I have a school-issued laptop that I received about a year and a half ago, and it only seems to have Microsoft Edge installed. Today I tried to use it to buy concert tickets, but visiting Google produced a "Your connection isn't private" warning with the error NET::ERR_CERT_DATE_INVALID. The address bar shows HTTPS in red with a line through it, and Edge says the site uses HSTS. What could be causing this, and what steps should I take to fix it safely?
1 Answer
First check that the laptop’s date, time, and time zone are correct. A wrong system clock is one of the most common causes of CERT_DATE_INVALID errors, especially on a device that hasn’t been used in a while. Also try a different trusted network, such as your home Wi‑Fi or a phone hotspot, since public or school Wi‑Fi can sometimes redirect you to a sign-in page. Don’t bypass the warning or enter passwords or payment details until the error is resolved. Since it’s a school laptop, contact the school’s IT department if the clock and network are fine—they may need to update the device, certificate settings, or security software.
There isn’t another browser installed, so testing Firefox may not be possible. You could check for Windows updates or ask the school’s IT staff to inspect it instead. The HTTPS warning means Edge can’t verify the site’s certificate, not necessarily that Google itself is down.