the site owner renews the certificate.
- Could this be caused by my own computer?
- Yes. An incorrect system clock, a misconfigured antivirus that intercepts SSL connections, or a corporate network proxy can all cause SSL certificate errors on otherwise legitimate sites.