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COMPUTER QUESTION-FALSE CERTIFICATE

Bob Jones

Prove It!
The other day I went to check the price of silver.I typed in the address and then received a "False Certificate" warning. I turned my computer off.Should I have the hard-drive erased and then reprogramed? I am using a later model Apple Lap Top.
 

Polymath257

Think & Care
Staff member
Premium Member
Not necessarily. The most obvious reason for such is that the target site din't update their security certificate. The next most likely is that your link to that site was redirected. Don't give the site any sensitive information, but wiping your hard drive is a rather extreme measure in this case.
 

Bob Jones

Prove It!
Not necessarily. The most obvious reason for such is that the target site din't update their security certificate. The next most likely is that your link to that site was redirected. Don't give the site any sensitive information, but wiping your hard drive is a rather extreme measure in this case.
I have been the victim of computer fraud. I am real touchy when I see something out of the normal.Thanks!
 

ChristineM

"Be strong", I whispered to my coffee.
Premium Member
The other day I went to check the price of silver.I typed in the address and then received a "False Certificate" warning. I turned my computer off.Should I have the hard-drive erased and then reprogramed? I am using a later model Apple Lap Top.


Your computer will check the certificate of a secure (https) site, if its out of date you will receive an error.

Why the cert has not been updated could just be an oversight or something more malevolent

To put your mind at rest, disconnect from the internet and do a full virus and malware scan but i don't think there is any need to reformat your HDD unless the scans show a problem
 

Bob Jones

Prove It!
Your computer will check the certificate of a secure (https) site, if its out of date you will receive an error.

Why the cert has not been updated could just be an oversight or something more malevolent

To put your mind at rest, disconnect from the internet and do a full virus and malware scan but i don't think there is any need to reformat your HDD unless the scans show a problem
Thanks
 

Lyndon

"Peace is the answer" quote: GOD, 2014
Premium Member
I recommend Comodo internet security, the free version is good, but I pay about $100/year for the advanced service which can also fix computer problems and do cleaning operations for you if you let them take over your computer, I find them completely trustworthy
 

Bob Jones

Prove It!
I recommend Comodo internet security, the free version is good, but I pay about $100/year for the advanced service which can also fix computer problems and do cleaning operations for you if you let them take over your computer, I find them completely trustworthy
Thanks for the tip
 

Brickjectivity

Turned to Stone. Now I stretch daily.
Staff member
Premium Member
In case you want more detail about certificates and sites, here is how your web browser works on https sites: The https sites each have a 'Certificate', but this certificate is not merely an approval date. Certificates are signed public encryption keys that let your computer encrypt some data which only that site can read using its complementing secret key. First thing your browser will do is check that key to make sure it is official, hence it is called a certificate.

Checking the certificate starts with a circle of trust. First, your browser downloads their site certificate. Then your browser is able to check and make sure the certificate is registered using its internal information and public certification authorities, and this involves using some more certificates that are built into your browser and possibly checking servers owned by the certificate companies. Site owners pay for these companies to perform this service. Once your browser has verified that their site certificate is authentic, it creates a new key pair and sends one of the keys in encrypted form (using the site's registered public key) to the site. This is then used to form a temporary secret communication channel 2-way between your browser and that site. At this point your browser and the site are no longer using the public key but the keys that you have exchanged. You have what is called an https connection established. If you leave the site and return, that has to be reestablished again. The process will happen a second time, and your browser and the site will again work out a new communication channel with new keys.

When using https everything you type is encrypted, except for your URL headings. www.blah.com/blah/blah <-- not encrypted but key strokes generally are. Also media like photos are often not encrypted. Sometimes everything is encrypted, sometimes not; and that depends upon the web page. The encryption of photos and media creates some overhead for servers, costing more energy and CPU time; so often companies opt only to encrypt text.
 
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