SiteGround is one of the leading hosting providers in the industry with more than 2,800,000 domains around the globe.
Among other things, SiteGround makes installing WordPress a breeze. It also guarantees high availability, automatic backups and free SSL certificates.
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So if your SiteGround website keeps showing the “Not Secure” warning, it’s probably not your fault. Here are some reasons for this website killer and how to treat it.
Why is your SiteGround site not secure?
The Not Secure error warns visitors that they are accessing a website without a secure HTTPS protocol. In most cases it indicates a problem with an SSL certificate, but it could also be a server problem or a local problem with the browser, system settings or your firewall.
In case you need a quick reminder, SSL (Secure Socket Layer) is a web protocol that encrypts the connection between the browser and the server, two servers, or another network. Without it, the connection to your website is considered unsafe in terms of data protection and data sharing.
Browser problems
Website visitors are receiving “Not Secure” warnings from their browsers, so it could be a browser issue. Protocol mismatches, confusing settings and extensions come to mind. If the problem is with the browser, one of these things could be blocking SSL encryption on your website.
SSL isn’t rocket science, but it does require complex calculations. Without going into details, let’s assume that the Not Secure warning sometimes occurs because one of the SSL chain certificates between your website and the root SSL is not installed correctly on the server.
Although server problems always occur, it is usually safer to assume that the problem is local. For example, the SSL “Not Secure” error is very often caused by a local firewall.
If you don’t remember paying for an SSL certificate, SiteGround has probably provided a free certificate for you. Keep in mind that SiteGround’s free SSL certificates are only valid for three months (while the final payment lasts for a year). Your SiteGround SSL certificate may have expired.
In short, the best solution to a “Not Secure” warning on your website is a quick one. Fortunately, these quick fixes should work in most cases. We therefore recommend trying them out now.
Most importantly, make sure your website has an SSL certificate installed. SiteGround users can navigate to Site Tools > Security > SSL Manager.
For every website you frequently visit, including your own, your browser collects cache. It helps you browse faster, but it can also break an SSL protocol. You should clear your browsing data if outdated cache is causing an insecure connection.
Clearing the SSL list in your browser ensures that it does not attempt to access the website with an expired SSL certificate that was saved while it was still active.
If you use Chrome, you can disable all browser extensions by clicking the three dots and selecting More tools > Extensions. It is similar to all other browsers.
Check your local system settings to make sure the error is not due to incorrect date and time setting, security and privacy settings, or your antivirus and firewall.
To get a SiteGround SSL certificate, visit Site Tools > Security > SSL Manager. Click “Install” to get a new one or “Renew” to continue using the one you already have.
Get a free SSL certificate for your new SiteGround website
A “Not Secure” warning on your website could be a crippling problem for your business. It can turn off potential customers, hurt Google rankings, and damage your brand reputation. Don’t just let it sit there. In fact, make it your top priority today.