Is your website or app showing an err_ssl_protocol_error?

Usually, it pops up when there is a problem with the SSL certificate of the website.

Website errors need an urgent fix as it would turn away your site visitors.

That’s why, at Bobcares, we help in fixing website errors as part of our Server Management Services.

Today, we’ll see how we fix err_ssl_protocol_error instantly.

What causes the err_ssl_protocol_error

Firstly, let’s get some background details about SSL websites.

These days, websites handle too much sensitive information like credit card details, personal information, bank details, etc.

Since these websites are part of the open internet, it can be prone to cyber-attacks too. Therefore, an unsecured website can be an easy target for attack. Further, any sort of data theft can result in serious consequences.

Thanks to the SSL certificate, web servers now can handle all its communication securely. Advanced website users always look for the secure “lock” symbol when browsing any website.

The active certificates encrypt the communication between the browser and the server. Thus no one can grab sensitive data.

However, if for some reason the SSL certificate fails, the browser reports the SSL protocol error. In a way, this is a security mechanism to prevent further access to an insecure website.

How does the err_ssl_protocol_error show-up?

Now its time to check on how the error would show up on any website.

For instance, one of our customers tried to access an app. He was unable to connect. And received the error as

Reasons for err_ssl_protocol_error

We understood that any problem with SSL connection results in an error. And, there can be many reasons for the error.

Here, we’ll check the common reasons that would cause an SSL failure.

1. Expired certificate

Every SSL certificate comes with an expiry date. This expiry is set by the Certificate Providers. Most paid SSL certificates have a validity period of 1 year or so.

However, free SSL providers like LetsEncrypt, Sectigo, etc. keep SSL activate for 90 days.

For SSL to work, it should be an active one.

2. Incorrect SSL configuration

At times, incorrect SSL configuration also can result in SSL protocol error. This happens when the browser connects to the wrong server due to DNS errors.

Or when the server configuration has a wrong SSL certificate file for the website.

3. Wrong date settings

Yet another common reason for SSL failure will be wrong date settings on the computer. This causes the browser to exit the connection to the website.

4. Browser cache

Likewise, if the browser has a cached wrong certificate, it can also report err_ssl_protocol_error. An easy fix here is to clear the browsing data from the browser.

It involves removing the cookies, cached images, and files.

5. Firewall

Furthermore, in many scenarios, the firewall can also impose restrictions. If any website lies in the block list of the browser, the site access can fail.

In such cases, a review of the firewall settings would help to solve the access.

The fix for err_ssl_protocol_error

It is time now to check how our Support Engineers do the troubleshooting and make the website working for the customer.

As the first step, we recreate the SSL error from our side. This helps to rule out any browser-specific errors at the client-side.

Next, we check the validity of the SSL certificate. This can be done by clicking on the ‘Lock’ symbol in the browser address bar.

Valid certificate details appear as:

Similarly, it’s worth checking the validity of the certificate using online SSL checkers too.

If there is an expired certificate, we fix it by renewing the SSL certificate at the SSL provider. Further, we update the SSL certificate for the website on the server too. In this case, the website SSL was expired. So we had to renew it to make the website working.

What if the certificate is valid and the website still shows errors?

Here the err_ssl_protocol_error denotes a problem with the computer/browser settings.

Therefore, in such cases, we ask the customer to correct the date on the computer, clear browser cache, or even disable the firewall temporarily. This helps to access the website without any errors.

Is there a way to prevent SSL errors?

Of course, Yes.

To prevent website errors, all you have to do is add the website to a reliable monitoring service. As part of our monitoring service, we constantly check the website for errors.

Thus it alerts the website owner on the errors proactively. And, you will be the first one to know about site errors and not your customers.

SSL providers do send email notifications prior to SSL renewal. Keeping a close watch of the SSL renewal emails should also help in avoiding SSL failure.

[Avoid website errors! Add websites to our 24×7 monitoring.]

Conclusion

To sum up, err_ssl_protocol_error commonly happens due to an expired SSL certificate, incorrect server settings, wrong computer date, etc.

Today, we saw how our Support Engineers check and fix website SSL errors.