Whenever you see the “Net:: Err_Cert _Revoked” error on your browser, you need to act fast to secure your site. In this post, we will walk you through how to fix this error. Read on for the details…..
The Net:: Err_Cert_Revoked error commonly occurs on websites that use SSL certificates to preserve data security. The Secure Sockets Layers (SSL) is a security feature that, when combined with protocols like HTTPS helps protect sensitive and personal data flowing through a certain site.
When the Net:: Err_Cert_Revoked error occurs, it simply points to an issue with the SSL certificate on the particular site. So, how do you fix it? Well, we will show you in a few.
Before that, however, let's see some of the causes of this error.
Causes of the “Net:: Err_ Cert_ Revoked” Error
There are several reasons why the Net:: Err_ Cert_ Revoked error can occur, and here are the main ones:
- SSL Certificate has been revoked by issuing authority. If a site's SSL certificate is revoked or nullified by the Issuing Authority (IA), you will see that error alert on your browser.
- Wrong SSL Certificate: At times, the SSL Certificate issuing Authority (CA) may have issued the site in question with the wrong certificate. In such a case, the site owner ought to check with them to get the issue fixed. Until then, the error alert will continue to appear on the site.
- Network or Domain Name Server (DNS) issues: Such issues may hinder your PC from accessing the Certificate Revocation List (CRL). You might want to contact the certificate issuing authority to get this fixed.
- Compromised SSL certificate keys: If the site's SSL cert keys have been compromised, you're likely to end with the Net:: Err_Cert_Revoked error. You might want to have that checked to be sure.
There are several possible fixes to this error. Here, we will focus on the major ones.
1. Contact the Site Owner
This solution is recommendable when you're sure the issue is a server-side problem. Sometimes, the site owner might not be aware of when the error occurs. Thus, contacting them will help them troubleshoot the problem.
To contact the site owner, find the general information email address for the website. Alternatively, you can reach out to them via their social media pages. Take a screenshot of the error and share it with them. By doing so, the site owner will have to check if their SSL certificate is verified.
But what if the error is not a server-side problem?
If the cause of the Net::Err_Cert_Revoked error is not on the server side, then the following fixes may as well help you fix it:
2. Change Your Computer's Date and Time
The “Net:: Err_ Cert_ Revoked” error can result from client-server miscommunication. Miscommunication can happen when the date and time of the two parties are not in sync. If this is the case, you will not be able to manipulate the server's time and date settings.
However, you can ensure your system's time and date settings are as accurate. The steps to get this done are slightly different on Mac and Windows computers.
If you're using a Mac PC;
Step 1: Go to System Preferences
Step 2: Select the Date & Time. You can always click on the lock symbol to make changes.
Step 3: Confirm that the date and time are accurate. It is recommended to check the box for Set date and time automatically. That will save you from having to set the date and time manually.
If you are using Windows PC, proceed as follows:
Step 1: In the Start menu search bar, type Date & Time settings.
Step 2: Confirm that the date and time are accurate. Remember to check the box for automatic time and date.
After changing the date and time settings for your computer, Mac or Windows, save the changes where possible and then restart your PC for the changes to take effect.
3. Disable All Extensions and Plugins
By disabling all extensions and plugins, you can clear the “Net:: Err_ Cert_ Revoked” error using the Chrome browser.
Proceed as follows on Windows PC:
Step 1: Launch Chrome and click on the “Three dots” found in the top right corner for more options.
Step 2: From the pop-up window, select More tools
Step 3: From the list of options, select Extensions
Step 4: A list of extensions on your browser will appear. Click on the toggle switch against each extension to deactivate them.
For Mac users;
Step 1: Click on the Safari tab and select Preferences
Step 2: Go to Extensions
Step 3: For every extension available, click the Uninstall
Restart your computer and relaunch your browser to see if the error has cleared.
4. Disable your Antivirus and Firewall temporarily
Antivirus software and firewalls are recommended to keep you and your data safe. However, sometimes these tools may cause SSL-related errors such as “Net:: Err_Cert_Revoked” due to misconfigurations.
You can fix such errors by temporarily disabling your antivirus and Firewall.
Notice that different antivirus programs have distinct procedures for disabling them. The procedure for deactivating the Firewall is standard.
Here are the steps for disabling the Firewall on Windows:
Step 1: Go to Settings>Network &
Step 2: Scroll downwards to find the Windows Firewall link and click on it
Step 3: Under Firewall & Network Protection, you'll discover firewalls for the Domain, Private and Public Networks.
Step 4: Disable the firewall settings on the three network types.
On Mac, here are the steps for deactivating Firewall;
Step 1: Go to System Preferences>Security & Privacy
Step 2: Click the Firewall tab
Step 3: Turn off the Firewall using the switch button.
Once your antivirus and Firewall are off, restart your PC, relaunch the browser, and visit the site in question. If the error is still present, turn on your antivirus and firewalls and check the next solution.
5. Disable your VPN or Proxy
If you are using VPN or proxies in your system, they can sometimes act up and cause the “Net:: Err_ Cert_ Revoked” error. Temporarily disable them and check that gets the error is fixed.
To disable VPN on windows, proceed as follows:
Step 1: Go to Settings
Step 2: Select Network & Internet settings
Step 3: Locate and then disable the VPN options
For Proxies settings on Windows:
Step 1: Head to Network & Internet settings
Step 2: Turn on the Automatically detect settings switch
Step 3: Close the window, restart your PC, and check if the error has cleared.
For macOS users:
Step 1: Go to System Preferences and choose Network
Step 2: Select Advanced and click the Proxies tab
Step 3: Uncheck all proxy settings on the Proxies tab
Step 4: Close the tab by clicking on the Ok
Step 5: Restart your computer to check if the error has cleared.
6. Reset Your Browser
If none of the solutions above seems to be clearing the “Net:: Err_ Cert_ Revoked” error, maybe it's time to reset your browser. For Chromium-based browsers;
Step 1: Open Settings and scroll down to the Advanced settings menu
Step 2: Click on Reset settings
The procedure may be different for the Firefox browser, which has a dedicated troubleshooting page. Here are the steps for resetting Firefox:
Step 1: Launch your Firefox browser, type about support in the URL, and click enter.
Step 2: On the right-hand side pane, click Refresh Firefox.
Once you reset the settings, restart your PC, relaunch the browser, enter the site URL, and check to see if the error has cleared.
7. Boot in Safe mode (Clean Boot)
Booting in safe mode allows your PC to start with the least number of startup programs and drivers. Here is how to proceed:
Step 1: Press the Win + X keys and select Run from the menu options.
Step 2: In the Run window, type msconfig, then press
Step 3: In the system configuration screen, under the General tab, uncheck load Startup Items. Proceed to check Load System Services and Use Original Boot Configuration fields.
Step 4: Under Services, check Hide all Microsoft Services. Click Apply to successfully disable all Microsoft services, and restart your PC for the changes to take effect.
8. Flush DNS and Reset TCP/ IP
Unknown to many, most PC problems can easily be fixed by flushing the DNS. So how do you do that? Follow these steps to flush the DNS and reset the TCP/ IP.
Step 1: In the search bar, type CMD
Step 2: From the search results, click to open the Command Prompt app
Step 3: On the command prompt console, type nets hint ip reset c:\resetlog.txt, then press Enter.
Step 4: Type ipconfig /flushdns, then press
Step 5: Next, type ipconfig /registerdns, then press
Step 6: Next, type ipconfig /release, then press
Step 7: Next, type ipconfig /renew, then press
Those are all the commands you need to Flush DNS and Reset TCP/IP to resolve the “Net:: Err_ Cert_ Revoked” error. For the changes to take effect, restart your computer.
9. Disable Security Warnings
It is noteworthy that disabling security warnings on your PC is potentially risky, considering that it exposes your computer to viruses and other potentially dangerous programs. However, sometimes, the only way to fix errors such as Net::Err_Cert_ Revoked is by deactivating some or all of these security warning features. Here is how to do it:
Step 1: Press the Win + X keys simultaneously, then select Run from the menu options
Step 2: In the Run screen, type cpl and press Enter to open the Internet Properties window.
Step 3: On the Internet Properties window, click on the “Advanced” tab and then uncheck the following: “Check for publisher's certificate revocation” and “Check for server certificate revocation.”
Step 4: After unchecking those two boxes, click “Apply” and then
Now check to see if the Net::Err_Cert_Revoked error was fixed.
Conclusion
Contacting the site owner can help resolve the “Net:: Err_ Cert_ Revoked” error if the issue is a server-side problem. However, the problem can also be on your end as the user. Change your system's date & time, and disable extensions, plugins, antivirus & firewalls, VPN, and proxy settings. If the problem does not resolve, consider resetting your browser.
