How to Fix “Your Connection Is Not Private” SSL Errors
When visitors see the warning “Your Connection Is Not Private” (Chrome) or “Warning: Potential Security Risk Ahead” (Firefox), it means your website’s SSL certificate is missing, expired, misconfigured, or not trusted by the browser.
This guide explains how to fix SSL issues on Fast2host cPanel hosting.
Common Reasons for SSL Privacy Errors
- The SSL certificate has expired
- The domain is using the wrong IP address
- Your domain was recently moved to a new server
- AutoSSL has not run yet
- The website is forcing HTTP instead of HTTPS
- Incorrect redirects or .htaccess rules
- The domain points to Cloudflare or a proxy without SSL enabled
1. Check SSL Status in cPanel
In cPanel go to:
cPanel → Security → SSL/TLS Status
Look for a green padlock next to your domain. If you see a red or yellow icon, SSL is missing or invalid.
If SSL is missing:
Click:
Run AutoSSL
✔ A free AutoSSL certificate will be installed within a few minutes.
2. Make Sure the Domain Is Pointing to the Correct Server
AutoSSL only works when your domain’s DNS A-record points to your Fast2host server. If it’s pointing somewhere else, SSL cannot be issued.
Verify your DNS using:
https://dnschecker.org
Ensure the A-record matches the IP shown in your cPanel.
3. Force Your Website to Use HTTPS (Fixes redirect issues)
After SSL is installed, you must enable HTTPS redirection. Otherwise, your site may still load insecurely.
Use the recommended .htaccess rule:
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTPS} !=on
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}/$1 [L,R=301]
</IfModule>
This forces all traffic to HTTPS securely.
4. Fix Mixed-Content Warnings
If some images, scripts, or CSS still load over HTTP, browsers will show warnings even with a valid SSL certificate.
To find insecure content:
Right-click website → Inspect → Console
Look for items blocked as:
“Blocked loading mixed active content”
Fix for WordPress:
Use WordPress Toolkit:
cPanel → WordPress Toolkit → (Your Site) → "Fix Mixed Content"
✔ Automatically fixes all insecure links.
5. Check for Expired Certificates
SSL certificates expire every 90 days (AutoSSL) or 1–2 years for premium SSL. You can check expiry in your browser:
Click padlock → Certificate → Validity Dates
If expired:
- Run AutoSSL
- Or install a new certificate
6. Cloudflare Users: Enable “Full (Strict)” SSL
If you use Cloudflare, your SSL mode must match your server setup. Incorrect Cloudflare SSL settings commonly cause privacy errors.
Set Cloudflare SSL mode to:
SSL/TLS → Full (Strict)
This mode ensures Cloudflare validates your server’s SSL certificate properly.
7. Clear Browser Cache & Restart
Cached SSL data may still show old or invalid certificates.
- Clear browser cache
- Restart your browser
- Try an incognito/private window
Secure Your Website with Premium SSL Certificates
Fast2host offers FREE AutoSSL certificates via cPanel or premium EV, OV, and Wildcard SSL options for businesses and advanced security needs from:
View SSL Options →