If you see this message after the standard “There is a problem with this website’s security certificate”, it’s probably not a serious problem. This message usually appears because you’re visiting a website using HTTPS with the wrong URL.

HTTPS is a security protocol that verifies the identity of websites and encrypts traffic. To verify a website’s identity, HTTPS uses an SSL certificate, which is like a driver’s license for a web server.

The most common cause of this error is that the name you used to access the web server doesn’t match the website’s “official” name (known as the “common name”) listed on the SSL certificate. It’s like calling me Anthony Northrup, even though it says Tony Northrup on my license. For Web servers, it usually means the certificate was issued for “www.vistaclues.com” and you’re accessing “vistaclues.com”, or vice-versa.

For example, visit my homepage using SSL and the correct name (www.northrup.org). No problem. Now, visit it using SSL and an incorrect, but still valid, name (northrup.org). You’ll see the error. It’s the same website, just the wrong name.

So, the first step in troubleshooting this problem is just to try other names. If you’re not sure of the correct name, click Continue to this website. Once at the website, follow these steps to view the proper name for the website:

1. Press the Alt key to show the menu bar. Then, click File, and click Properties.

2. Click the Certificates button.

3. On the Certificate dialog, notice the name shown at the Issued to: line. If you use this name to visit the website, you won’t get the error message.